See more photos of Susan's visit to WalesShe was born Susan Abigail Tomalin - a surname that derives from the Welsh name Thomas.
Her brothers and sisters are as keen as she is on genealogy, so when the chance arose to travel to Wales they jumped at it - ten of them in total, including Susan's 14 year-old son with actor husband Tim Robbins, Miles.
"Of course when I started acting, all these very interesting actors were Welsh, and it just sounded like a very kinda explosive background," says Susan.
"I was very happy to think that I was part Welsh, but I know so little that I'm open to anything."
Her open-minded approach was just as well - the complex family trail uncovers tales of poverty, illegitimate children and law-breakers.
The genealogy of the Tomalin family stretches back to 1280 in Carmarthenshire where the oldest records of a Tomalin are held.
But Susan's most recent Welsh roots lie in the Bridgend area, through her father's family, the Guyatts.
Ancestral brothers John and Charles Guyatt moved from England to Bridgend to work as general labourers at Tondu Ironworks.
But the move seems to have been prompted by a bit of illegal rabbit poaching for which Charles was committed to a six month sentence.
"Now we have our Welsh connection to Wales," says Susan.
"Now I see - through crime we got to Wales. Excellent!"
The trail leads Susan to Tondu Ironworks and a potted history from historian Keith Strange, then back to St Bride's Cemetery in Aberkenfig where some of Susan's ancestors are buried.
When the Tomalin clan retire to local pub The Llynfi Arms they are delighted to be reunited with long lost relatives, The Guyatts - descended from John Guyatt - who live within a mile.
Susan's direct bloodline comes from Charles the rabbit poacher, who moved to the Ukraine to work for the Welsh-owned Hughesovska Ironworks along with hundreds of others from south Wales who were lured by high wages.
From there, it seems, the family eventually migrated to New York, which is where Susan now calls home.
your comments
Constance Tomalin, Penard
I would like to thank Ms Sarandon for her research as it pertains to the Tomalin family tree. There are some of us in the Seattle area of the State of Washington that also have been attempting to research the family. I hope that this will assist us in our endeavors. I would be interested also in knowing when Phillip Leslie Tomalin Sr's father came to the United States. Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Terry Tomalin, St Petersburg, Florida, USA
I love Wales. I want to come back for some international rugby. I used to be an All Blacks fan. But that was before I discovered my long-lost Celtic heritage. Don't forget to invite me back, cuz. Terry Tomalin - Susan's brother #3
Tim Tomalin, Manchester, NJ
We all had a great time in Wales, and hope to return again soon. Just one clarification; our link to Wales is through my father (not my mother), Phillip Leslie Tomalin Sr, who passed away 7 years ago. We are all also very proud of our Italian heritage from my mother, Lenora Maria Criscione Tomalin.
Pauline Guyatt, Bridgend
The Charles Guyatt Mike refers to in his comment is my Great Grandfather. He was born in Hampshire around 1837 and later moved to Tondu. He married Mary Ann Macgregor in 1862 and they had 7 children - sons Charles & William (my Grandfather) & daughters Mary Ann, Margaret, Agnes, Matilda & Elizabeth Ellen.
Mike John of Newport
I just read the article on Susan's Welsh links. It says her ancestor Charles Guyatt moved to the Ukraine from Wales. Charles Guyatt snr who moved from Hampshire with his brother John died in the Bridgend area in 1891. His son Charles (born Tondu about 1864), who went to the Ukraine for work, came back to live in Swindon Wiltshire where he married a Sarah Ann Page in 1898 who had 2 children of her own before marrying, so she was probably a widower they appear on 1901 census. When did the family emigrate to America?
Did you meet the Oscar-winning actress when she visited Tondu and Aberkenfig in search of her Welsh roots?
