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
The only reason why she seems to be Asian to some people is because she has one eye bigger than the other which is quite common. My eyes are like that also and I’m Italian. If you saw some recent pics of Eminem you would know his eyes are like that too.
she looks part asian
Winstead, Strickland, Wells, Proctor, Knight, Bowden, Horne – this entry reads like a roll call of classic English surnames and it is a pleasure to read.
Englishness is so often the forgotten ethnicity in the USA – people enthusiastically claim Irish or Scottish identity based on vanishingly remote ancestors from those countries, while ignoring much larger and significant elements of English ancestry. So it’s nice to see English-Americans acknowledged.
And she doesn’t look even slightly east Asian.
As someone who researches genealogy, I can say this is definitely accurate:
“Englishness is so often the forgotten ethnicity in the USA – people enthusiastically claim Irish or Scottish identity based on vanishingly remote ancestors from those countries, while ignoring much larger and significant elements of English ancestry.”
No one claims theyre Scottish most say they are Irish instead
I have to disagree with you. I see Asian features.
she looks half korean. i know a girl who’s korean and white and looks similar to this chick
I thought she was partially East Asian. She can definitely pass for that.
She is related to Ava Gardner through Ava’s mother who also had the name Mary Elizabeth.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead has more English ancestry than Keira Knightley and Queen Elizabeth II (possibly put together, as well).
yes i agree with you, jason. she looks half asian