These famous individuals have a Maltese connection in one way or another!
We love it when our island is mentioned across the world, so when we found out that there’s a little bit of Malta in these celebrities, well, it makes us happy!
Some of these celebrities were actually born in Malta while others have distant roots to the island.
Bryan Adams, Musician
The famous ‘Summer of 69’ singer has very close Maltese roots. His grandmother was Maltese. She was from Floriana but lived in Valletta. This makes Adam’s mother half Maltese and Canadian.
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Pete Buttigieg, American Politician
His father, Joseph Buttigieg was born in Hamrun and emigrated to the United States to pursue his doctorate. Pete is a member of the Democratic Party. He was the 32nd mayor of South Bend, Indiana, from 2012 to 2020, which earned him the nickname “Mayor Pete”.
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Britney Spears, Singer
The princess of pop has a Maltese great-grandfather! Anthony Portelli was born in Malta but moved to England in the 1920s. He married a British woman and changed his surname to Portell. The Portells had two daughters, Joan and Lillian. Lillian is Britney’s grandmother.
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Ella Eyre, Singer
The half-Maltese and half-Jamaican star, Ella Eyre has a Maltese mother and still has some cousins here in Malta.
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Jon Cassar, Producer and Director
Jon Cassar was born on April 27 1958, in Malta. He is a producer and director, known for 24 (2001), Forsaken (2015) and When the Bough Breaks (2016). Cassar won 2 Emmys as Executive Producer and Director of 24!
Marama Corlett, Actress
Maltese-born Corlett started her first professional acting role in The Devil’s Double (2010). Corlett also appeared in Dessert Dancer (2013) and in Maleficent (2014) with Angelina Jolie.
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Kerry Ingram, Actress
Known as Princess Shireen Baratheon from Game of Thrones, Ingram has a Maltese grandfather.
Ingram has expressed that she is a festa enthusiast who loves visiting Malta during the Mqabba feast.
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Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex
The first American member of the British royal family and a former actress also has some ties to the island. She believes her great-great-grandmother, Mary was born in Malta and lived here. Markle has been trying to trace her ancestry back to her link in Malta.
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Louis C. Camilleri, former CEO of Ferrari.
Camilleri was born in Egypt, to Maltese parents. He received a degree in economics and business. In July 2018, Camilleri was named CEO of Ferrari, and he resigned on 10th December 2020. Camilleri also reportedly dated supermodel Naomi Campbell.
Joseph Calleja, Actor
Also known as Joseph Spurin, he was one of Hollywood’s most recognized villains from the classic period. He was well-known from the 30s to the early 60s, working alongside Rita Hayworth Lucille Balls, and Orson Welles.
He was born in Malta in 1897 and died in Sliema in 1975, aged 78.
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Which one of these celebrities do you wish you were related to?
