An unexpected family connection has come to light ahead of the premiere of a new film about Marilyn Monroe. Actress Dakota Johnson, who plays the legendary star, is a distant relative of Monroe, according to infohub.kz.
The genealogy platform MyHeritage has established that Dakota Johnson and Marilyn Monroe are ninth cousins, three generations apart. Their common ancestors are 17th-century English settlers Richard and Charity Tyldings, who lived in what is now the U.S. state of Maryland.
The news emerged just before the premiere of the film "Flesh Impact," which will be shown at the Venice Film Festival. The movie is directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. Two actresses will portray Monroe: Ellen Burstyn will play the older version of the star, while Dakota Johnson will play Marilyn during her heyday.
So far, the filmmakers have released only a first still of Dakota Johnson as Marilyn Monroe. Many viewers have already noted that the resemblance between the two actresses is quite striking—perhaps not only thanks to the makeup artists' work.
Such discoveries are not new in Hollywood. Previously, Kursiv LifeStyle reported that Michael Jackson's nephew played him in a biopic.