#1Famous people · Reading, Berkshire
Reading leads Berkshire with 387 famous people
Articles in 133 languages make the English actress Kate Winslet the best known. Close behind are Catherine, Princess of Wales and Ricky Gervais. The largest group, 159, was born since 1970. The list runs from Thomas White, born in 1492, to Trey Nyoni, born in 2007.
Born here
387
notable people
Best known
Kate Winslet
in 133 Wikipedia languages
First
1492
Thomas White
Youngest
2007
Trey Nyoni
Most common field
Sports
190 people
What stands out about Reading’s famous people
★ What stands out · The best known
Born in Reading
By how many languages cover them, Kate Winslet comes first (133), then Catherine, Princess of Wales (109) and Ricky Gervais (64).
#1
#2Politics & Law
Catherine, Princess of Wales
born 1982Member of the British Royal Family and princess of Wales since 2022
109 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
#3Through the years
When Reading’s famous people were born
No decade has more births than the 1980s, at 53.
SportsFilm, TV & StageWriting & ArtsPolitics & LawScience & MedicineMusicBusinessNotableFaithMilitary
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
Known for
What Reading is known for
Business people stand out most, at 1.3 times the usual share.
The usual town: the share across everyone listed across UK towns. Tap a field to see its people.
Everyone
Everyone else born in Reading
384 more; the 197 best known are listed here.
Pippa Middleton
born 1983British socialite, author and columnist; sister of Catherine, Princess of Wales
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Lucy Worsley
born 1973British historian, author, curator, and television presenter
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Ernest Binfield Havell
1861–1934British art historian specializing in Indian art and architecture (1861-1934)
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
James Middleton
born 1987English entrepreneur and younger brother of Catherine, Princess of Wales
BusinessWikipedia ↗
Derek Watkins
1945–2013English jazz, pop and classical lead trumpet player (1945–2013)
MusicWikipedia ↗
Gavin Simonds, 1st Viscount Simonds
1881–1971British barrister and Viscount (1881-1971)
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Kathleen Innes
1883–1967British educator, writer and pacifist (1883-1967)
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
No one matches both filters.
Next door
Famous people from the towns next door
The most names next door are in Caversham: 9.
Questions about famous people from Reading
Who is the most famous person from Reading?
Kate Winslet (English actress (born 1975)) is the best known by our measure: Wikipedia has an article about them in 133 languages. Next come Catherine, Princess of Wales and Ricky Gervais.
How many famous people were born in Reading?
387 people born in Reading have an English Wikipedia article that confirms the town as their birthplace. Wikidata places 452 people here; the rest aren’t listed because their article names somewhere else, or no town.
What is Reading known for?
Among its famous people, athletes: 190 of the 387. That is 49% of the town’s list, against 49% across UK towns.
Who is the earliest-born famous person from Reading?
Thomas White, born in 1492. The youngest on the list was born in 2007.
Who counts as from Reading?
People Wikidata records as born in a place inside Reading’s built-up area (the ONS 2022 boundary), a hospital or district within it included, whose English Wikipedia article agrees. People who only lived here, adult performers and people known mainly for crimes aren’t listed.
Why is someone missing?
Their Wikidata birthplace may be a bigger area (“London”), another town, or missing, or their article may give no birthplace. We only list people both sources agree on; editing Wikidata or Wikipedia changes this page at the next refresh.
