Sydney Sweeney has long been compared to the modern-day Marilyn Monroe, but it now appears that the resemblance between the two actresses may run much deeper than anyone previously realized.
According to Entertainment Weekly, the 29-year-old star of Euphoria is actually related to the legendary Hollywood actress. A new genealogical investigation conducted by MyHeritage has uncovered a family connection between Sweeney’s father, Steven Sweeney, and Marilyn Monroe’s biological father, Charles Stanley Gifford.
The connection reportedly goes back several centuries. Researchers discovered that the two men share a common ancestor named Ezra Perry, who lived in Massachusetts during the 17th century.
While the family relationship is distant, the discovery adds an unexpected twist to the comparisons that have followed Sweeney throughout her rise to fame.
Sweeney herself has never publicly spoken at length about any possible family connection to Monroe. However, her appearance and fashion choices have repeatedly reminded fans of the iconic blonde actress.
Over the years, Sweeney has appeared on red carpets in glamorous looks that seem to echo Monroe’s legendary Hollywood style, from figure-hugging silhouettes to classic blonde glamour.
The similarities between the two actresses extend beyond their appearance.
Both women were naturally blonde, yet each eventually became associated with a very specific image of the glamorous Hollywood blonde.
Monroe transformed herself into one of the most recognizable stars of the 1950s, while Sweeney has emerged as one of the most talked-about young actresses of her generation.
For both actresses, however, their beauty and sex-symbol status have sometimes threatened to overshadow their acting abilities.
Sweeney has received widespread critical praise for her performances in television and film. Her work in Euphoria helped establish her as a major young talent, while her role in The White Lotus brought her additional attention.
She has also demonstrated her dramatic range in films such as Reality and Christy, proving that her career is about much more than her appearance.
Marilyn Monroe faced a remarkably similar problem during her career. Although she became one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood history, Monroe increasingly wanted audiences and filmmakers to take her seriously as an actress. In the years before her death in 1962, she actively sought more challenging and dramatic roles.
One of the clearest examples was her performance in The Misfits, released in 1961. The film allowed Monroe to move away from the glamorous blonde persona that had made her famous and demonstrate a more vulnerable and emotionally complex side of her acting.
Critics praised her performance, and the role remains one of the most significant examples of Monroe attempting to redefine herself professionally.
There is another surprising similarity between the two women, this time involving religion.
Both women were raised within Christian traditions, but later in life they became associated with Judaism.
Marilyn Monroe converted to Judaism in 1956, shortly before her marriage to American Jewish playwright Arthur Miller. Her conversion was documented at the time and became an important part of her personal life.
Sweeney’s situation is considerably less straightforward. According to media reports, she has also been connected with the possibility of exploring Judaism through her relationship with music executive Scooter Braun. However, reports about Sweeney’s religious beliefs and any potential conversion should be treated carefully, as she has not publicly confirmed that she converted to Judaism.
Still, when all of these details are considered together, the comparison between Sweeney and Monroe becomes particularly intriguing.
The two women belong to completely different generations and have built their careers in very different Hollywood eras. Monroe became an international icon during the golden age of American cinema, while Sweeney rose to fame during the era of streaming platforms and prestige television.
Yet both have experienced the same unusual tension between image and talent. Their striking looks have made them instantly recognizable, but both have also worked to demonstrate that there is considerably more to them than their appearance.
Now, the discovery of a distant genealogical connection adds another unexpected chapter to the story.
It does not mean that Sweeney is a direct descendant of Marilyn Monroe. Rather, the reported connection comes through Monroe’s biological father, Charles Stanley Gifford, and Sweeney’s father, Steven Sweeney, who share an ancestor from centuries ago.
Still, for fans who have spent years noticing the similarities between the two actresses, the discovery is certainly fascinating.
From their blonde Hollywood image and public fascination with their beauty to their efforts to prove themselves as serious performers, Sweeney and Monroe now share an unusual connection that goes beyond appearances.
And perhaps the most surprising part is that the woman frequently described as a modern Marilyn Monroe may actually have a small piece of Monroe’s family history in her own family tree.
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