Famous Redheads Throughout History
81Proud to Be Red!
I am proud to be a redhead, and I have great company! There have been many famous redheads throughout history! As far back as biblical times, even. Both Adam and Mary Magdalene are often portrayed in art as having red hair. There is no way to know if this is true, and I'm not starting a debate on the issue.
There are many great redheads throughout history, artists, world leaders, actors and actresses, writers and painters. There are also some redheads that I wish we didn't have to claim. Some are natural redheads, and some are just wanna-be's. I can't blame the people that want to be a redhead! Redheaded women are beautiful, and redheaded men are sexy!!!
World Leaders
There have been many leaders throughout history that have been 'ginger', if you will. Eric the Red recieved his name because of his red beard and hair. It may have also been due to his often fiery temper. Richard the Lionheart, a great king was a redhead, as were Henry VII and Henry VIII.
Queen Elizabeth the First was often depicted with red hair in paintings. This hair was actually a wig. Her own hair fell out at a rather young age due to the lead that was used to whiten her skin. Seems Europe is full of redheads, including Winston Churchill and Napoleon Bonaparte.
Several Presidents have also been redheads, including Thomas Jefferson and Martin Van Buren. General George A. Custer was also redheaded.
Sexy Redheaded Women of the Early Age of Stage and Screen
When you talk of the early age of stage and screen, several redheads come to mind; Rita Hayworth (who was not a natural redhead) Lucille Ball (who used to joke that she couldn't remember her natural hair color), Ginger Rogers and Katherine Hepburn. There are so many more. Some better known than others.
Marilyn Monroe was actually born a redhead. Bette Davis, famous for her beautiful eyes, and her role in "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" was also a redhead.
Clara Bow was one of the first stars of the screen, landing a role in "Beyond the Rainbow" in 1921 after winning a magazine contest. She went on to star in many films, an astounding 14 films in the year of 1925 alone. She earned the name, "The It Girl", after her role in the 1927 film, "IT".
Other famous redheads of the early years include, Mitzi Gaynor, who started in the musical, South Pacific, and Shirley MacLaine who has starred in numerous films.
Beautiful Big Screen Celebs of Today
Now, I have already talked about the sexy redheads of the big screen from the early days, so now it's only fair that I make note of the more recent crop of carrot-topped women on the silver screen.
Some more notable names include the redheaded queen of the eighties, Molly Ringwald, delightfully funny, Madeline Kahn, and the gorgeous Nicole Kidman. Julianne Moore, Julia Roberts and Lindsay Lohan also come quickly to mind.
There are a few lesser known redheads that I feel bear mention. One of those is Isla Fisher, who starred in Wedding Crashers along side Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn. Another is Frances Fisher who starred in the mega-hit movie, Titanic, as the mother of Rose. Natasha Lyonne recieved aclaim in Woody Allen's film, Everyone Says I Love You, and virtual unknown, Franka Potente starred in an amazing movie, Run Lola Run.
Gorgeous Redheaded Women on TV
Beautiful redheads are not restricted to the big screen alone. The small screen is full of beautiful redheaded women! Comedies and dramas alike star redheads in a variety of roles. From the sometimes evil and devious character played by Marcia Cross on Desperate Housewives to the funny, and sometimes crazy, character of Grace on Will & Grace, played by Debra Messing.
Gillian Anderson is a well known star of The X-Files, where she played a very smart FBI agent who was often at odds with her partner. Marilu Henner played the main female character on the much loved TV show, Taxi. Alyson Hannigan got her start on the show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the aclaimed HBO series Six Feet Under had two redheaded actresses in Lauren Ambrose and Frances Conroy.
One of my favorite shows has a redhead among their cast/staff, whatever you want to call it. That show is Mythbusters. Kari Byron does a great job adding a much needed female element to a show that is most often watched by men.
The Redheaded Men
I can't include just the redheaded women of television and films. I have to include the men as well. Most are remarkably talented, some are incredibly sexy. One exception to both of these remarks is Danny Bonaduce. It's true.
Some better examples of sexy redheaded men are Robert Redford, Damian Lewis, who stars in a fairly new show on TV, called Life, where he plays a police officer falsly convited of murder, clears his name and dedicates himself to finding out who framed him, and the cute and funny, Seth Green, who currently provides the voice for Chris, on the hit cartoon, Family Guy, as well as being one of the minds behind the Cartoon Network show, Robot Chicken.
