Helen Mirren’s Surprising Link to Golda Meir Uncovered by MyHeritage

Dame Helen Mirren, one of the most beloved actresses in the international film industry, has a career decorated with stellar performances and numerous accolades. Known for her versatility and impeccable delivery, Mirren has once again seized the spotlight in the titular role of her latest film Golda, to be released August 25, 2023 in the U.S.

Her latest role sees her playing Golda Meir, former Prime Minister of Israel, in a film centered on the dramatic events of the Yom Kippur War in 1973. Meir, who served as prime minister at the time, was thrust into navigating not only a war but also a skeptical cabinet, a tense relationship with U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, and the daunting responsibility of millions of lives hanging in the balance.

However, what makes this role even more special for Mirren is a personal connection that we at MyHeritage uncovered for her. Our dedicated research team unearthed an incredible revelation: Helen Mirren is actually related to the very person she’s portraying on the big screen — Golda Meir.

Watch a video of the reveal here: 

Born Helen Lydia Mironoff, the English actress’s family background is as diverse and fascinating as her roles. Her father, Vasiliy Petrovich Mironoff, was of Russian origin, and her mother, Kathleen Alexandrina Eva Matilda, was English. Helen’s paternal grandfather was a Russian aristocrat, and her family lineage also traces back to Belarus. It’s quite a surprising and diverse family tree, with branches reaching into realms of politics, royalty, and show business.

With the help of Geni, we discovered that the actress and the late politician are related through Helen’s paternal side.

In the course of tracing Helen Mirren’s lineage to Golda Meir, the MyHeritage research team uncovered additional surprising connections. It appears that Helen shares more than just the spotlight with some of Israel’s prominent figures. Through her paternal line, she is related to not just one, but two presidents of Israel! The first president, Dr. Chaim Weizmann, and the seventh president, his nephew, Ezer Weizmann, are both linked to Helen.

But it doesn’t stop there! The same lineage also connects Helen to the royal families of Europe, making none other than Queen Elizabeth II her 14th cousin. 

Helen’s ancestor Princess Elizaveta Aleksandrovna Lyapunova-Khovanskaya, colorized and enhanced on MyHeritage

MyHeritage Animation of Helen’s ancestor Pyotry Vassillievich Mironov

On Mirren’s maternal side, which is the British side, her grandfather and great-grandfather were both butchers. Her Great-grandfather Henry Rogers, a “Master Butcher”, was the butcher to Queen Victoria. Married twice, he became a widower after losing his first wife, Ann. In 1852, he married his second wife Matilda Bayley who was 27 years younger than Henry. 10 years later, in the 1861 census he is listed with his new wife Matilda, and their children Fanny, Emily and Arthur. 

Henry Rogers in the 1861 England & Wales Census on MyHeritage

Henry’s son, Arthur Rogers (Mirren’s maternal grandfather), married Elizabeth Sarah Jones in 1886 at St. George Hanover Square, London, England. It was a well known church where famous people got married, such as Theodore (“Teddy”) Roosevelt, the future President of the United States of America, who married there in the same year. 

Helen’s Grandfather Arthur Rogers, colorized and enhanced on MyHeritage

The revelation was shared with Helen Mirren at the press conference for the film on Thursday, July 13, 2023, at the Jerusalem International Film Festival. As the connection was presented, Mirren was visibly moved, her reaction testament to the deep resonance this discovery held for her:

Thank you so much to the research team for this amazing work — it’s miraculous. It just goes to show that we are all actually one family, and humanity is one family. In times of divisiveness and strife… it would be a very good thing for us all to remember that. 

What made the revelation even more special, was that Golda Meir’s grandchildren were in the audience to witness it. 

This discovery adds a unique layer to Mirren’s portrayal of Meir, a connection that’s both personal and profound. As she steps into Meir’s shoes, she’s not just revisiting history; she’s exploring her own roots and kinship.

This revelation emphasizes the power of exploring our heritage and how it can not only inform our understanding of the past but also shed light on our personal journey and identity. As Mirren brings Meir’s resilience and leadership to life on screen, she also pays tribute to a lineage that, unbeknownst to her until recently, connected her to the role in a truly extraordinary way.