Rebecca Hall
Hall in 2011, photo by Featureflash / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Rebecca Maria Hall
Place of Birth: Hammersmith, London, England, U.K.
Date of Birth: 3 May, 1982
Ethnicity:
*father – English
*mother – African-American, Dutch, English, distant German
Rebecca Hall is a British-American actress. She is known for her roles in the films Vicky Cristina Barcelona, The Gift, The Night House, and Godzilla Vs. Kong.
Her father, Peter Hall, was English-born, and was a director, of theatre, opera, and film, who founded the Royal Shakespeare Company. Her mother, Maria Ewing, was American-born, and was an opera singer and actress. Rebecca is married to American actor Morgan Spector, with whom she has a daughter.
A picture of Rebecca with her parents can be seen here. Rebecca’s father was of English descent. Rebecca’s maternal grandfather, from Virginia, was African-American, with European (likely English) ancestry, and Rebecca’s great-grandfather had been born into slavery. Rebecca’s maternal grandmother, who was caucasian, was Dutch, from Amsterdam, and also had a small amount of German ancestry.
Rebecca’s half-siblings are producer Christopher Hall, actress, musician, and journalist Jennifer Caron Hall, stage director Edward Hall, set designer Lucy Hall, and actress Emma Hall. Christopher and Jennifer’s mother is actress Leslie Caron.
A DNA test whose results were displayed on the show Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2022) stated that Rebecca’s genetic ancestry is:
*91% European
*9% African
Rebecca’s paternal grandfather was Reginald Edward Arthur Hall (the son of George Hall and Edith Kate Mitchell). Reginald was born in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England. George was the son of John Hall and Mahala Vincent. Edith was the daughter of John Mitchell and Elizabeth Ann Tindall.
Rebecca’s paternal grandmother was Grace Florence Pamment (the daughter of Frederick William Pamment and Phyllis Louisa Wilson). Grace was born in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England. Frederick was the son of Charles Edwin Pamment, Jr. and Jane Linsey. Phyllis was the daughter of Henry Wilson and Elizabeth.
Rebecca’s maternal grandfather, Norman Isaac Ewing, was born, c. 1892-1894 (most likely in 1894), probably in Falls Church, Fairfax, Virginia. Norman was the son of John William Ewing and Hattie/Harriet Norman, who married on July 16, 1885 in Washington, D.C. Both of Norman’s parents were of at least part African ancestry. John was born into slavery in Lincoln County, Tennessee, the son of Violet Ewing, and of a father who was likely white. John worked for the Treasury Department in D.C., and was prominent in the city’s African-American community. Harriet was born in Marietta, Washington, Ohio, the daughter of Isaac Franklin Norman and Amanda Jane Myers. She was from a long line of free black people. Her great-grandfather, Bazabeel “Basil” Norman, a black/mixed-race man, was born, c. 1760, likely in Maryland, and fought in the American Revolution.
During part of his lifetime, Rebecca’s grandfather Norman I. Ewing was said to have been a Sioux Native American, and was a musician, who gave lectures and performances centered around his would-be Native American ancestry. The DNA test taken by Finding Your Roots found that Rebecca has no Native American genetic ancestry.
On the 1910 U.S. Census, Norman’s “race” is listed as “Mulatto” (mixed race), and so is the “race” of both of his parents. At this time, Norman’s birth place is listed as Virginia, and his residence place is listed as Washington, D.C., with his father’s birthplace listed as Tennessee and his mother’s as Ohio. On the 1915 South Dakota State Census, Norman’s race is listed as “Indian” (Native American), and on the 1920 U.S. Census, his “race” is again listed as “Indian.” On the 1920 U.S. Census, his birthplace is listed as Washington, D.C., while his father’s birthplace is listed as Oregon and his mother’s birthplace is listed as Washington, D.C. It is perhaps notable that the woman he was married to at this time, Margaret “Maggie” Culbertson (who was not Rebecca’s maternal grandmother), is listed as “Indian” on the 1920 Census also. Some African-Americans told census takers that their race was “Indian.”
Rebecca’s maternal grandmother was Hermina Maria Veraar (the daughter of Robertus Veraar and Hermina Maria Vermeulen). Rebecca’s grandmother Hermina was Dutch, and was born in Amsterdam. She was white. Robertus was born in Sloten, North Holland, the son of Robertus Veraar and Jannetje van der Steen. Rebecca’s great-grandmother Hermina was the daughter of Willem Vermeulen and Hermina Maria Schoemaker, and was of part German descent.
Rebecca’s matrilineal ancestry can be traced back to her fifth great-grandmother, Antje Roos.