Other talented redheaded men include Philip Seymore Hoffman, Eric Stoltz and Ron Howard, who got his start on The Andy Griffith Show as Opie, went on to star on Happy Days, and is now an acclaimed director.
Redheads in Music
When I originally wrote this, I had intended to include a section on the amazing redheads of the music industry. Truth is, I got tired. I wanted to go to bed. So, thanks for the reminder from Nicole Winter!!
The music industry is full of redheads. Some of them are genuine, and some of them are just wanna-be's, but either way, they make up some of my favorite artists.
Classical music even has a hint of red thanks to composer Antonio Vivaldi, who wrote The Four Seasons, a four part violin concerto, and Tomaso Albinoni, who is most well known for his opera "Zenobia, Regina de Palmireni".
Country has a crop of carrot topped talent, including Reba McEntire, Jo Dee Messina, and the legendary Willie Nelson. Willie has written and recorded numerous songs, including "Crazy" which was made popular by my favorite country singer, Patsy Cline (sadly, she was not a redhead).
Girly, pop music of the eighties and nineties had it's share of redheads. Belinda Carlisle and Tiffany come to mind. "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart" was a popular song that the redheaded Kiki Dee did as a duet with Elton John. A newer crop of women are making waves on the music scene in a far different way. Tori Amos is a personal favorite of mine! A recent newcomer to the music scene is A Fine Frenzy, with a beautiful redhead singing haunting music, including the song, "Almost Lover".
Axl Rose of Guns 'n' Roses has red hair, as does Dave Mustaine of Megadeath. More redheads make up the fringes of rock, the alternative rock scene. Shirley Manson of Garbage, Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols and Keith Flint of the Prodigy are just a few. Others include Billy Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Trey Anastasio of every stoners favorite band, Phish, Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age and Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy.
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Comments
Nicole, I know...I got tired when I was writing and just wanted to finish it. I need to go back and add musicians to the list!! Tori, Shirley Manson (from Garbage) and a few others! Thanks for reminding me! I had completely forgotten that I wanted to go back and do that!
Great 'fiery' hot hub...redheads....my daughter's hair much like Lauren Ambrose's in color...when she was younger I called it "orange crayon" red. No Julianne Moore or Nicole Kidman or Claire Danes or Molly Ringwald pics? How bossy am I, and Nicole above....telling you who should have been included! :) It's just that, I was always trying to tell my gorgeous red haired blue eyed fair skinned daughter how beautiful she was, and these 4 were women I often used as role models for her, freckles, pale skin and all!!!
I suppose I could throw in some more pics...not a bad idea!!
Since there are truly so few redheads, in fact they say redheads shall be extinct in the USA by 2030 or so.... maybe we should treasure their existence quite a bit more than we do!!!
I have heard that as well, but don't take too much stock in it. A friend of mine has two redheaded little boys and I am sure they will still be around 22 years from now, seeing as they are 5 and 2! I do agree that there seem to be fewer and fewer of us around, though.
Greetings - you want to take a trip to Scotland, home of red hair, red beards, and (if you like them) red hairy cows with huge horns.
Roman and Windsor-related crime will keep the redheads down. Stolen music on the subject includes ROYAL SCAM, which is itself a royal scam-gen overproduction, of music taken from a redhead.
Feed the nice cardinals in the Missouri area, to find out more. Finches and squirrels will have to do, if you aren't with the redbirds and stony Tony and Albert, etc.
I have experienced this, NO WAY can a redhead get past a vast, international, anti-constitutional crime wave, directed by the same people who used to see the auburn hair on a baby and then whack the kid.
Paraglider, I have always wanted to travel to Scotland and to Ireland. I hope that someday I can get there.
Bobgnote, I really don't know what to say to that...
i didn't see conan!
I can't believe I forgot Conan!?? I have no idea what is wrong with me...
The matter has been rectified!!!
Very well written article. It's nice that you included redheaded men as well.
I love this article!!! I'm a proud redhead too! We are a dying breed and should be proud of it! Very well written and well researched!!!!!!!!! I was teased the first 15 years of my life-but boy do I love my locks now!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
XO
J
Also Dallas Howard (Ron Howard's daughter), Kate Winslet and Amy Adams are redhead actors!!
jennifer-- We are a dying breed!! Thank you for your comments!! I appreciate it! Thanks for giving me more people to add to the list!! It doesn't seem like there are that many of us, but I seem to find more and more, and others keep sending me suggestions! Thank you!
