Sydney Sweeney and Marilyn Monroe revealed as ninth cousins in new genealogy study
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Sydney Sweeney shares more than blonde hair and Hollywood comparisons with Marilyn Monroe, as a newly released MyHeritage study reveals that the two actresses are related.
Monroe is Sweeney’s ninth cousin once removed, with their family connection traced through a shared ancestor.
Sydney Sweeney and Marilyn Monroe’s family link
Sweeney and Monroe are connected through Sweeney’s father, Steven Sweeney, and Monroe’s biological father, Charles Stanley Gifford. The pair share an ancestor named Ezra Perry, a settler of Sandwich, Massachusetts.
Fans have long compared Sweeney to Monroe, who died in 1962, prompting MyHeritage to examine their family trees.
MyHeritage Director of Research Roi Mandel described the discovery as “incredible” in a statement to Entertainment Weekly.
“People have always drawn parallels between Sydney Sweeney and Marilyn Monroe,” Mandel said, adding that seeing their paths align on a deeper level inspired researchers to look for a real bond in the MyHeritage archives.
He described the finding as a reminder that humanity is one vast family tree and that deeper research can reveal how interconnected people are.
Sweeney has yet to comment on her newly revealed relative or address comparisons between herself and Monroe. However, she has seemingly drawn inspiration from the legendary actress on several occasions.
In February, Sweeney seemingly paid homage to Monroe when she wore a white Ceil Chapman gown at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. The look appeared to be a replica of the gown Monroe wore on her legendary 1952 LIFE magazine cover.
A few months earlier, Sweeney channeled Monroe at the Los Angeles premiere of 'The Housemaid' in December 2025.
She wore a white Galia Lahav gown featuring a plunging neckline and full skirt, with the red carpet look speculated to have been inspired by Monroe’s iconic dress from the 'Seven Year Itch' subway grate scene.
Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday Barbie doll
While Monroe had a troubled childhood before reaching superstardom, Sweeney has previously spoken about how her parents supported her acting career and made sacrifices for her while she grew up in Washington state.
In 2022, she told the Los Angeles Times, “I had no connections. I did not come from money,” and said her parents believed in her despite the difficulties she faced while growing up.
Monroe was also recently honored by Mattel for what would have been her 100th birthday with a Barbie Signature Doll celebrating her enduring legacy.
Monroe, born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926, is represented through a doll inspired by her performance of “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” in the 1953 film 'Gentleman Prefer Blondes.'
The doll wears a pink gown with an oversized bow at the back, along with dramatic gloves and sparkling diamond jewellery. Barbie collaborated with The Estate of Marilyn Monroe LLC to create the doll.
The Marilyn Monroe Barbie Signature Doll is the latest in a collection created in her likeness, following dolls launched between 1997 and 2002.
Earlier versions featured Monroe’s white halter dress from 'The Seven Year Itch,' her red sequin gown from 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' and the one-shoulder evening gown from 'How to Marry a Millionaire.'
Robert Best, Vice President and Dolls Design Creative Director at Mattel, said the doll honours Monroe’s legendary style and her legacy as a pioneer, savvy producer, businesswoman and boundary-breaking artist.
