Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Winstead in 2011, photo by kathclick/Bigstock.com
Place of Birth: Rocky Mount, Nash, North Carolina, U.S.
Date of Birth: November 28, 1984
Ethnicity: English
Mary Elizabeth Winstead is an American actress and singer. Her roles include the films Sky High, Death Proof, Final Destination 3, Live Free or Die Hard, The Thing (2011), The Spectacular Now, 10 Cloverfield Lane, and Black Christmas (2006), and the soap Passions.
She is of English descent. Her family has lived in the United States, and in the American South in general, for many generations.
Mary Elizabeth is married to Scottish actor and director Ewan McGregor, with whom she has a son.
Mary Elizabeth’s paternal grandfather was Ambler William “Jack” Winstead (the son of George William Alford Winstead and Rosa Berdie Wells). Ambler was born in North Carolina. George was the son of George Washington Winstead and Rilda Annie/Anna Olive Gardner. Rosa was the daughter of John Bernet Wells and Martha Williamanne Roberson.
Mary Elizabeth’s paternal grandmother was Oveda Rochelle Proctor (the daughter of Walter Young Proctor and Eva Gertrude Bowden). Oveda was born in North Carolina. Walter was the son of John F. Proctor and Lucy Jane Batchelor. Eva was the daughter of Benjamin Franklin Bowden and Sarah Elizabeth Batten.
Mary Elizabeth’s maternal grandfather was The Rev. Johnnie/Johnie/Johnny Wilbur/Wilber Knight (the son of Wilbur/Wilber Lee Knight and Nancy/Lucy Bell Tucker). The Rev. Johnnie was born in North Carolina, and was a Church of God minister. Mary Elizabeth’s great-grandfather Wilbur was the son of John Robert Knight and Dorcus Elizabeth/M. Sparks.
Mary Elizabeth’s maternal grandmother was Virgie Kathleen/Catheline Strickland (the daughter of James Purdie Strickland and Mittie/Millie Elizabeth Horne). Virgie was born in North Carolina. James was the son of Isaac Calvin Strickland and Idella Frances Warren. Mittie was the daughter of John Franklin/Frank Horne and Martha Elizabeth Jolly.
Mary Elizabeth is a second cousin, three times removed, of actress Ava Gardner. Mary Elizabeth’s paternal great-grandfather, George William Alford Winstead, was the son of George Washington Winstead and Rilda Annie/Anna Olive Gardner. Rilda was the daughter of William Spencer Gardner and Elizabeth Weaver Edwards. William was the son of William Gardner and Cynthia Eliza Batts. William and Cynthia, Mary Elizabeth’s great-great-great-great-grandparents, were also the paternal great-grandparents of Ava Gardner.
It is sometimes claimed on the internet that Mary Elizabeth has some degree of Native American ancestry. No Native American ancestry has been verified/documented in any publicly available family trees of Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
Mary Elizabeth’s surname, Winstead, is shared by the paternal grandmother of actress Evan Rachel Wood, who is also from North Carolina. While Mary Elizabeth and Evan likely have a common Winstead ancestor, this shared connection must be distant, in or before the mid 1700s.
Mary Elizabeth is a third cousin, once removed, of politician Roy Cooper, who has been Governor of North Carolina, since January 1, 2017. Mary Elizabeth’s paternal great-great-grandmother, Lucy Jane Batchelor, was the sister of Roy’s maternal great-grandfather, Bunion Ward Batchelor.
Sources: Genealogy of Mary Elizabeth Winstead – http://www.geni.com
Mary Elizabeth’s paternal grandfather, Ambler William “Jack” Winstead, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Mary Elizabeth’s paternal grandmother, Oveda Rochelle Proctor, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Genealogies of Mary Elizabeth’s maternal grandparents, The Rev. Johnnie/Johnie/Johnny Wilbur/Wilber Knight and Virgie Kathleen/Catheline Strickland – http://www.findagrave.com
Mary Elizabeth’s maternal grandfather, Johnnie/Johnie/Johnny Wilbur/Wilber Knight, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Death record of Mary Elizabeth’s maternal grandfather, The Rev. Johnnie/Johnie/Johnny Wilbur/Wilber Knight – https://www.familysearch.org
Mary Elizabeth’s maternal grandmother, Virgie Kathleen/Catheline Strickland, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Winstead in 2011, photo by PrPhotos.com
I think I read on Wikipedia a while ago that she has some Swedish ancestry as well.
Nope.
I thought she has Asian blood in her like Chinese she could be 1/4 Chinese.
How many people in America have 100% English ancestry i ha.ve heard of people in America who have 100% Irish ancestry
Wow an actual American who can claim complete English ancestry. This is definitely a rarity for somebody from America & who’s family has resided in the USA for many, many generations. It wouldn’t surprise me if somewhere in her heritage she had some other nationality or something, but obviously it’s been proven she is of mostly if not all Anglo descent. There are a lot of people in the UK who share her features, ie, dark hair, dark eyes. She is very beautiful & I can definitely see the resemblance to her second cousin Ava Garnder. Beautiful girl!
Goodness knows what you guys must think when you travel to the U.K. It must be a real shocker when you see that the country is not full of blond haired blue eyed Germanic looking people.