LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Kentucky is home to British sports fans, fresh bourbon and locals like George Clooney and two members of the Backstreet Boys, all of whom were born in Lexington. Many famous people live here.
Many famous people call Los Angeles or New York home, but you may not have known that these celebrities are from the Bluegrass State.
1. George Clooney
Joel C. Ryan/Joel C. Ryan/Invision/AP
George Clooney poses for photographers at a photocall for the film “Wolfs” during the 81st Venice Film Festival on Sunday, September 1, 2024 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Joel C. Ryan/Invision/AP)
Stardom followed Clooney outside of his hometown of Lexington. The “Gravity” star found her way to Hollywood from Kentucky and became one of the city’s most prominent Hollywood A-listers.
In 2020, Clooney appeared on The Howard Stern Show and explained to viewers that his uncle Jack inspired his accent in the 2000 film Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? After directors Joel Coen and Ethan Coen said his character was “kind of awful.”
Clooney told Stern, “I’m from Kentucky,” and went on to say that he sent the script and tape recorder to his uncle. He then asked his uncle to read the entire script into a tape recorder, and his character’s accent was born.
2. Jennifer Lawrence
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Jennifer Lawrence attends the 35th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the Hilton Midtown in New York. (Photo credit: CJ Rivera/Invision/AP)
The “Unique Playbook” star was born in Indian Hills, Kentucky, and apparently brought his Kentucky accent with him when he entered Hollywood.
During an appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in 2015, Lawrence was asked by Colbert, “When will you get your accent back?”
“My boyfriend says this to me when I’m yelling, but he probably also says it to me when I’m drinking,” Lawrence said. “But I don’t think I have it anymore.”
3. Josh Hutcherson
AP Photo/James Crisp
Josh Hutcherson, a Kentucky native and one of the stars of the movie “The Hunger Games,” salutes the crowd during the second half of the NCAA college basketball game between Kentucky and Louisville on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013 in Lexington, Kentucky. do. Kentucky won 73-66. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
Before Josh Hutcherson became world-famous for his role in the “Hunger Games” series, he was in Kentucky trying to get into the entertainment industry.
Hutcherson was born in Union, Kentucky, and is proud of his home state, according to a 2013 photo from a UK Wildcats basketball game published on eonline.com.
Additionally, during an appearance on Conan in 2012, Hutcherson said he was a “huge British fan” and was comfortable painting his face to show team spirit.
4 & 5. Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell
Amy Harris/Invision/AP, Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
1. Kevin Richardson of the Backstreet Boys performs at the Quebec Festival on Sunday, July 9, 2017 in Quebec City, Canada. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP) 2. Backstreet Boys member Brian Littrell performs at KTUphoria 2018 at the Jones Beach Theater on Saturday, June 16, 2018 in Wantagh, New York. I will be appearing in
Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell, cousins of the Backstreet Boys, were born in Lexington and were inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2015.
“When most people hear the name ‘Backstreet Boys,’ they probably don’t automatically equate it with Kentucky, but two-thirds of the Backstreet Boys have strong and deep ties to Kentucky. It’s rooted,” an emotional Richardson said during his Hall of Fame acceptance. speech.
6. Ashley Judd
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Actor Ashley Judd attends a special screening of ‘Lazareth’ at Crosby Street Hotel on Thursday, May 9, 2024 in New York. (Photo credit: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Before Kiss the Girls, Double Jeopardy, Heat and Divergent, actress Ashley Judd called Kentucky home, and still does. He shows his love for University of Kentucky basketball on his social media accounts.
Judd was born in Los Angeles, but her mother, legendary country musician Naomi Judd, moved Ashley and her sister Wynonna to Kentucky, where she attended several schools, including the Thayer School in Lexington. did. Ashley eventually graduated from UK.
Ashley has attended several UK basketball games and has shown unwavering support for the team by wearing a UK shirt in several interviews.
7. Diane Sawyer
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Television journalist Diane Sawyer poses in the Disney Legends press line during the 2019 D23 Expo on Friday, August 23, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Before Sawyer used her journalistic skills to write a variety of relationship stories in the entertainment industry, she called Kentucky home.
According to Kentucky to the World, she was said to have been born in Glasgow and raised in Louisville. Additionally, she returned to Kentucky after college and began her career as a weather forecaster for a Louisville station.
8. Johnny Depp
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Johnny Depp attends the screening of ‘Jeanne du Barry’ at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Friday, December 1, 2023. (Photo by Joel C. Ryan/Invision/AP )
Depp was born in Owensboro, Kentucky, and quickly made a name for himself in the entertainment world, appearing in films such as “Scissorhands”, “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape”, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, and “Pirates”? He appeared in notable roles. Some examples include the “Of the Caribbean” series.
At the press junket for the film “The Rum Diary,” Depp said of the process of playing the role, “There’s something about this kind of chivalrous Southern gentleman that was nurtured within me…” Ta.
