Hollywood is full of surprises — not just in the movies, but in real life too. Beyond the red carpets, luxury homes, and paparazzi flashes, some celebrities share secret family ties that most people have never heard of.
While some famous family connections are common knowledge — like the Smith family or the Hemsworth brothers — others are deeply hidden in the family tree, only revealed through interviews or ancestry deep-dives. Here are seven celebs who are secretly related — and some of them will leave you absolutely stunned.
1. Tom Hanks & Abraham Lincoln
Caption: Hollywood icon Tom Hanks is a distant cousin of President Abraham Lincoln.
Let’s start with a big one: Tom Hanks, one of America’s most beloved actors, is a distant relative of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. According to genealogists, Hanks is related through Lincoln’s mother, Nancy Hanks. This connection makes Tom Hanks a third cousin, four times removed, to the former president.
It’s especially fitting since Hanks has portrayed historical figures like Forrest Gump and Captain Phillips. He even narrated a documentary about Lincoln, making the family link even more meaningful.
“I’m related to the man who abolished slavery? That’s pretty cool.” – Tom Hanks
2. Beyoncé & Queen Elizabeth II
Caption: Beyoncé and Queen Elizabeth II are reportedly distant cousins through noble bloodlines.
You read that right — Queen Bey may have royal blood. Researchers have claimed that Beyoncé and the late Queen Elizabeth II are distant cousins through French aristocracy. The ancestral connection reportedly traces back to the 12th or 13th century via noble bloodlines.
While the claim might sound like a stretch, it reflects how many royal and noble bloodlines from Europe eventually made their way to America. Whether it’s official or not, fans are more than happy to crown Beyoncé a queen in her own right.
3. Al Roker & Lenny Kravitz
This one throws people off every time. TV personality Al Roker and musician Lenny Kravitz are actually related! The two share ancestors from the Bahamas and are believed to be distant cousins through their grandfathers.
Though they have very different careers — one’s a soulful rocker, the other delivers the weather with a smile — it’s a fun fact they both embrace. Roker even interviewed Kravitz about their shared family history on national television.
4. Dakota Johnson & Antonio Banderas
While this connection isn’t by blood, it’s one of the closest celeb-family bonds in Hollywood. Antonio Banderas was once married to Melanie Griffith, making him the stepfather of Fifty Shades of Grey star Dakota Johnson.
Even after the divorce, Banderas and Johnson remained extremely close. She often refers to him as her “bonus dad” and credits him with influencing her love for acting and international cinema.
“She is like my daughter. I love her deeply.” – Antonio Banderas
5. Snoop Dogg & Brandy (and Ray J)
Caption: Snoop Dogg is first cousins with Brandy and Ray J.
It’s not just music that connects them. Rapper Snoop Dogg is actually first cousins with R&B singer Brandy and her brother, Ray J. They all come from a musically gifted family based in California.
While their styles are completely different — Snoop with his laid-back West Coast flow, Brandy with her smooth vocals, and Ray J with his pop hits and TV antics — the family bond remains strong. It’s yet another reason why Snoop seems to be connected to everyone in the industry.
6. Nicolas Cage & Sofia Coppola
If you’ve ever wondered why Nicolas Cage sometimes seems like Hollywood royalty, it’s because he actually is. Cage’s birth name is Nicolas Kim Coppola. Yes, Coppola — as in Francis Ford Coppola, the legendary director behind The Godfather. Nicolas is his nephew.
To avoid the appearance of nepotism, Cage changed his last name early in his career, inspired by Marvel’s Luke Cage. Still, his Hollywood roots run deep. That also makes him cousins with director Sofia Coppola, known for Lost in Translation and Marie Antoinette.
7. Lily Allen & Alfie Allen
British singer Lily Allen and actor Alfie Allen are not just siblings — their relationship has even made it into the pop charts. Lily’s song “Alfie” is famously about her brother, portraying him as lazy and unmotivated, long before he became a breakout star in Game of Thrones as Theon Greyjoy.
While the song was a little controversial within the family, both siblings now laugh about it, and their careers have flourished in completely different directions — one in pop, the other in gritty fantasy drama.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, all the connections listed are based on verified ancestry records, family interviews, or public family ties.
Yes, Tom Hanks is a distant cousin of Abraham Lincoln through Lincoln’s mother, Nancy Hanks.
Through distant French royal ancestry, Beyoncé and Queen Elizabeth II reportedly share a common noble bloodline.
Nicolas Cage changed his name to avoid being associated with the Coppola family legacy early in his career.
Yes, Snoop Dogg is first cousins with Brandy and Ray J, and they share strong musical roots.