World famous Hungarians – 5 celebrities with Hungarian origins

Hungary is a relatively small country with a population of approximately 9.8 million people. It is no wonder why we become so excited when world famous people turn out to have a little bit of Hungarian blood flowing through their veins. Hungarian surnames are easy to spot, thus when people keep their original Hungarian surnames, it is not that challenging to recognise a star as “one of our own”, such as Mariska Hargitay or Elsa Pataky. As it turns out, there are quite a few celebrities in Hollywood who might not have Hungarian surnames but still have Hungarian ancestors. According to Starity Magazine, here is a list of 5 famous people whose Hungarian origin might surprise you.

Drew Barrymore

Famous actress, Drew Barrymore has Hungarian origins on her mother’s side. Her mother, Ildikó Makó was born in Germany in a camp set up for Hungarian refugees, and she later immigrated to the United States.

Goldie Hawn

71-year-old Hollywood actress, Goldie Hawn’s grandmother was a Hungarian Jew who immigrated to the United States. Hawn’s parents, just like herself, were born and raised in the U.S. In 2012, she decided to visit Hungary with her sister, Patti, in order to see her family’s roots. Her daughter also became a famous actress in Hollywood, Kate Hudson starred in popular movies such as Almost Famous or How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.

Louis C.K.

Famous comedian, Louis C.K. has a more Hungarian name than we would first think. The pronunciation of the two letters in his name C and K are roughly equivalent to the pronunciation of the Hungarian surname Székely, and that is no coincidence. Székely was the family name of C.K.’s grandfather on his father’s side. His Hungarian grandfather, Dr. Geza Székely Schweiger was a surgeon who immigrated to Mexico, and the family later moved to the United States.