Actor Edward Norton learns Pocahontas is his 12th great-grandmother – National | 24CA News
Hollywood actor and filmmaker Edward Norton at all times thought his connection to Pocahontas was nothing greater than “family lore.”
In a brand new episode of the PBS present Finding Your Roots, an investigation into Norton’s family tree found that Pocahontas, probably the most broadly portrayed (and oft misrepresented) Indigenous ladies in historical past, is his twelfth great-grandmother.
Norton, who stars within the new movie Glass Onion, was visibly shocked when host Henry Louis Gates confirmed his household’s long-held claims.
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“Oh my God,” Norton whispered whereas shaking his head. “How could you possibly determine that?”
Gates, who has hosted the present since its 2012 premiere, instructed Norton {that a} “paper trail” led genealogists to the invention. He defined that current paperwork confirmed that Pocahontas and John Rolfe had been married April 5, 1614, in Jamestown, Va.
To put the spectacular paper path into perspective, Gates added that William Shakespeare died in 1616.
Gates stated there was “no doubt” about Norton’s familial connection to Pocahontas.
“This is about as far back as you can go,” Gates stated.
“It makes you realize what a small piece of the whole human story you are,” Norton marvelled.
Pocahontas was born round 1596. She was the daughter of Wahunsenaca (Chief Powhatan), the mamanatowick (paramount chief) of the Powhatan Chiefdom. The Powhatan Chiefdom included about 25,000 Indigenous individuals throughout 30 Algonquian-speaking tribes, in line with the U.S. National Park Service.
She is most well-known for reportedly stopping the execution of Capt. John Smith, who wrote in his journals that she positioned her head on prime of his in order that he couldn’t be killed. There are debates, nevertheless, amongst historians as as to whether this truly occurred.
Pocahontas was later kidnapped and delivered to an English settlement, the place she met Rolfe. She transformed to Christianity and was baptized. After their marriage, Pocahontas and Rolfe travelled to England. She died in Gravesend, England in 1617. They had one son, Thomas Rolfe.
Pocahontas’s story was broadly popularized within the predominately fictional depiction of her life in Disney’s 1995 movie Pocahontas.
Norton is simply the newest of many to have their family tree uncovered on Finding Your Roots. Prior superstar company embrace Amy Schumer, Anderson Cooper, John Legend and Queen Latifah.
The Finding Your Roots episode that includes Norton, which aired on Tuesday, additionally included a dive into the household historical past of actor Julia Roberts. It is the primary episode of the favored present’s ninth season.
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