Several Hollywood actors, all of whom have won or have at least been nominated for the Oscar, have Romanian origins, reveals an article published by Romania newspaper Jurnalul National. Natalie Portman (in picture), Winona Ryder, Dustin Hoffman, Harvey Keitel and Lauren Bacall all have Romanian roots.

Oscar winner Natalie Portman's great grandmother was born in Radauti, northern Romania. Winona Ryder has Romanian and Russian great grandfathers while Dustin Hoffman was born of Romanian parents. Harvey Keitel was born in the US, but his mother Miriam had come to the US from Romania. Lauren Bacall wrote in her memoirs that her mother and grand mother were speaking in Romania when she was a child. Her mother emigrated from Romania when Lauren Bacall was very young.

editor@romania-insider.com