Lena Dunham Learns of Her Unexpected Ancestral Connection to New York City in Exclusive ‘Finding Your Roots’ Sneak Peek

The ‘Women’ alum sits down with Henry Louis Gates Jr. within the April 2 episode of ‘Discovering Your Roots’ on PBS.

Lena Dunham and New York Metropolis have been synonymous since her hit present Women debuted 2012, however the director, author and actress is about to seek out out a a lot deeper connection she has to the Huge Apple in Tuesday’s all-new episode of Discovering Your Roots on PBS. Sitting down with Henry Louis Gates Jr. in a PopCulture.com unique sneak peek of the April 2 episode, Dunham learns that considered one of her ancestors was really the mayor of New York. 

“[Stephanus van Cortlandt] wasn’t simply any New Yorker, he was a profitable service provider with a expertise for politics,” Gates explains. “When the British conquered New Amsterdam in 1664, he received their belief, held onto his enterprise, and finally turned the primary mayor of New York who had really been born within the metropolis.”

“He was the mayor?” a shocked Dunham asks. “My eighth great-grandfather was the mayor of New York?” Gates affirms, “He was the mayor. And never solely was he the mayor, he served two phrases as a mayor … first between 1677 and 1678, after which later from 1686 to 1688.” Dunham responds in awe, “Wow,” earlier than admitting, “That isn’t one thing that I ever would’ve guessed at.”

Additionally in Tuesday’s new episode of Discovering Your Roots, titled “Within the Blood,” actor Michael Douglas will sit down with Gates after his analysis group uncovered some fascinating and stunning details about his household, particularly surrounding Douglas’ grandpa, Herschel “Harry” Danielovitch, and the explanations behind his immigration from Russia. “Each [Dunham and Douglas] are the youngsters of well-known artists, however their household timber include a forged of fascinating characters whose lives have been forgotten – till now,” the episode description teases.

Discovering Your Roots makes use of “genealogical detective work and cutting-edge DNA evaluation to hint the household timber of well-known personalities, telling tales that illuminate America’s shared previous and elementary variety,” in accordance with PBS. “With every flip of the web page of their ‘guide of life,’ Gates reveals to his visitors the long-buried secrets and techniques, hidden identities, and misplaced ancestors who’ve laid the groundwork for his or her success. In studying the emotional and typically advanced narratives of their ancestry, every visitor achieves a deeper understanding of historical past, household, and belonging.”

Discovering Your Roots airs Tuesday, April 2 at 8 p.m. ET on PBS (examine native listings) and is obtainable to stream on PBS.org, the PBS App, and the PBS Documentaries Prime Video Channel.