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Sydney Sweeney and Marilyn Monroe Share Distant Ancestor
Confirmed
In Short: MyHeritage’s research revealed that Sweeney and Monroe share a distant ancestor, Ezra Perry, who lived in Sandwich, Massachusetts, from around 1625 to 1689.
MyHeritage’s research revealed that Sweeney and Monroe share a distant ancestor, Ezra Perry, who lived in Sandwich, Massachusetts, from around 1625 to 1689.
Steven Sweeney, Sydney’s father, and Charles Stanley Gifford, Marilyn’s biological father, are both descendants of Ezra Perry, connecting the two actresses through a family tree that spans seven generations.
Roi Mandel, MyHeritage’s director of research, explained, “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 MyHeritage archives.”
Sweeney has frequently channeled Monroe’s iconic style, including at the Santa Barbara Film Festival in February, where she wore an ivory Ceil Chapman gown nearly identical to one Monroe wore for a 1952 LIFE magazine cover.
At the premiere of 'The Housemaid' in December 2025, Sweeney wore a custom Galia Lahav dress that resembled Monroe’s iconic white halter dress from 1955’s 'The Seven Year Itch.'
Sweeney’s boyfriend, Scooter Braun, has also noted the similarities, telling Page Six, “You cannot compare a photo of me from when I was 12 to a photo of me at 26 with professional makeup and lighting. Of course I'm going to look different.”
MyHeritage’s research also revealed that Sweeney and Monroe are ninth cousins, three times removed, highlighting the interconnectedness of family histories.
The discovery adds another layer to the comparisons between Sweeney and Monroe, beyond their shared Hollywood careers and iconic looks.
Sweeney’s red-carpet appearances have often been compared to Monroe’s, with her icy corset gown at the Santa Barbara Film Festival drawing particular attention.
The actress’s striking red-carpet wardrobe and old Hollywood styling continue to evoke the glamour and allure of Monroe’s era.
What this adds
While the shared ancestry is a fascinating discovery, it does not establish a direct influence or relationship between Sweeney and Monroe beyond their family trees.
What's confirmed
- Full details: https://t.co/9OAMjTU86g pic.twitter.com/CbhDYNxDzb Sweeney’s father, Steven Sweeney, and Monroe’s biological father, Charles Stanley Gifford, are both descendants of Ezra Perry, an early settler in Sandwich, Massachusetts who lived from around 1625 to 1689.
- “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 MyHeritage archives,” said Roi Mandel, MyHeritage’s director of research.
- In February, Sweeney channeled Monroe when wearing an ivory Ceil Chapman gown at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, that was nearly identical to one Monroe wore for a 1952 LIFE magazine cover.
- Sydney Sweeney and Marilyn Monroe have more than being blonde bombshells in common: the actresses share a distant ancestor, according to a new study by MyHeritage.
- “Uncovering their shared branch was incredible, it’s a powerful reminder that humanity is one vast family tree, and when we dig deep, we uncover how remarkably interconnected we all are,” he continued.
What's still developing
- The “once removed” part just means the two women sit one generation apart on the tree.
- At a Television Critics Association event in 2017, David told reporters that the politician is a “third cousin or something,” which he learned during an episode of Finding Your Roots.
- Unlike Monroe’s, the ruched bodice of the custom Galia Lahav design was corseted and ultra-cinched, highlighting the actor’s cleavage and exaggerating her waistline.
- Sweeney accessorized the dress with big diamond earrings, a diamond bracelet, and a bright red lip.
- Monroe was just 36 when she died of a drug overdose in 1962.
- “In her ‘starlet’ days, she achieved most of her publicity herself—casually courting reporters and press photographers, becoming friendly with them over time,” he said.
- If you missed it, Sydney has also been making headlines for her relationship with Scooter Braun, and the couple recently stepped out together for Halloween Horror Nights.
- The “Euphoria” alum, 29, has often been compared to the late icon, and a new study by MyHeritage shows they’re related.
- A source told Page Six last month that even Sweeney’s boyfriend, mogul Scooter Braun, thinks she’s “the modern Marilyn Monroe.” Braun, 45, is fully supportive of his girlfriend’s risqué roles, another source told us in May.
- Sweeney was joined on the red carpet by her costar Seyfried, 40, who wore a shimmering red dress from Monse’s Pre-Fall 2026 collection.
- Lots of folks have been saying Sydney is the second coming of Marilyn... from her bombshell looks to her old Hollywood styling and her famous boyfriends... and the comparisons are getting backed up by blood.
- Sydney and Marilyn aren't the only famous relatives discovered by MyHeritage... they previously determined that "Friends" co-stars Matthew Perry and Courteney Cox were distant cousins too.