Is Ryan Thomas Mixed Race?

The British actor Ryan Thomas, from the popular soap opera Coronation Street, was born in England to white English parents and is not of mixed race - however that term is defined. He has played the character of Jason Grimshaw for a number of years; with his younger brother Jason also an actor. He has regularly been listed in features about 'the world's sexiest man' which tends to prompt discussion about his looks and ethnic background.

• What is mixed race?

To most people being of mixed race will refer to the skin color of the parents. With more and more travel and children born to parents of different races the definition is becoming more blurred with Australia and the United States classic examples of that.

Australia's native population is the aborigine, but the country has grown on the basis of mass immigration with people from all corners of the globe settling and calling themselves Australians; although many will use terms like Italian-Australian and Greek-Australian.

Within different continents you will find people that look markedly different, although mainly white skinned, a Scandinavian will look noticeably different to a European from a Latin country like Spain.

• The race card/issue

Matters of race are very controversial in most countries and unless brought up by the individual, it is generally a subject that is avoided in the mainstream media.

The most famous current mixed race celebrity is the golfer Tiger Woods, whose grandparents come from various different backgrounds. Having that mix has proved very beneficial for Woods commercially since it gives him global appeal - that was until recent revelations about his private life led to the loss of a number of endorsements as well as the plummeting of his golf ranking.

He has a parent who is mixed raced so is quarter cast.

I really want to kno what race he is!
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