Sources: Genealogy of Rebecca Hall – https://www.geni.com
Rebecca’s maternal grandfather, Norman Isaac Ewing, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Norman Isaac Ewing on the 1915 South Dakota State Census – https://familysearch.org
Norman Isaac Ewing on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Marriage record of Rebecca’s maternal great-grandparents, John William Ewing and Hattie/Harriet Norman, in the District of Columbia, Marriages, 1830-1921 – https://familysearch.org
Genealogy of Rebecca’s mother (focusing on her own mother’s side) – https://www.findagrave.com
Marriage records of Rebecca’s maternal great-grandparents, Robertus Veraar and Hermina Maria Vermeulen – https://www.familysearch.org
https://www.openarch.nl
Birth record of Rebecca’s maternal great-grandfather, Robertus Veraar – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Rebecca’s maternal great-great-grandparents, Robertus Veraar and Jannetje van der Steen – https://www.openarch.nl
Birth record of Rebecca’s maternal great-great-grandfather, Robertus Veraar – https://familysearch.org
Marriage record of Rebecca’s maternal great-great-great-grandparents, Jan Veraar and Maria van Leersum – https://www.openarch.nl
Birth record of Rebecca’s maternal great-great-great-grandfather, Jan Veraar – https://www.familysearch.org
Birth record of Rebecca’s maternal great-great-great-grandmother, Maria van Leersum – https://www.openarch.nl
Birth record of Rebecca’s maternal great-great-grandmother, Jannetje van der Steen – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Rebecca’s maternal great-great-great-grandparents, Hijmen van der Steen and Maria Elisabeth van ‘t Kruijs – https://www.openarch.nl
Birth record of Rebecca’s maternal great-great-great-grandfather, Hijmen van der Steen – https://www.familysearch.org
Birth record of Rebecca’s maternal great-great-great-grandmother, Maria Elisabeth van ‘t Kruijs – https://www.familysearch.org
Birth record of Rebecca’s maternal great-grandmother, Hermina Maria Vermeulen – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Rebecca’s maternal great-great-grandparents, Willem Vermeulen and Hermina Maria Schoemaker – https://www.openarch.nl
Birth record of Rebecca’s maternal great-great-grandfather, Willem Vermeulen – https://archief.amsterdam
Marriage record of Rebecca’s maternal great-great-great-grandparents, Johannes Jacobus Vermeulen and Petronella Wilhelmina Jubels – https://www.openarch.nl
Birth record of Rebecca’s maternal great-great-great-grandfather, Johannes Jacobus Vermeulen – https://www.familysearch.org
Birth record of Rebecca’s maternal great-great-great-grandmother, Petronella Wilhelmina Jubels – https://www.familysearch.org
Birth record of Rebecca’s maternal great-great-grandmother, Hermina Maria Schoemaker – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Rebecca’s maternal great-great-great-grandparents, Hendrik Schoemaker and Adriana Blekkenhorst – https://www.openarch.nl
Birth record of Rebecca’s maternal great-great-great-grandfather, Hendrik Schoemaker – https://www.familysearch.org
Birth record of Rebecca’s maternal great-great-great-grandmother, Adriana Blekkenhorst – https://www.familysearch.org
I think Rebecca Hall looks completely white to be honest. People may say she has African influences there, especially her lips, but I think that is such a silly stereotype! Guess what??? White people can have bigger lips too without having any African influence in their gene pool. Look at Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman & Kate Winslet who all have bigger lips but no African ancestry. I rest my case!
Thank you!
Well first it’s already a fact that she is part black,so you thinking she’s looks all white,is really irrelevant.It’s already a proven fact that you can look like one group,and yet still have the bloodline of another.Plus it’s already a fact that Europeans on the avg have 3-8% black blood.At least 1/3 of the white people in the U.S are between 2-20% avg black blood.Now I say this to let you know,that you haven’t proven anything.Now as far as the celebs,your telling me you know who their grandma or mommy laid up with,or who anybody grandma’s or mothers laid up with.That you know for a fact what in theirs or anyone else true bloodline,because people do lie about that stuff(all the time).Also names or locations don’t mean squat ,black people were and are everywhere(now and in the past).As was stated before,you can look one way,and yet still have another bloodline.It’s already been proven,that people who could pass for white did so.Now speaking of silly stereotypes,what about the one that say all black people are negroid,when clearly that’s not true.
I don’t think it’s irrelevant at all that I think she looks all white, because she does actually look white! She only has a small amount of black blood anyway so that’s probably why she doesn’t look black! I am, just as you are, entitled to my own opinion!
I’m not disputing that you can look like one ethnicity, but still have another ethnicity in your gene pool either so please stop putting words in my mouth.
Also the other celebrities I mentioned who are quite obviously white do have bigger lips FACT!!! It maybe rarer for a white person to have bigger lips, but there are many who do & have no African ancestry for generations & generations back.
Yes we all do have ancestors that come from Africa originally, thousands & thousands of years ago & I am not disputing that either.
Even if someone who looks predominantly white has a small amount of African blood from generations & generations ago like Rebecca Hall, doesn’t mean they are African! Just as someone like Beyonce, for example has some white ancestry wouldn’t be considered white would she?!
Everybody is mixed to some degree! On first impressions I would bet that most people would think Rebecca Hall was white.
Ok your right,you’re entitled to own opinion.I will apologize for saying your view was irrelevant(no need to yell at me).
