Celebrity Genealogy      Research - My Family Ancestry

Discovering a Celebrity Cousin: Amy Adams and Our Shared Family Tree

Did you know that award-winning actress Amy Adams is my 11th cousin on my paternal side? We’re connected through our shared 10th great-grandparents, Henry Burt and Eulalia Marche. Interestingly, Henry and Eulalia are also Amy’s direct ancestors, which means there's no “removed” in our cousin connection—just a direct cousinship across generations! Being my 11th cousin makes this celebrity discovery one of my "closest distant cousins" thus far. I discovered my relationship to Amy well after I wrote "Bloodlines: Cove Point Manor", but maybe subconsciously I was writing the character of Maggie for Amy as Maggie is also a gorgeous, strong and intelligent redhead? I think Amy would do a wonderful job of playing Maggie!

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A Familiar Face in the Family

When I first discovered our genealogical connection, I was struck by how familiar Amy Adams looked. At the time, I couldn't quite place her—but she reminded me a lot of my niece, Jessica. Whether it's a genetic resemblance or pure coincidence, there’s definitely a shared family resemblance that caught my eye.

It wasn’t long before I realized where I had seen Amy before—she played Julie Powell in the delightful film Julie & Julia, where she portrayed a food blogger attempting to cook every recipe in Julia Child’s iconic cookbook. I had watched the movie multiple times during flights to and from China and thoroughly enjoyed Amy’s heartfelt performance alongside Meryl Streep, who masterfully played Julia Child. 

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A Look at Amy Adams’ Acclaimed Career

Amy Adams is known for her versatile acting and wide-ranging roles in both film and television. In addition to Julie & Julia, some of her most notable performances include:

• Amelia Earhart in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian – A fun coincidence, as Amelia Earhart also appears in my extended family tree!

• Lois Lane in the Justice League and Man of Steel films – A strong, intelligent portrayal of the iconic journalist in the DC Universe.

• Giselle in Enchanted and Disenchanted – Showcasing her talent in musical comedy with a Disney twist.

• Sydney Prosser in American Hustle – A critically acclaimed performance that earned her multiple award nominations.

• Lynne Cheney in Vice – A transformative role that demonstrated her range in political drama.

For a full list of Amy Adams’ films, television roles, and awards, visit her IMDb profile.

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A Star in the Family Tree

While I haven’t met Amy Adams personally, discovering this connection has added a fun and meaningful dimension to my genealogy research. Like many of the other surprising celebrity connections in my family tree, Amy stands out as a bright star—both in Hollywood and in the Taylor family lineage.

Who knows? Maybe one day our paths will cross, and I’ll get to meet my cousin Amy in person.