6 Of The Best: Famous Twins
 It's
estimated that 1 pregnancy in 90 is a twin conception and about 30% of
twins are identical. Compared to the rest of the population, a twin is
2lb 2oz lighter at birth, and twice as likely to be left-handed!
But are they more likely to be famous... or infamous?
Musician Alanis Morrissette, painter Jackson Pollock, and movie star Kiefer
Sutherland, are all one half of a pair of twins, but what about the duos
who make it big together?
Ancient Greek deities - Apollo and Artemis
Mythological twins Apollo and Artemis were
the result of Zeus' extra-marital dalliance with Leto. Artemis was the
goddess of nature, hunting, childbirth and the moon. Apollo was thought
to be responsible for driving the sun across the sky with his chariot,
and was the god of light, music, prophecy, truth, healing and the arts.
Proving that not all twins have similar interests, while Artemis was the
goddess of chastity and virginity, Apollo had numerous illegitimate children
and was the first Greek god to have a same-sex relationship!
Musical twins- The Proclaimers
Bespectacled Scottish twins Charlie and
Craig Reid are better known as The Proclaimers. You know that song that
goes 'When ye go-o-o-o- will ye send back, a letter from America?' That's
them.
Twins in space - Mark and Scott Kelly
In 1999 Scott Kelly helped service the
Hubble Telescope as part of the Discovery Space Shuttle crew. In December
2001, his brother Mark was chosen to pilot the Space Shuttle Endeavour...
and the pair became the first ever 'astro-twins'!
Partners in crime - Ron and Reggie Kray
During the 1960s, the notorious Kray twins
were double trouble in their East End underworld `manor'. The Krays were
sentenced to life imprisonment for the murders of gangsters, George Cornell
and Jack 'The Hat' McVitie. A lesser known fact (according to the Krays'
website) is that when Ronnie Kray was diagnosed as a paranoid
schizophrenic and detained in Long Grove psychiatric hospital, Reggie
visited him and swapped places with him. Ron Kray was able to walk out
of the institution and remained on the run for 5 months.
Twins go global - Mary-Kate and Ashley
Slightly less threatening than the Krays
- but only just - are the Olsen twins. The all-singing, all-dancing, celebrity
duo are only 16 but look set for world domination. Look out for the Olsen
twins merchandising - CDs, movies, TV shows, books, you name it!
Toothy twins - Robin and Maurice Gibb
Twins Maurice and Robin, together with
brother Barry, make up the chart-topping band the Bee Gees - famous for
hits including Night Fever, Tragedy, Stayin' Alive
and How Deep Is Your Love? as well as for wearing remarkably tight
nylon jumpsuits. The Bee Gees were awarded CBEs in the 2002 New Year's
Honours list.
Did you know... ?
Elvis Presley, Liberace, and Andy Garcia
are all twins, but sadly their siblings died at birth.
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Twins, Triplets & More Week,
promoted by Tamba
- The Twins and Multiple Births Association - runs from 01-07 July
2002. |
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