Hollywood actress star Alicia Silverstone may have been born in California, but she is the daughter of Monty Silverstone, an English estate agent, and Deirdre Silvestone (née Radford), a Scottish former Pan Am flight attendant. We were totally Clueless about this (sorry).Hollywood actress star Alicia Silverstone may have been born in California, but she is the daughter of Monty Silverstone, an English estate agent, and Deirdre Silvestone (née Radford), a Scottish former Pan Am flight attendant. We were totally Clueless about this (sorry).
Hollywood actress star Alicia Silverstone may have been born in California, but she is the daughter of Monty Silverstone, an English estate agent, and Deirdre Silvestone (née Radford), a Scottish former Pan Am flight attendant. We were totally Clueless about this (sorry).

Celebrities with Scottish Heritage Revealed: 15 Famous faces you never knew were Scottish

With so many Scots having emigrated down the centuries, it’s little surprise to find that so many famous faces have Caledonian roots.
Thomas Mackay
By Thomas Mackay
Published 16th Nov 2020, 16:45 GMT
Updated 2nd Aug 2023, 14:40 GMT

From Mark Knopfler’s Bearsden upbringing, to Kim Kardashian’s unlikely link to an ancient Pictish king, we take a look at fifteen famous faces who have a Saltire flag in their heritage.

While Joan Baez was of Spanish descent on her father's side, the American folk singer's mother, Joan Chandoes Baez (née Bridge) hailed from Edinburgh. Joan Senior,, or "Big Joan" never forgot her roots and introduced her daughters well-known Scots folk songs, such as Will Ye Go Lassie, Go.

5. Joan Baez

While Joan Baez was of Spanish descent on her father's side, the American folk singer's mother, Joan Chandoes Baez (née Bridge) hailed from Edinburgh. Joan Senior,, or "Big Joan" never forgot her roots and introduced her daughters well-known Scots folk songs, such as Will Ye Go Lassie, Go. Photo: Contriuted

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Rock giants AC/DC may have formed in Australia, but their Scottish lineage is clear. Founding members Angus (pictured) and Malcolm Young. were born in Glasgow, while former front man Bon Scott, who died in 1980, was born in Kirriemuir.

6. AC/DC

Rock giants AC/DC may have formed in Australia, but their Scottish lineage is clear. Founding members Angus (pictured) and Malcolm Young. were born in Glasgow, while former front man Bon Scott, who died in 1980, was born in Kirriemuir. Photo: Creative Commons

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Best known for his work on satirical panel shows and sketch comedy series Bremner, Bird and Fortune, award-winning comedian and impressionist Rory Bremner's is often viewed as English due to his dialect, but was actually born in Edinburgh in 1961.

7. Rory Bremner

Best known for his work on satirical panel shows and sketch comedy series Bremner, Bird and Fortune, award-winning comedian and impressionist Rory Bremner's is often viewed as English due to his dialect, but was actually born in Edinburgh in 1961. Photo: Creative Commons

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Don't let the Hungarian ancestry and thick Geordie accent fool you, legendary Dire Straits frontman and guitar great Mark Knopfler is a Glaswegian. The young Knopfler attended Bearsden Primary School for two years before the family moved to Newcastle.

8. Mark Knopfler

Don't let the Hungarian ancestry and thick Geordie accent fool you, legendary Dire Straits frontman and guitar great Mark Knopfler is a Glaswegian. The young Knopfler attended Bearsden Primary School for two years before the family moved to Newcastle. Photo: Creative Commons

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Related topics:CelebritiesBearsdenMark KnopflerKim Kardashian