This is some really good stuff.
Thanks, sherlynavia!! Thank you for stopping by and commenting!
Nice article - you could add Mick Hucknall (not sure of the spelling) of Simply Red and Winstons Churchill and also Napoleon Bonaparte!!
over in ireland we have loads of good lookin red heads
Mike-- Thank you. Even with the number of redheads I have included, it amazes me how many there are that I haven't added to the list.
Frankie-- I hope to go there some day...I will get there someday...
you missed one of my favorite red headed actor in the world Mr. Richard Basehart, where is he, and a woman that appeared with him on "Voyage to the botom of the sea", another great actress Mrs. June Lockhart, and the boy who played his son , another redhead, now a grown man Mr. Billy Mumy, boy you missing the real redheads not the dyed heads.
cynthia-- Thanks for commenting. The only person out of the names you mentioned, that I am familiar with is June Lockhart. The others are not familiar to me. As far as missing real redheads, and only having dyed redheads, I can assure you, a lot of them are natural redheads. I did say that some are just wanna-be's, but the majority are natural redheads.
I'm a redhead (at 73, somewhat blonded in front and auburned in back, but still distinctly red)
WHAT ABOUT DEBORAH KERR? KATHERINE HEPBURN? DANNY KAYE? MALCOLM X? HENRY VIII?
And, hey, I've et Robert Redford and he's a blond.
Jenny-- Thanks for stopping by and for the additions to the list. I always thought Redford was a blonde, but I guess, when he was younger, he had reddish hair, probably strawberry-blonde.
Jenny-- If you read the text, you will see Katherine Hepburn's, and Henry the VIII's name in there. I just didn't include pics.
Hey! I think that this article is amazing! I'm a proud redhead and people think it's weird that a 14 year old teenage girl would love being a ginger, but I do. I love it so much that for a project at school I'm doing famous redheads in history. This article was really helpful to get ideas for people I could write on. Thank you so much!
Dani-- I hope this helps you with your school project, or at least gives you some ideas!! Best of luck!!! I hope you get an A!!!
there are more famous people with brown hair....and sorry but who would CHOOSE to be red hed c'mon CARROT TOPS! :D
you forgot Rednutrio oner reddest of the red
sam-- That may be true, but I wanted to cover redheads, being that I am one!! As far as choosing to be a redhead, if I had to choose a hair color, I would still go with red!!!
FISHER-- I have no idea who that is. I will look it up. Thank you!!!
your a crack head. if not a complete idiot
yer do hes big in sydney
Sam-- Completely rude, and inappropriate. Thanks for your opinion.
Fisher-- Unless you spelled something wrong, I cannot seem to find anything about the person you mentioned.
you red heads are lifes rejects
sorry he is better know as Rio54 or just redrio
i love being normal :D
Whatever...thanks for returning and visiting. It drives up my traffic!
watabout isla fisher
LONGNECKS-- I love Isla Fisher!! I did include her name in the text, but didn't add a picture.
You should check out Kate Walsh from Grey's Anatomy, she has lovely red hair!
Sarah-- I love her!! Does she still have that show. Private Practice?? Is that still on?
plus, CAROL BURNETT! (the BEST, in my opinion!) :)
Jo-- I tried to give a mix of well known and lesser known redheads, and yes, Carol Burnett is a legend!!! Funny, classy, and wonderfun!! Thanks for stopping by!!
Yaaaaay Go Axl!
Wooo!!! \,,/(^_^)\,,/
heyyy. i love redheads hahaha. its kind of an obsession! they are soo cute specially the men <333
but i think you should add Travis Clark of We the Kings he is a sexxy ginger <333
tori v.-- I have never heard of him. I had to google it! LOL! Thanks for the contribution, and for stopping by!!
great site.this sam joker's envy is almost palpable,not to mention insecurity.well let him be "happy" being "common or garden variety".we all know the type.apart from the aforementioned, who wouldn't choose to be a red head,it's uncommon,mystical,not to mention celtic.i'm a red headed guy with a little red headed son and daughter and the daily compliments they both get is almost embarassing.once again keep up the good work!
Irish-- Thank you very much!!! I know what you mean, my daughter gets complimented on her hair all the time.
David Caruso??? (CSI Miami)
alright lets all just forget about queen elizabeth!!!! hello!!!!
and alot of those actresses arent REAL redheads, its easy to tell a real redhead from a poser, i belive that being a redhead should be considered a whole other race, we have copletely difrent skin and physically there are many other things that set us aside from the white race.
okay so i actully red it and you mentioned queen E,
miss lohan?
