Edward Norton is a direct descendant of Pocahontas, information have revealed.
The Native American heroine, who was became a Disney cartoon character within the 1995 movie, was the 53-year-old actor’s twelfth great-grandmother.
Norton, who was born in Boston and raised in Columbia, Maryland, stated he grew up believing it was only a “family legend”, however was confirmed incorrect on a latest episode of ancestry present Finding Your Roots on US community PBS.
The programme’s host, Henry Louis Gates Jr, stated that Pocahontas grew to become Norton’s distant relative after marrying colonist John Rolfe.
“You have a direct paper trail. No doubt about it,” Gates advised him.
The pair wed in April 1614 in Jamestown, Virginia, although Pocahontas died simply three years later in March 1617 in Gravesend, England, of unknown causes.
Pocahontas had one son, Thomas Rolfe.
Norton stated the household discovery “makes you realise what a small piece of the whole human story you are”.
Gates additionally revealed that Norton’s ancestors had owned slaves, which the actor described as “uncomfortable” to listen to.
“The short answer is these things are uncomfortable,” he stated.
“Everybody should be uncomfortable with it.”
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Writing on Twitter following the episode’s launch, Norton added that collaborating within the present had been “such a privilege and a pleasure”.
“I’ve admired Prof Skip Gates for years as an Historian, a teacher, writer, conversationalist and I love this show,” he stated.
“He’s an inspiration and this was full of revelations & his wonderful insight about life and how we are all connected to history.”
Norton is presently starring in Knives Out sequel Glass Onion, reverse Daniel Craig, on Netflix.
Source: information.sky.com”