Lifestyle

Meet 10 World-Renowned Celebrities with Arab Roots

Stardom is a mission, and today more than ever, celebrities of Arab descent are paving their way to the top in Hollywood and beyond.

Cover Photo Courtesy of Instagram.com/bellahadid

Stardom is a mission, and today more than ever, celebrities of Arab descent are paving their way to the top in Hollywood and beyond. Who are the stars that one wouldn’t think have Arab roots? From models to actors and singers, there are some that you might know, but some others will definitely surprise you!   

<strong>Shakira</strong><br /> <em>Photo Courtesy of Instagram.com/shakira</em><br />
The half-Colombian, half-Lebanese singer has never failed to show off the Lebanese roots she gets from her father through what she presents, be it her Arabic song “Ojos Asi” or her belly dancing.<br />
 

Shakira
Photo Courtesy of Instagram.com/shakira
The half-Colombian, half-Lebanese singer has never failed to show off the Lebanese roots she gets from her father through what she presents, be it her Arabic song “Ojos Asi” or her belly dancing.
 

<strong>Salma Hayek</strong><br /> <em>Photo Courtesy of Instagram.com/salmahayek</em><br />
The half-Lebanese, half-Mexican actress has roots in the Lebanese village of Baabdat and found in cinema a way to connect with this side of her heritage. In fact, she co-produced in 2015 the animated film ‘The Prophet’ based on the great Gibran Khalil Gibran’s famed book.  <br />
 

Salma Hayek
Photo Courtesy of Instagram.com/salmahayek
The half-Lebanese, half-Mexican actress has roots in the Lebanese village of Baabdat and found in cinema a way to connect with this side of her heritage. In fact, she co-produced in 2015 the animated film ‘The Prophet’ based on the great Gibran Khalil Gibran’s famed book.  
 

<strong>Gigi and Bella Hadid</strong><br /> <em>Photo Courtesy of Instagram.com/gigihadid</em><br />
The Hadid sisters might have inherited their modelling skills from their Dutch mother, but their father passed down to them his Palestinian roots. In fact, they couldn’t be any prouder of this heritage.<br />
 

Gigi and Bella Hadid
Photo Courtesy of Instagram.com/gigihadid
The Hadid sisters might have inherited their modelling skills from their Dutch mother, but their father passed down to them his Palestinian roots. In fact, they couldn’t be any prouder of this heritage.
 

<strong>Rami Malek</strong><br /> <em>Photo Courtesy of Instagram.com/ramimalekofficial__</em><br />
The American-Egyptian actor kick started his career in 2004 in an episode of ‘Gilmore Girls’ and 15 years later, found himself on a stage winning an Oscar for his role as Freddy Mercury in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. Although he was a struggling actor at the beginning of his journey, his roles in ‘Night at the Museum’, ’24’, ‘The Pacific’ and ‘Mr Robot’ greatly contributed to his career.<br />
 

Rami Malek
Photo Courtesy of Instagram.com/ramimalekofficial__
The American-Egyptian actor kick started his career in 2004 in an episode of ‘Gilmore Girls’ and 15 years later, found himself on a stage winning an Oscar for his role as Freddy Mercury in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. Although he was a struggling actor at the beginning of his journey, his roles in ‘Night at the Museum’, ’24’, ‘The Pacific’ and ‘Mr Robot’ greatly contributed to his career.
 

<strong>Mika</strong><br /> <em>Photo Courtesy of Instagram.com/mikainstagram</em><br />
The British singer gets his Lebanese roots from his mother. He’s actually known for encouraging Arab singers to be successful with their roots as he was.<br />
 

Mika
Photo Courtesy of Instagram.com/mikainstagram
The British singer gets his Lebanese roots from his mother. He’s actually known for encouraging Arab singers to be successful with their roots as he was.
 

<strong>Teri Hatcher</strong><br /> <em>Photo Courtesy of Instagram.com/officialterihatcher</em><br />
This fact might surprise you, but we couldn’t keep it out of this list. In fact, the ‘Desperate Housewives’ actress’ mother is half-Syrian. However, she never tackled the topic of her Arab heritage in any of her interviews.<br />
 

Teri Hatcher
Photo Courtesy of Instagram.com/officialterihatcher
This fact might surprise you, but we couldn’t keep it out of this list. In fact, the ‘Desperate Housewives’ actress’ mother is half-Syrian. However, she never tackled the topic of her Arab heritage in any of her interviews.
 

<strong>Jerry Seinfeld</strong><br /> <em>Photo Courtesy of Instagram.com/jerryseinfeld</em><br />
Did you know that this world-renowned comedian is half-Syrian? Well, we didn’t! Truth is that his mother’s family comes from Aleppo, Syria and when his grandparents immigrated to the United States, their nationality was declared as Turkish because Syria was part of the Ottoman Empire back then.<br />
 

Jerry Seinfeld
Photo Courtesy of Instagram.com/jerryseinfeld
Did you know that this world-renowned comedian is half-Syrian? Well, we didn’t! Truth is that his mother’s family comes from Aleppo, Syria and when his grandparents immigrated to the United States, their nationality was declared as Turkish because Syria was part of the Ottoman Empire back then.
 

<strong>Wentworth Miller</strong><br /> <em>Photo Courtesy of Instagram.com/officialwentworthmiller</em><br />
Who knew that the ‘Prison Break’ star comes from a mix of heritages? Not only is his father of mixed African, American, Jamaican, German and English ancestry, but also his mother is a mix of Rusyn, Swedish, French, Dutch, Syrian and Lebanese roots.<br />
 

Wentworth Miller
Photo Courtesy of Instagram.com/officialwentworthmiller
Who knew that the ‘Prison Break’ star comes from a mix of heritages? Not only is his father of mixed African, American, Jamaican, German and English ancestry, but also his mother is a mix of Rusyn, Swedish, French, Dutch, Syrian and Lebanese roots.
 

<strong>Ariana Grande</strong><br /> <em>Photo Courtesy of Instagram.com/arianagrande</em><br />
In a 2014 tweet, the former Disney star and now singer said that she found out that her grandparents are Greek and part North-African. Whether she has Algerian, Tunisian or Moroccan ancestry, she’s got an Arab side.<br /> <br /> <em>​Article Written by Mirella Haddad</em>

Ariana Grande
Photo Courtesy of Instagram.com/arianagrande
In a 2014 tweet, the former Disney star and now singer said that she found out that her grandparents are Greek and part North-African. Whether she has Algerian, Tunisian or Moroccan ancestry, she’s got an Arab side.

​Article Written by Mirella Haddad