20 Celebs You Probably Didn’t Know Were White

Some famous names get assumed backgrounds because of a surname, an accent, or where they started their careers. The reality is that many of them come from European lineages or white Latino families, which can get lost in the headlines. Here are well known stars whose ancestry is solidly European, even if fans sometimes guess otherwise. Each entry highlights birthplace, parents, and heritage so you can see the actual family tree details behind the celebrity.

Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande was born in Boca Raton, Florida, to parents with roots in southern Italy. Her family traces ancestry to Sicily and Abruzzo and she grew up in a household that celebrated Italian traditions. She began performing in local theater before landing on Nickelodeon’s ‘Victorious’. Her early music career developed alongside Broadway training and regional performances.

Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz was born in San Diego, California. Her father was Cuban by nationality with Spanish Galician ancestry and her mother has English and German roots. Diaz modeled internationally as a teenager before her breakout in ‘The Mask’. She later balanced comedies and dramas while maintaining a low profile away from acting in recent years.

Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera was born on Staten Island, New York, to an Ecuadorian father of Spanish descent and an Irish and German American mother. She grew up on U.S. military bases and in the Pittsburgh area while training her voice from a young age. Aguilera first gained national attention on ‘The Mickey Mouse Club’. Her debut album produced multiple number one singles and established a long running pop career.

Ana de Armas

Ana de Armas was born in Havana and raised in Santa Cruz del Norte, Cuba, with Spanish heritage on both sides of her family. She moved to Spain at 18 and later earned Spanish citizenship before relocating to Los Angeles. Early roles in Spain led to English language work in ‘Blade Runner 2049’. She has since received major award recognition for leading film performances.

Antonio Banderas

Antonio Banderas was born in Málaga, Spain, to parents who worked in law enforcement and education. He trained at the School of Dramatic Art in Málaga and joined the National Theater of Spain. International audiences first discovered him in ‘Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown’. Hollywood roles in ‘Desperado’ and ‘The Mask of Zorro’ followed, along with a successful stage career.

Penélope Cruz

Penélope Cruz was born in Alcobendas, Madrid, to a retailer mother and car mechanic father. She studied classical ballet for nine years before pursuing acting. Her early film work in Spain brought national awards and attention. International projects like ‘Vanilla Sky’ and ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ expanded her career with acclaim.

Javier Bardem

Javier Bardem was born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, into a well known Spanish acting family. He played rugby before turning full time to film. Bardem gained global attention with ‘Before Night Falls’. He later won major awards for ‘No Country for Old Men’ and continued working across European and U.S. productions.

Enrique Iglesias

Enrique Iglesias was born in Madrid, Spain, and moved to Miami during childhood. He is the son of singer Julio Iglesias and journalist Isabel Preysler. Iglesias began recording under a pseudonym to avoid industry bias and later released Spanish and English albums. His tours and chart records span multiple decades and markets.

Charlie Sheen

Charlie Sheen was born Carlos Irwin Estévez in New York City to actor Martin Sheen and artist Janet Templeton. His paternal family includes Galician Spanish and Irish ancestry. He adopted the stage surname used by his father early in his career. Sheen’s film and television work includes ‘Platoon’ and ‘Two and a Half Men’.

Martin Sheen

Martin Sheen was born Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estévez in Dayton, Ohio. His father immigrated from Galicia, Spain, and his mother was of Irish descent. He adopted a stage name while starting out in New York theater. Sheen later became widely known for ‘Apocalypse Now’ and ‘The West Wing’.

Emilio Estevez

Emilio Estevez was born in New York City to Martin Sheen and Janet Templeton and chose to keep his family’s original surname. He grew up around film sets and started acting with the Brat Pack generation. Estevez starred in ‘The Breakfast Club’ and ‘St. Elmo’s Fire’. He has also directed films including ‘Bobby’ and episodes of ‘The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers’.

Anya Taylor-Joy

Anya Taylor-Joy was born in Miami to a Scottish Argentine father and a Spanish English mother. She spent childhood years in Buenos Aires and later moved to London. Taylor-Joy studied acting in the UK and transitioned from modeling to film. Roles in ‘The Witch’ and ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ led to global recognition.

Pedro Pascal

Pedro Pascal was born in Santiago, Chile, to Chilean parents who sought refuge abroad during his infancy. His family has documented Spanish and Basque ancestry common in Chile. He grew up in the United States and studied acting at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Pascal built his career through theater and series work such as ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘The Mandalorian’.

Camila Cabello

Camila Cabello was born in Havana, Cuba, and moved to the United States as a child. Her family background includes Spanish ancestry on both sides, which is common in Cuba’s history. She trained in singing and performance before joining Fifth Harmony on ‘The X Factor’. Cabello later launched a solo career with multiple hit singles.

Sofía Vergara

Sofía Vergara was born in Barranquilla, Colombia, to a family with Spanish and Italian roots. She began in modeling and hosting before acting opportunities expanded in the United States. Vergara’s long running role on ‘Modern Family’ brought award nominations and widespread popularity. She has since expanded into business ventures and talent judging on ‘America’s Got Talent’.

Louis C.K.

Louis C.K. was born in Washington, D.C., and spent early childhood in Mexico City. His father has Mexican nationality with Hungarian Jewish ancestry and his mother is of Irish descent. He returned to the United States speaking Spanish before switching to English in school. His career grew through stand up, writing, and the series ‘Louie’.

Rosalia

Rosalia was born in Sant Cugat del Vallès near Barcelona to Catalan parents. She trained at the Catalonia College of Music and specialized in flamenco performance. Breakthrough albums fused traditional styles with contemporary production. International collaborations expanded her audience across Europe and the Americas.

Ana María Polo

Ana María Polo was born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in Puerto Rico and Miami. Her family background reflects Spanish Cuban ancestry prevalent in the island’s demographics. She earned a law degree before entering television. Polo became widely known as the arbitrator host of ‘Caso Cerrado’.

Sebastian Stan

Sebastian Stan was born in Constanța, Romania, and moved to the United States as a teenager. His family is Romanian of European ancestry. He trained at Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts and spent time at the Shakespeare’s Globe program. Stan gained international fame through the ‘Captain America’ films and other dramatic roles.

Mila Kunis

Mila Kunis was born in Chernivtsi, Ukraine, to a Jewish family of European ancestry and immigrated to the United States at seven. She studied acting in Los Angeles while attending public school. Early work on ‘That ’70s Show’ led to voice acting on ‘Family Guy’. She later starred in films including ‘Black Swan’ and ‘Bad Moms’.

Tell us who surprised you most and share any other names you think belong on this list in the comments.