10 famous actors who share Romanian origins
Several Hollywood actors who became famous worldwide have Romanian origins. Among them, the famous actress Natalie Portman and well known actor Dustin Hoffman, but also the actor who played Dracula in the 1931 horror movie of the same…
Irina Marica · Journalist
· Updated · 3 min read
Several Hollywood actors who became famous worldwide have Romanian origins. Among them, the famous actress Natalie Portman and well known actor Dustin Hoffman, but also the actor who played Dracula in the 1931 horror movie of the same name. Here’s a list of 10 famous actors and their links to Romania:
- Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman, one of the most popular actresses in the world, was born in Jerusalem, Israel to an Israeli father and American mother. However, one of her paternal great-grandmothers, who it is said to have been a spy for the British Intelligence during World War II, was born in Romania.
- Winona Ryder
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Winona Ryder, born Winona Laura Horowitz, is one of the iconic actresses of the 1990s. Her father’s family, who is Jewish, emigrated from Russia and Romania to the U.S. She has received many important awards and nominations, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
- Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Hoffman, who is considered one of the finest actors in history, also has some links to Romania. Back in 1937, shortly before he was born, his Jewish parents fled Romania to go to the United States. Hoffman is one of the best known American actors, winning many awards, including the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1980 for Kramer vs. Kramer, and in 1989 for Rain Man.
- Harvey Keitel
The mother of famous American actor Harvey Keitel was born in a small commune in Maramures, Northern Romania. She lived there until the age of 12. The actor visited his mother’s birthplace earlier this month, and was welcomed by the local authorities with traditional food and drinks.
- Rosemary Harris
Rosemary Ann Harris is an English actress best known for her role as Aunt May in the Spider-Man trilogy directed by Sam Raimi. One of her grandmothers was Romanian, being born into a family of boyars from Romania’s Muntenia region.
