Meryl Streep is related to one of her Mamma Mia 2 co-stars
Bosses had no idea!
Author: Alex RossPublished 23rd Jul 2018
After the success of the first Mamma Mia movie way back in 2008, fans eagerly awaited the release of Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! last week. The new movie certainty didn't disappoint, with fans and critics across the world praising the feel good film, which features the likes of Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Lily James, Piers Brosnan, Cher and Julie Walters.
The movie, which focuses on the story behind the first film, features some brand new cast members playing the original cast as youngsters, and unbelievably, Meryl Streep and Lily James are related!
The pair, who play the role of Donna Sheridan, are ninth cousins and it's been revealed that bosses had NO idea about their connection when they cast Lily for the role.
According to the Daily Mirror, the pair are related thanks to sharing British ancestor Henry Howland. The ninth cousins, three times removed, are descended from the two sons of Henry Howland, who died in Cambridgeshire in 1634.
Upon discovering the news, Meryl said, "I love it. Absolutely wonderful news to hear I am in any way related to this delightful person.”
Now check out which other celebrities you didn't know were related:
Barack Obama and Brad Pitt
Former President of the United States Barack Obama and Hollywood actor Brad Pitt are ninth cousins!
Meryl Streep is related to one of her Mamma Mia 2 co-stars
2 of 10
Mariah Carey and Ashley Cole
Singer Mariah Carey and Ashley Cole are distant relatives! Although neither party has been able to discover exactly how they're related, their families herald from the same area of the US.
Barack Obama and Brad Pitt
Former President of the United States Barack Obama and Hollywood actor Brad Pitt are ninth cousins!
Gary Oldman and Laila Morse
Harry Potter actor Gary Oldman is actually Laila Morse AKA Big Mo from EastEnders' little brother!
Melissa and Jenny McCarthy
Comedy actor Melissa McCarthy and US TV personality Jenny are cousins.
Ed Sheeran and Gordon Burn
Singer Ed Sheeran and Irish journalist Gordon Burns are second cousins.
Gwen Stefani and Daisy Lowe
No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani was formerly married to Gavin Rossdale - who is model Daisy Lowe's dad!
Avril Lavigne, Justin Bieber and Ryan Gosling
Justin Bieber has quite the famous family! He's a 12th cousin to Avril Lavigne and an 11th cousin to Ryan Gosling.
Madonna, Celine Dion and Camilla Parker Bowles
It was discovered in 2008 that Madonna, Celine Dion and Camilla Parker Bowles are all related, thanks to their shared ancestor, 17th century French carpenter Zacharie Cloutier.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Guy Ritchie
Our future queen, Kate Middleton, is related to film director Guy Ritchie - Madonna's ex-husband. They're sixth cousins.
Nicolas Cage and Sofia Coppola
Actor Nicolas Cage and director Sofia Coppola are cousins - his real name is actually Nicolas Kim Coppola.
Mariah Carey and Ashley Cole
Singer Mariah Carey and Ashley Cole are distant relatives! Although neither party has been able to discover exactly how they're related, their families herald from the same area of the US.
Barack Obama and Brad Pitt
Former President of the United States Barack Obama and Hollywood actor Brad Pitt are ninth cousins!
Gary Oldman and Laila Morse
Harry Potter actor Gary Oldman is actually Laila Morse AKA Big Mo from EastEnders' little brother!
Melissa and Jenny McCarthy
Comedy actor Melissa McCarthy and US TV personality Jenny are cousins.
Ed Sheeran and Gordon Burn
Singer Ed Sheeran and Irish journalist Gordon Burns are second cousins.
Gwen Stefani and Daisy Lowe
No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani was formerly married to Gavin Rossdale - who is model Daisy Lowe's dad!
Avril Lavigne, Justin Bieber and Ryan Gosling
Justin Bieber has quite the famous family! He's a 12th cousin to Avril Lavigne and an 11th cousin to Ryan Gosling.
Madonna, Celine Dion and Camilla Parker Bowles
It was discovered in 2008 that Madonna, Celine Dion and Camilla Parker Bowles are all related, thanks to their shared ancestor, 17th century French carpenter Zacharie Cloutier.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Guy Ritchie
Our future queen, Kate Middleton, is related to film director Guy Ritchie - Madonna's ex-husband. They're sixth cousins.
Nicolas Cage and Sofia Coppola
Actor Nicolas Cage and director Sofia Coppola are cousins - his real name is actually Nicolas Kim Coppola.
Mariah Carey and Ashley Cole
Singer Mariah Carey and Ashley Cole are distant relatives! Although neither party has been able to discover exactly how they're related, their families herald from the same area of the US.
Ahead of the release last week, Hits Radio caught up with some of the cast on the red carpet at the premiere, and Lily James revealed that she was super nervous to sing in front of ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson.
She revealed, "I was so nervous to begin with. I went to Stockholm to record with them in Benny's studio and I didn't speak for a week, I was so scared."
See her full interview below:
Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! is in UK cinemas now.
