Romola Garai

Romola Garai – 2013 BFI Luminous Gala Dinner and Auction – Arrivals – No 8 Northumberland Avenue – London, UK – Photo Credit: Landmark / PR Photos

Birth Name: Romola Sadie Garai

Place of Birth: British Hong Kong (now Hong Kong)

Date of Birth: 6 August, 1982

Ethnicity: English, as well as at least one eighth Ashkenazi Jewish

Romola Garai is a British actress and director. Her roles include the films Nicholas Nickleby (2002), I Capture the Castle, Inside I’m Dancing, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, Vanity Fair (2004), As You Like It (2006), Amazing Grace (2007), Atonement, Glorious 39, and Suffragette, and television’s Emma (2009), The Crimson Petal and the White, The Hour (2011), and Becoming Elizabeth. She wrote and directed the film Amulet (2020).

She was born in British Hong Kong, to English parents, Janet and Earl Garai. Romola’s paternal great-grandfather, Bernhard “Bert” Garai, was a Hungarian Jewish immigrant who founded the Keystone Press Agency.

Romola is married to actor and director Sam Hoare, with whom she has two children.

Romola’s paternal grandfather was Oliver Frank Garai (the son of Bernhard/Bernard Guttmann “Bert” Garai and Alice Emily Rosa/Rose Pike). Oliver was born in New York, where his parents were then living. Bernhard was born in Budapest, the son of Hermann Garai and Rose. Alice was born in Strand, London, England, the daughter of Edward Pike and Annie Maria Earwaker.

Romola’s paternal grandmother was named Joan G. Gibson (the daughter of parents surnamed Gibson and Holmes). Joan was born in Wandsworth, London, England.

Sources: Genealogy of Romola Garai (focusing on her father’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Romola’s paternal grandfather, Oliver Frank Garai, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Immigration record of Romola’s paternal great-grandfather, Bernhard/Bernard Guttmann “Bert” Garai – https://www.familysearch.org