I had always assumed that there was some connection between the Cusack families either side of the Atlantic, but there ain’t.

The actor and screenwriter Richard Cusack is father of John, Joan, Ann, Susie and Bill. Actor Cyril Cusack is father of Paul, Sorcha, Niamh, Pádraig, and Catherine. Sinead Cusack is married to Jeremy Irons (and she once kept George Best away from a Man U–Chelsea game).

But the two clans aren’t connected—except in this sense. Following rather too far on from that link, I was fascinated to discover that Natalie Portman has an ErdÅ‘s-Bacon number of 7. Given a few hearty meals, therefore, she could be one of the most desirable actresses in the World.