From Wikidata (CC0: birthplaces, descriptions, years, occupations) and English Wikipedia (each person’s article confirms the birthplace; linked, not quoted). Birthplaces are placed in the town by the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary (Office for National Statistics, Open Government Licence v3.0). Ranked by how many Wikipedia languages cover each person. Fields are read from Wikidata’s description and occupations. “The usual town”: everyone listed across UK towns. Portraits: each person’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (102)
- Kate Winslet: Colleen Sturtevant, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Catherine, Princess of Wales: Daniel Torok/White House, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ricky Gervais: Thomas Atilla Lewis at https://www.flickr.com/people/51761894@N00, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Sam Mendes: Frankie Fouganthin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Natalie Dormer: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Mike Oldfield: Mike_Oldfield_by_Alexander_Schweigert.jpg: Alexander Schweigert derivative work: Lošmi, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Dominic Solanke: AFC Bournemouth, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- William Laud: After Anthony van Dyck, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Pippa Middleton: TheMatthewSlack from Alnwick, GB, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Richard Burns: Pasi Piesanen, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Fran Kirby: James Boyes from UK, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Cormac Murphy-O'Connor: Cardinal_Cormac_Murphy_O'Connor,_Archbishop_of_Westminster.jpg: church-poverty derivative work: Rabanus Flavus, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Eliza Bennett: This photograph was taken by Roman Zázvorka and released under the license(s) stated below. You are free to use it as long as you credit me and follow the terms of the license. Attribution : © Roman…, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Charlie Brooker: Feline_Dacat, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Sykes: odonata22 (Dana Wullenwaber), CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Simon Cox: Michael Kranewitter, CC BY-SA 3.0 at, Wikimedia Commons
- Edward Bagnall Poulton: James Lafayette, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Deon Burton: The original uploader was Dan1980 at English Wikipedia., CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Chris Mears: Agência Brasil Fotografias, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Liam Bridcutt: James Boyes from UK, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Patrick Malahide: Simon Richards, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Rosella Ayane: Marouane Hamousse, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Dario Cioni: Fanny Schertzer, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Alexander Ross Clarke: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- David Gill: Austin Osuide, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jayden Bogle: Timmy96, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Trey Nyoni: Timmy96, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Beth Storry: fourthandfifteen, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Hayden Mullins: Will bcfc, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jeff Minter: Vincent Diamante, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Doug Williams: DANZIG666, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Peter Strickland: hinnk, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Alec Bedser: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Lucy Worsley: LiteraryCritic1, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Vincent Crane: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Dan Jones: Dan Jones, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- George Alexander: Photographer unidentified, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- James Henry: Doug Hume, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Katie Mitchell: Kleon3, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Richard Howitt (politician): Rwendland, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Stephen Hughes: Nick from Bristol, UK, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Yasmin Benoit: Snotbubble25, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Charlie Estcourt: Ailura, CC BY-SA 3.0 at, Wikimedia Commons
- Ernest Binfield Havell: Calcutta: The Cyclopedia Publishing Company., Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Goldwin Smith: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Lucy Benjamin: Damien Everett, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Martin Allen: Gareth Williams, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Peter May: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Richard Benyon, Baron Benyon: Chris McAndrew, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Aftab Habib: Gwynne Mack. Uploader was Kroome111 at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Chris Tarrant: Phooto, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Harriet Scott: James Boyes from UK, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jed Wallace: Frazer Heal, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jeremy Kyle: James Cridland, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lilian Fontaine: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Marvin Bartley: Jon Candy, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Percy Chapman: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Angela Browning: ©House of Lords / photography by Roger Harris, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Charles Simeon: Contemporary portrait, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Daniel McKenzie: Cruiser1989, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Denys Coop: trailer screenshot (United Artists), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ken Barrington: Eagleash, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Luke Slater: PhotoEventsAlsace, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Oliver Heald: Chris McAndrew, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Toby Perkins: ©House of Commons, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ben Gladwin: joshjdss, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Constantine Phipps: engraving after John Simon, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Derek Paravicini: The original uploader was Nickwells at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Hugh Allen: Jasper Rootham, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Robert Gillmor: Andy Mabbett, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Thomas Talfourd: Henry William Pickersgill, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Victoria Summer: Ricky Middlesworth, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Eliot Hodgkin: Bassano Ltd, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Eric Bedser: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- John Altman: Jack1956, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Blagrave: Gerard Christmas, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- John Finnemore: Steve Caplin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Scott Doe: Hrse12, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Adam Boulton: Flickr user Steve Punter, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Alfred Cannan: Alfred Cannan, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Daniel P. Carter: Simon Wedege Petersen, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- George Blackall Simonds: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jack Willis: Stefano Delfrate, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jordan Fish: Stefan Brending (2eight), CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Nick Fyffe: Steve from Leeds, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- SG Lewis: Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Thomas White: Attributed to Sampson Strong, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Adam Blake: Stevenrogers, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Alex Randall: Drew Alitzer Jessnyssen at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Frank Courtney: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jim Sutton: PCE, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Cennick: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Lizbeth Webb: Rory Campbell, who donated the image to the public domain per a statement., Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Louie Soares: Robeves, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Michael Grigsby: Tofedupin, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Michael Parkinson: MSchnitzler2000, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Peter Brown: The original uploader was Skeptic2 at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Robert Carter: Bob Carter, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Anne Beauchamp, 16th Countess of Warwick: John Rous, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Tracy Edwards: TMF95, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Richard Ottaway: Dean Calma / IAEA. Part of the IAEA Imagebank., CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Vere Hopgood: Hopgood family member (deceased), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.