09 October,2026 04:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Sydney Sweeney and Marilyn Monroe. Pics via AFP and X
Sydney Sweeney's long-standing comparisons with Marilyn Monroe have taken an unexpected turn, with genealogical research uncovering a distant family connection between the two Hollywood stars. According to a study by genealogy platform MyHeritage, Sweeney and Monroe are ninth cousins, once removed.
The finding offers a real-life link between two actors often compared because of their blonde looks and screen presence. While the connection dates back centuries, it has added a new dimension to the conversation surrounding Sweeney's resemblance to the Some Like It Hot star.
According to MyHeritage's research, the connection between Sweeney and Monroe can be traced through their fathers, Steven Sweeney and Charles Stanley Gifford, respectively. The two family lines reportedly lead back to Ezra Perry, an early settler in Sandwich, Massachusetts, who lived in the 1600s.
The distance between the generations explains why the actors are classified as ninth cousins, once removed. The discovery does not suggest a close family relationship, but establishes a shared ancestor several centuries in the past.
Roi Mandel, director of research at MyHeritage, said the team began investigating after noticing the comparisons between the actors. "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 archives," Mandel said.
The Euphoria actor has previously paid tribute to Monroe through her fashion choices. At the 2026 Santa Barbara Film Festival, she wore a vintage Ceil Chapman gown that recalled Monroe's appearance on the cover of LIFE magazine in April 1952. The look reignited online discussions about the resemblance between the two actors.
Sweeney is not the only contemporary Hollywood actor found to be distantly related to Monroe. MyHeritage research has also identified Dakota Johnson as Monroe's ninth cousin, three times removed.
The discovery came amid renewed interest in Monroe following the Verity movie star's portrayal of a version of the late actor in Maggie Gyllenhaal's short film Flesh Impact. Naama Lanski, a researcher at MyHeritage, said the team explored the possibility of a family connection as Monroe returned to the spotlight.
"With a new film bringing Marilyn Monroe back into the spotlight, our research team wanted to see whether there was a deeper family connection," Lanski said. She added that the discovery gave the casting an unexpected real-life connection.
With both Sweeney and Johnson linked to Monroe through distant branches of their family trees, the findings offer an unusual footnote to Hollywood's enduring fascination with the legendary star.
