17 celebrities you probably didn't know were Irish

Victoria MontaltiMar 15, 2022, 02:14 IST

Celebrities like Barack Obama, Alicia Keys, and Barack Obama have Irish roots.Charles Dharapak/AP Images; Charles Sykes/AP Images; Jordan Strauss/AP Images

Ahead of St. Patrick's Day, here are 17 celebrities you might not know have Irish roots.
Most associate Gwen Stefani, Barack Obama, or Robert De Niro with ethnicities other than Irish.

Amy Daire contributed to a previous version of this post.

Nicole Kidman has Australian, Hawaiian, Scottish, and Irish influences in her life.

Nicole Kidman has Irish ancestors and has shot films on location there twice.Jordan Strauss/AP Images

Rosario Dawson says she's "more Irish than anything."

While her mother is Cuban and Puerto Rican, Rosario Dawson's biological father was Irish.Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Christina Aguilera might be better known for her Ecuadorian roots, but her mother is Irish.

While Christina Aguilera is better known for her Latin roots, she's very in touch with her Irish ones too.Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Actress and model Emily Ratajkowski's family calls Cork home.

Emily Ratajkowski would summer in Ireland and has many memories of cow-tipping and drinking at pubs.Jason Merritt/Getty

Barack Obama's great-great-granddad hailed from Ireland in 1850.

Former US president Barack Obama is well known for his Hawaiian background, but not for his Irish roots.Jewel Samad/Getty Images

Demi Lovato tweeted about their surprising ethnicity after taking a DNA test.

Demi Lovato.Rich Fury/Getty Images for OBB Media

Angus Cloud had plans to move to Ireland before being cast in "Euphoria."

"Euphoria" star Angus Cloud was going to move to Ireland with his family before he shot to fame.Richard Shotwell/AP Images

Olivia Wilde vacationed in Ireland growing up and took her stage name from Irish poet Oscar Wilde.

Olivia Wilde's paternal side is Irish and she'd frequently summer in Ireland with them, informing her life and acting career.Evan Agostini/AP Images

It may be surprising that Robert De Niro is more Irish than Italian.

Robert De Niro is predominantly Irish.Richard Shotwell/AP Images

Alicia Keys is also a little bit Irish.

Alicia Keys is commonly mistaken for different ethnicities, but is proud of her mixed bag of heritage.Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

John Travolta joined the long list of Irish celebrities after saying he's half-Irish and half-Italian in 2010.

John Travolta.Getty/Francois Durand

Mariah Carey's mother, Patricia Hickey, was born to Irish parents.

Mariah Carey said people found it difficult to accept that she was mixed race growing up.Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Despite his notably terrible accent in "Far and Away," Tom Cruise is actually of Irish descent.

Tom Cruise didn't know much about his Irish heritage until he was on a press tour only 10 years ago.Andreas Rentz/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures

Despite her very Italian last name, Gwen Stefani also has some Irish blood coursing through her veins.

While she gets Italian from her dad's side, Gwen Stefani's mother brings in the Irish.Charley Gallay/Getty Images for People's Choice Awards

Colin Farrell went to the Gaiety School of Drama in Dublin, which is his hometown.

Colin Farrell has a successful career in the states, but hails from Ireland and still calls it home.Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images

Anna Kendrick's family's original last name was McGinn Connolly.

Actress Anna Kendrick has Irish roots and was raised with Irish influences.Richard Shotwell/AP Images

"Glee" star Darren Criss is part Filipino, part Irish.

Darren Criss is proudly Filipino, but is also Irish from his father's side.Charles Sykes/AP Images

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