Now I do disagree with you on the assumption of how much black blood she has,not that I’m saying she black,because it’s obvious she’s not.However I’m looking at pics of her mother,and there’s no telling how much of what her mother is.You can be only 30% white,and look just like her mother(I can give an example of this).Now again the assumption about no black blood generations and generations back,but you have no proof of that.As I stated,you can’t go by names.Black people often in the past,adopted the names,like the people in the area(especially in European countries,well actually everywhere).Now the thing about traits,is that they can pop up at any time through the generations,so it doesn’t have to be recent.With places especially like England,it wasn’t thousands & thousands of years ago,that black people were there.England was just like it is now(plenty of them there).Just because more europeans are racist today,it’s wasn’t like that in the past.Europe and these other place were full of black people,I know your not going to believe me.Going to cut this short,however as I said it obvious hall is white,I not disputing it.
I actually think you make a fair point. I would say Rebecca Hall’s mother was half black, but that’s just a guess.
I will be honest & say I don’t know a lot about black history in the UK or Europe, but I have heard that the Roman’s, when they invaded the UK bought many black slaves with them so I agree with you, black people probably have been in the UK & Europe for thousands of years.
I’m really pale, but tan easily in the sun & there are rumours that I have a distant African ancestor in my family too, but I don’t look black at all. I guess Rebecca Hall is a perfect example of someone being mixed raced & looking predominantly like one ethnicity.
I think you make some valid points too.
To Holly12
Yes they were there in roman days(slaves,soldiers),but also there as part of the ruling families.You could look up something about the (Ivory bangle lady).Now your not alone,most people don’t know anything about black people,other than slaves.They don’t teach any of the good stuff in school.England had been digging up African people remains,for a hundred yrs,and hid that fact.I brought up the (brown baby project) once.Between 1939-44 95,000 babies(if I’m not mistaken) were born in Europe.Of that 95000, about 1/3 were called Brown babies.They were called this because,black servicemen and white women(England,France,Germany etc)got it on.The governments got a plan to ship the babies who couldn’t pass for white out to the U.S.(about 10 to 15,000).There probably alot of black people here,who don’t know they come from recent european stock.On a side note,England did ship alot of white kids out to australia(I wonder were those the kids who could pass for white).Sorry I’m so long winded.Now as far as your bloodline,who knowns.I never knew I had a white grandfather(father side) or a Afro latino one(mother side).Both died before I was born,so out of sight,out of mind.
To follers
For black people, Identifying yourself as native was very common back then.The government often tried to take advantage of that sometimes.Seeing that so many of these tribes had mixed so much,that the black side had taken over.The government seeing this,declared them no longer native,and tried to take their land.
See this woman here:
http://www.whatwouldthembido.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/blackindian.jpg
She Id herself as native,but you can see what she looked like.So being Id as native,didn’t mean they weren’t a black person.Sorry I had to used this woman,my friend has my book on this subject.
Want to correct something,out of that 95,000 alot were by white servicemen .Sorry for giving the wrong impression
To Fuzzybear 44,
That is really interesting about the Ivory Bangle Lady, I would never have known that if you hadn’t mentioned it, so thank-you. I’ve just found it quite interesting to read.
I’ve heard about the many African American service-men who were in the UK & had off-spring with British women too. I didn’t think it happened the other way around though as much, as there weren’t that many African American women in the UK during WW2, though I know a few were working as nurses, but not many.
She looks like her mother who looks part black therefore some of the black features are there. She has that long face that some black people have. Leona Lewis for example. And you can see it a bit in her lips. If I didn’t know she was black I like most people would just assume she’s white. But once you know the black is there you start to notice it.
*part black
My brother from the same mother and father looks white as her and we are multiracial
She look very White
I never could understand why people with non anglo-saxon (often including the most deep rooted Dutch, French, Sub-Saharan African and frequently even indigenous North American) ancestry, embodiments of the quintessentially american notion of the great melting pot, so often end up marrying a full blooded anglo saxon* (the few that seem to be left in..) from England. Jennie Jerome, Winston Churchill’s mother is said to be of French and Iroquois ancestry, and there are plenty of other examples. One which comes to mind is a coworker whose sister married an Englishman* (she was of German, Dutch, old Missouri/Illinois French and Native American ancestry, all in large proportions.)
*Here meant to refer to a person whose ancestry in England goes back over one thousand years.
Rebecca is a beautiful young woman by the way.
*****I never could understand why people with non anglo-saxon (often including the most deep rooted Dutch, French, Sub-Saharan African and frequently even indigenous North American) ancestry, embodiments of the quintessentially american notion of the great melting pot, so often end up marrying a full blooded anglo saxon****
i WAS A BIT CONFUSED?? were you saying that its bad for a bi-racial (half black half white) person (lady) to marry a white English man?? am ( half black half white) with a white father. married to a (white Russian) is it a bad thing in society?? but it seems its fine for men of color to have white partners?
+++we have to remember that in England not many black men want or need black and mixed-race woman. their are more black and mixed-race men with more white partners in England that anywhere else+++ my future kids will prob look like Rebecca hall,but i wouldn’t want people saying they look white their for they are white! not at all there grandma is a black Jamaican woman! i don’t want them to be ashamed of who and what they are! which is “Human” and “mixed-race”
Her mother is half black. Her father is english.