Why are some welsh people dark? (like catherine zeta jones)?

Question

My grandmother is welsh, but she has dark olive skin and black (well, mostly grey now) hair. She looks arab or meditterranean. and I've noticed quite a few other welsh people have this kind of compexion, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Keith Allen, that guy from the Stereophonics....

Her dad's family were welsh for generations, her mum was adopted but from wales. Any ideas?

Answer 1

The Romans conquered England so the attractive, darker stars carry our genes to this day. :-) You're welcome.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_conquest_of_Britain

Most people in Europe(Iceland not included) are mixed

 

Answer 2

Answer 3

Actually, Zeta is a region not of Greek origin, but Illyrian, which is currently Montenegro. I can definitely see how she could have heritage from this region. Her facial features definitely look from this region. This may also explain why she and Michael Douglas bought property in Montenegro.

Answer 4

A load of rubbish! This is a misconception. I have travelled all over the UK. There are as many dark Irish Scottish and English people as there is in wales. Most of the people in my area of south wales are mostly fair and look far from Mediterranean.
I have pale skin green eyes and fair hair and my partner is similar and has blue eyes. Do that mean we are Scandinavian? as far as I am concerned we are Welsh.
I am sure Catherine Zeta Jones has Greek heritage?

Answer 5

i'm from wales and i'm very tanned but i wouldnt nessiserilly call myslelf dark skinned.. but then agian i have a polish and canadian decent!...

Answer 6

I'm not sure why but my Granddad was like your Grandma, although he died before I was born. My Dad says he was "Black Welsh" and that his family were natives to Wales. But then again, he was going to be named after some ancestor called Orlando so maybe they were originally from Spain? Could be that he was a combination? I have no idea.

Answer 7

When the Spanish Armada were defeated by the English Navy in 1588 a lot of the Spanish ships were driven northwards and foundered on the rocky shores of Wales. The Spanish sailors went inland and over time they integrated their racial features into the Welsh population. A lot of Welsh are descended from the original inhabitants of Britain, The Picts, who tended to be a dark skinned race. So there is where the Welsh get their dark Mediterranean beauty from.