Shantel VanSanten and Julia Roberts are two of the most popular and talented actresses in Hollywood. They have both starred in a variety of genres, from romantic comedies to action thrillers, and have won the hearts of millions of fans around the world. But are they related by blood or by marriage? The answer might surprise you.
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Shantel VanSanten’s Family Background
Shantel VanSanten was born on July 25, 1985, in Luverne, Minnesota. She is of Dutch and Norwegian descent, and has a sister named Jessye Kellogg. Her paternal grandparents were Peter Van Santen and Nellie Van Hemert, and her maternal grandparents were Dewey Dooyema and Doris Evon Henrietta Sundem
Shantel VanSanten started her career as a model at the age of 15, and appeared in magazines like Teen Vogue and Seventeen. She also participated in the reality show Sports Illustrated: Swimsuit Model Search, but was eliminated in the first episode
She made her acting debut in 2006, with a small role in the horror film Savage Spirit. She gained more recognition for her roles in The Final Destination (2009), One Tree Hill (2009-2012), The Flash (2015-2016), Shooter (2016-2018), and For All Mankind (2019-present)
Shantel VanSanten married actor Victor Webster in October 2021, but filed for divorce in September 2023. She had previously dated athletes Michael Johnson and Jon Fletcher, and actors James Lafferty and Robert Buckley
Julia Roberts’ Family Background
Julia Roberts was born on October 28, 1967, in Smyrna, Georgia. She is of English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, German, and Swedish ancestry, and has a brother named Eric Roberts and a sister named Lisa Roberts Gillan. Her parents were Walter Grady Roberts and Betty Lou Bredemus, who were both actors and playwrights
Julia Roberts initially wanted to be a veterinarian or a journalist, but changed her mind after seeing her brother’s success in Hollywood. She made her screen debut in 1987, with a guest role in the crime drama series Crime Story. She had her breakthrough in 1988, with the coming-of-age film Mystic Pizza. She became a global star with her role in Pretty Woman (1990), opposite Richard Gere
She went on to star in many critically acclaimed and commercially successful films, such as Steel Magnolias (1989), Sleeping with the Enemy (1991), The Pelican Brief (1993), My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997), Notting Hill (1999), Erin Brockovich (2000), Ocean’s Eleven (2001), Mona Lisa Smile (2003), Closer (2004), Eat Pray Love (2010), August: Osage County (2013), Wonder (2017), and Ticket to Paradise (2022). She has won an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, three Golden Globe Awards, and many other honors for her performances
Julia Roberts has been married twice: to singer Lyle Lovett from 1993 to 1995, and to cinematographer Daniel Moder since 2002. She has three children with Moder: twins Hazel Patricia and Phinnaeus Walter, and son Henry Daniel. She is also the aunt of actress Emma Roberts, who is Eric Roberts’ daughter
Are Shantel VanSanten and Julia Roberts Related?
Given their similar appearances, many people have wondered if Shantel VanSanten and Julia Roberts are related in some way. However, there is no evidence to suggest that they are biologically or legally related. They do not share any common ancestors or relatives that can be traced back through their family trees.
The only possible connection between them is that they both have some Dutch ancestry, but that is not enough to establish a close kinship. They are most likely distant cousins at best, along with millions of other people who have Dutch roots.
Therefore, the surprising truth is that Shantel VanSanten and Julia Roberts are not related at all, except by their profession and their popularity. They are both talented actresses who have achieved success in their own right, but they do not share any family ties.