One of the most influential figures in entertainment
history was Walt Disney, of Scottish ancestry. Disney won 20 Academy Awards,
more than any other person in history.
One of America's most revered filmmakers was John Huston.
Huston won three Academy Awards, including Best Director for "Treasure of the
Sierra Madre".
Mel Gibson, won the Academy Award in 1996 as Best Director
for his Scottish epic, "Brave Heart". The film depicted the life of Sir
William Wallace. Gibson accepted the award wearing a vest in his
families Buchanan Tartan.
The first actor to play James Bond, Sean Connery, was born
in Edinburgh in 1930. Connery is of Scottish and Irish ancestry. He is also
very politically active in Scottish causes and organizations.
Perhaps the greatest Western hero in Hollywood
history was John Wayne, born of Scottish ancestry as Marion Michael Morrison.
James Stewart is one of the biggest names in film history.
Stewart was the son of a Scottish hardware store owner in Indiana,
Pennsylvania. He is probably most remembered for the film's "It's a Beautiful
Life" and "Rear Window".
Tough guys Alan Ladd and Robert Mitchum are also Scottish
Americans. The list of famous Scottish performers is endless.
Several of the famous movie goddesses have had Scottish
roots. Marilyn Monroe was Scottish on her mothers side. Jane Russell is
Scottish on both sides of her ancestry.
The femme fatale, Ava Gardner was Scottish on her mothers
side.
Hollywood legend , Elizabeth Taylor is also of
Scottish-Irish descent.
Screen greats Shirley MacLaine, the sister of Warren
Beatty, and Faye Dunaway are also Scottish.
The only performer to win four Academy Awards as best
Actress is Katharine Hepburn, a Scot.
American Icon, Audrey Hepburn who won an Oscar for "Roman
Holiday" is also Scottish. Her father was descended from James Hepburn, fourth
Earl of Bothwell, one of the husbands of Mary, Queen of Scots.
