Sydney Sweeney and Marilyn Monroe Are Actually Blood Relatives

Movie legend Marilyn Monroe was one of the biggest stars of her era, while Sydney Sweeney is among the most popular actresses of today. That's not all the Hollywood blondes have in common, as it's been revealed that the two are actually blood relatives.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Sweeney and Monroe's connection was uncovered by the genealogy company MyHeritage. Sweeney's father, Steven Sweeney, was discovered to be biologically linked to Monroe's father, Charles Stanley Gifford. They share an ancestor, Ezra Perry, who lived in Massachusetts during the 1600s. That officially makes Sydney and Marilyn ninth cousins, once removed.

Sydney Sweeney Has Leaned Into Marilyn Monroe Comparisons

Sweeney has drawn comparisons to Monroe many times. The Euphoria star has leaned into this, even going to the point of wearing a Ceil Chapman gown at the Santa Barbara Film Festival this year that was nearly identical to one Monroe wore for LIFE in 1952. At the premiere of The Housemaid last year, Sweeney wore a white halter gown that was reminiscent of Monroe's famous dress from The Seven Year Itch. Sweeney has not publicly addressed her uncovered connection to Monroe at this time and did not respond to EW's request for comment.

“People have always drawn parallels between Sydney Sweeney and Marilyn Monroe, but seeing their paths align on a deeper level inspired us to look for a real bond in the MyHeritage archives,” MyHeritage Director of Research Roi Mandel said. "Uncovering their shared branch was incredible, it’s a powerful reminder that humanity is one vast family tree, and when we dig deep, we uncover how remarkably interconnected we all are.”

Should Sydney Sweeney Play Marilyn Monroe?

Perhaps Sweeney could be considered to portray Monroe if any more movies about the late actress are made anytime soon. Ana de Armas played Monroe in Netflix's Blonde in 2022, while Michelle Williams and Poppy Montgomery have delivered separate portrayals in the past. Most recently, Sweeney's Madame Web co-star, Dakota Johnson, played the younger version of Monroe in Maggie Gyllenhaal's short film Flesh Impact. The short film also saw Ellen Burstyn as an older Monroe in an alternate reality where she hadn't died young.

Other celebrities have been learning about their familial links to different stars in recent years. Meryl Streep and fashion editor Anna Wintour were revealed to be related earlier this year, which was particularly odd, given that Streep's character in The Devil Wears Prada was inspired by Wintour. There have also been rumors that Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson are biological brothers, and while that hasn't been proven, the idea of it was used as the basis of a new TV show that recently debuted on Apple TV.

Meanwhile, Sweeney has several upcoming feature films. She's among the stars of a live-action Gundam movie in the works at Netflix, which is expected to be released next year. A sequel to The Housemaid, dubbed The Housemaid's Secret, is also scheduled fo ra release on Dec. 17, 2027.