Actress has blue blood from Bruce; FAMILY.

Byline: STEPHEN WHITE

OSCAR-winning actress Tilda Swinton is a direct descendant of King Robert the Bruce. The flame-haired star is 19 generations from Bruce, who defeated the English at the Battle of Bannockburn.

The actress - star of Burn After Reading and Vanilla Sky, is related to the king through her dad and mum.

Researchers at the Scotlands People Centre in Edinburgh traced Swinton's bloodline from her parents, Sir John Swinton of Kimmerghame, Berwickshire, and Judith, Lady Swinton, who was born in Australia.

Both of her parents share a common descent from Robert II, Bruce's grandson.

Swinton is the fifth in a series of six exhibitions which explore famous Scot's families.

George MacKenzie, of the National Archives of Scotland, said: "These exhibitions are proving popular, giving people a much more individual insight to our shared past and some of our biggest stars' family stories."

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ROYAL LINE Tilda Swinton