‘Deliverance’ star Glenn Close has a rich ethnicity, her roots tracing back to star actors and British royalty.
Key Takeaways
- Glenn’s ethnicity traces to England when Englishmen first settled in the United States.
- Her ancestry has revealed ties to various historical events and figures, namely Princess Diana and Clint Eastwood.
- Close’s ethnic heritage is not just a footnote in her biography but a significant aspect of her identity.
Glenn Close, one of the most versatile and accomplished actresses of all time, has fans wondering about her heritage and ethnic background.
Spanning numerous decades and decorated by many accolades, Glenn’s illustrious career is one that every actress in Hollywood wishes to achieve.
Born on March 19, 1947, in Greenwich, Connecticut to a relatively wealthy family, Close’s ethnic background adds a fascinating layer to her rich personal narrative.
Glenn Close Ethnicity: English Heritage And A Huge Family Tree
Glenn’s ethnicity traces to England when Englishmen first settled in the United States.
Close’s father, William Taliaferro Close, served as a doctor and a military officer.
Her mother, Bettine Moore Close, was a socialite and educator.
As Glenn spent her childhood in her maternal grandmother’s stone cottage in Greenwich, her parents provided a diverse upbringing that shaped Close’s perspectives and career.
Her heritage has been a subject of interest, especially highlighted back in 2021, in the PBS show “Finding Your Roots.”
The show, which explores the genealogy of various celebrities, revealed intriguing details about Close’s ancestry in the show’s first episode of its seventh season.
With a heritage from multiple cultures, her paternal lineage traces back to early American settlers, while her maternal roots are more varied.
She is of English, Scottish, and Irish descent, reflecting a broad spectrum of British Isles heritage.
This mix contributes to her distinct presence and nuanced portrayals on screen.
In addition to her British Isles heritage, Close has explored her family’s connections to other ethnic backgrounds.
Her ancestry has revealed ties to various historical events and figures.
Henry Louis Gates Jr., the host of Finding Your Roots, showed Glenn her relations with popular individuals of her time.
For example, she and the late Princess Diana are 8th cousins, with their closest link being Glenn’s seventh great-grandparents.
Glenn’s ninth grandfather, John Strong was one of the crewmates who set out for the new world in the 17th century.
He later became the founder and head of a Puritan church in Northampton.
The show also stated that Glenn’s seventh great-grandparents had about seventeen children, leading to her heritage spanning over a hundred thousand different people.
So naturally, she is bound to be linked to many people throughout many periods of American and World history.
Another famous personality that she is linked to is the world-famous actor Clint Eastwood, although distantly.
During her interview in the show, she said,
Its exciting, and I’ll have to think about it for a while, you know? Makes me feel stronger.
VIA PBS
Close’s ethnic heritage is not just a footnote in her biography but a significant aspect of her identity.
It influences how she approaches her roles and relates to her audience.
Understanding her background provides a fuller picture of the actress beyond her well-known roles.
Similarly, her ability to draw from her rich ancestry enhances her craft and connects her with her audience on a profound level.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- She was born into a Democratic family; She voted for Obama in the 2008 presidential election and attended his inauguration.
- Close married three times: to Cabot Wade (1969-1971), James Marlas (1984-1987), and David Evans Shaw (2006-2015)
- She was named one of the most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2019.
