Merseyside is home to a surprising number of celebrities whose connections to the region are not always obvious. From Oscar-winning actresses to pop stars and TV personalities, these 31 famous names have links through birth, family, or education.
Stars Born or Raised in the Region
Kim Cattrall, known for her role in 'Sex and the City', was born in Mossley Hill in 1956. Her parents, Gladys Shane and Dennis Cattrall, were both from Liverpool. The family moved to British Columbia in Canada when she was three months old, but she returned to Liverpool at age 11 when her grandmother fell ill, living in Wavertree before moving back to North America to pursue acting.
Actor Taron Egerton was born in 1989 in Birkenhead, and his parents are from Liverpool. His mother worked in social services, while his father ran a bed-and-breakfast in the city. The actor moved to Wales when he was two. He played the role of Elton John in 'Rocketman'.
Shirley Ballas, known as the "Queen of Latin" and a judge on Strictly Come Dancing, grew up in Wallasey. After retiring from competitive dancing in 1996, she became an acclaimed international coach and judge for ballroom and Latin American competitions.
Family Roots and Tributes
Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry has roots in Liverpool as the daughter of Liverpool psychiatric nurse Judith-Ann Hawkins. Speaking about her grandparents, Halle has said: "I definitely know that I get that from my English roots because my grandparents - where I'm really from - were the ones who were born and raised in Liverpool. I'm very much like them. They're strong; they're strong people."
Singer Gary Barlow tweeted in 2018: "Yes my mum was born in Liverpool #proudscouser". Although he was born in Frodsham, Cheshire, Barlow has spoken about playing the Philharmonic in Liverpool, saying his mother turned up with 20 of her mates for the show.
Studied in Liverpool
TV personality Vicky Pattison graduated from LJMU in 2009 after studying for a degree in drama. She appeared in several reality TV shows before winning the fifteenth series of I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. Speaking to the crowd at the M&S Bank Arena when the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour arrived in Liverpool, Vicky said: "Can I just say hello to Liverpool. This is my second favourite city in the world, this is where I came for uni and I absolutely love you."
These are just a few of the 31 celebrities with links to Merseyside, a region known for its cultural heritage, music scene, and sporting passion.
