Move over, Ed Sheeran—there’s a new reigning ginger in town. According to a fresh survey timed perfectly for Kiss a Ginger Day (12 January), Brits have crowned Yellowstone actress Kelly Reilly as the nation’s best-loved flame-haired star, with nearly a third (29%) of voters choosing her as their favourite.
The poll of 2,000 adults also puts Oscar-winner Emma Stone in second place (24%), while Game of Thrones alum Rose Leslie (22%) clinches the third spot—no small feat for the Scottish star who famously wed her co-star Kit Harington.
Meanwhile, Stacey Dooley (18%) has secured her position among the UK’s favourite redhead celebrities. Fellow Brit Ewan McGregor (15%) also made the cut, as did Hollywood’s Jessica Chastain (14%).
Marvel fans will be chuffed to see Guardians of the Galaxy actress Karen Gillan (14%) crack the list, alongside pop icon Ed Sheeran (13%) and Enchanted star Amy Adams (13%). Rounding out the top picks is former Spice Girl Geri Horner (12%).
If you’re not already swooning at this fiery A-list line-up, there are even more homegrown talents making hearts flutter. Eddie Redmayne (12%), who starred in The Theory of Everything and Fantastic Beasts, Wolf Hall’s Damian Lewis (10%), and Marvel’s Loki himself, Tom Hiddleston (8%), all have fans ready to pucker up.
It’s not just celebrity love: more than three in ten Brits (32%) say they adore those with naturally red locks. Over a third (34%) admit they’d happily steal a kiss from a flame-haired beauty if the opportunity arose.
Another quarter (24%) believe the vibrant hue is becoming more fashionable—and who can blame them, given the unstoppable success of these stars?
Harriet Scott, founder of media company GingerComms, which commissioned the research, says it’s hardly surprising to see Kelly Reilly taking the top spot.
“With the huge success of Yellowstone, it was only a matter of time before her fearless portrayal of Beth Dutton won the nation’s heart.”
And for anyone who’s ever dreamed of sporting ginger tresses themselves, there’s plenty of company: more than one in ten (12%) Brits say they wish they were redheads.
If these survey results are any indication, we could soon see a surge of bold, auburn shades brightening up British streets. After all, red-hued hair has clearly never been hotter.
| Rank | Name | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kelly Reilly | 29% |
| 2 | Emma Stone | 24% |
| 3 | Rose Leslie | 22% |
| 4 | Isla Fisher | 19% |
| 5 | Stacy Dooley | 18% |
| 6 | Nicole Kidman | 16% |
| 7 | Ewan McGregor | 15% |
| 8 | Jessica Chastain | 14% |
| 9 | Karen Gillan | 14% |
| 10 | Ed Sheeran | 13% |
| 11 | Amy Adams | 13% |
| 12 | Lindsay Lohan | 13% |
| 13 | Geri Horner | 12% |
| 14 | Julianne Moore | 12% |
| 15 | Eddie Redmayne | 12% |
| 16 | Damien Lewis | 10% |
| 17 | Bryce Dallas Howard | 10% |
| 18 | Geena Davis | 9% |
| 19 | Lily Cole | 9% |
| 20 | Benedict Cumberbatch | 8% |
| 21 | Tom Hiddleston | 8% |
| 22 | Michael Fassbender | 7% |
| 23 | Eleanor Tomlinson | 6% |
| 24 | Bonnie Wright | 5% |
| 25 | Phoebe Dynevor | 5% |