Seth-- I did forget David Caruso. That's strange. I thought I had included him. I went back and looked, you are right.
ash-- I agree. We are a distinct minority. We are far different from other white people. We are really white people. LOL!! So pale we are almost translucent. I joke, but I love my red hair and freckles.
Yes, I did mentione Queen Elizabeth, but you may want to go back and read it again, because I also mentioned Lindsay Lohan, as well.
came across another fascinating website bursting with positive portrayals of us red heads,and rightly so,in a nutshell it's a big red headed festival thats held in holland every year and this year 2009 they're expecting 5000 to 6000 red heads from all over the world,25 countries in fact.seriously considering bringing the whole family over for what looks to be a very interesting weekend.btw its www.redheadday.com
Irish-- Makes me want to go to Holland!!! I never thought about going to Holland, but now I want to! LOL!! Thanks for the info!!!
Seth Green is lovely! <3
Jessica-- I agree!!! He really is!!
Love Robert Redford, and all redheads!!
Elle-- Thanks for stopping by! Robert Redford is great!!
Creepy....
Mirko Crocop-- Ok...what is so creepy???
PLEASE don't forget danny elfman! he's one of the greatest film composers (and musicians in general) of all time! i also think that in his prime he was literally one of the most attractive people on earth, but you don't necessarily need to include that :) great article! thanks!
megpenn-- Thank you!!! My list keeps growing and growing. I have so much more I need to add to this. Maybe I will divide it up to include more people.
trey anastasio lead guy from phish....great read head!
hello-- I did include him in the list, no picture yet, though. I keep coming back to this and adding things. I may get a pic of him up there!! Thanks for stopping by!!!
bobby flay, all-star chef is a proud redhead!
cam-- I love Bobby Flay!!!
Nice list.
Simone Simons from the band Epica is redhead, she's beautiful. :)
Also forgot Ann Margaret. A red head that caught Elvis's attention certainly can't be ignored.
this is BS. sooooooooooooo many of these people have auburn hair or brown with a red tint
Hey!
Good to find a redhaired site. I'm a natural readhead too (still have lots of redhair at 51). I'm not quite famous yet, but I'm well known in the world of cryptozoology. Here is an Episode of 'MonsterQuest, (History Channel) I appeared in last June.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmsfzYqFeqU
Bill Gibbons
Julia-- I can't really say that I am all that familiar with the band Epica, but I will check them out!! Thanks!!
Jen-- You are right!!! I can't believe I forgot her, I even went back and double checked!!
yo-- I always thought auburn was a shade of red, just as there are various shades of brown, from very light brown, to dark chestnut brown. Thanks, though.
Bill Gibbons-- Nice to see some almost famous redheads visiting the site!!!! I love the History Channel, but have yet to catch an episode of MonsterQuest! Thank you for stopping by!!!
Very Helpful!! Thank you for having this page :)!
so just a silly little story, when the report came out about redheads supposedly going extinct, everyone i know joked (well i hope they were joking lol) about making money off breeding me with the few redhead guys in our school to save the population :)
Robert Redford is not a red head. He's a blonde.
Sorry, but I counted AT LEAST 10 people on your list that aren't natural redheads. So anyone who dyes their hair red at some point, even if it's for an acting role or a change of appearance...makes the cut?!
Yay for redheads! It's so much more exciting than having bland brown hair. :P Though I'm sure some people would prefer brown hair to red hair...
Tori-- Glad you found it useful! Thanks!!
redhead24-- I have often thought how much it would be worth to sell my eggs to save the redhead population! LOL!!
fred hahn-- He was strawberry blonde when he was younger, I believe. His hair has lightened quite a bit.
NotAChance-- If you had read the actual article, instead of just looking at the pictures, you would have found that I pointed out that some of them are not natural redheads, but redhead wanna-be's. Thanks for counting, though.
Wetterdew-- YAY!!!! I am sure you are right. Some prefer plain, boring, mousy brown hair, over vibrant, sexy red hair. To each his own, I guess.
What about the insanely gorgeous Marg Helgenberger?
Angie-- I love her!!!!!! Her character on CSI is one of my favorites!! Thanks for the addition!!
Same here! She's amazing. And, you are very welcome.
Nicole Winter says:
15 months ago
Hey... awesome article! Where's Tori Amos, though?