The Queen is the most Googled person of the year in the UK, followed by Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, Kim Kardashian, Will Smith and Meghan Markle
- The Queen is the most Googled person of 2022, being searched 516,290 times each month on average by Brits, this year
- Johnny Depp is the second most Google celebrity of 2022, being searched 437,490 million times per month this year
- Harry Styles, Cristiano Ronaldo and Meghan Markle all make the top ten
New research has revealed the most Googled people of 2022 in the UK, with the late Queen Elizabeth II taking the top spot.
The research conducted by celebrity news site CelebTattler analysed Google search data for over 150 of the most influential celebrities since January 1st 2022 to determine which celebrity was the most talked about of the year.
The study revealed that Queen Elizabeth II received the highest number of Google searches in the UK throughout 2022. Britain’s longest reigning monarch passed away in September 2022, resulting in The Queen being Googled at an average of 516,290 times each month.
Johnny Depp was Googled 437,490 times each month this year on average by Brits, the second highest number on the list, whilst Amber Heard ranks third due to the defamation trial her and Depp were embroiled in from April to June of this year. Heard was searched 388,680 times per month by Brits this year.
Kim Kardashian was Googled 238,170 times per month across the UK in 2022, making her the fourth most talked about celebrity of the year. Will Smith ranks as the fifth most Googled celebrity of the year, being searched 231,090 times, just slightly lower than Kim Kardashian. Will Smith hit the headlines in March after slapping comedian Chris Rock on stage during the 94th Academy Awards ceremony where he later went on to win Best Actor for his role in King Richard.
Millie Bobby Brown – who grew up in Bournemouth – is the sixth most Googled celebrity of the year in the UK with Brits’ Googling the Stranger Things actress 228,420 times per month this year.
Former active royal, Meghan Markle ranks as the seventh most Googled celebrity of the year in the UK with 223,450 searches being made each month in 2022 for the Duchess. Markle launched her very own Spotify podcast this year and attended The Queen’s funeral in September where she reunited with Prince William and Princess Catherine for the first time since Markle’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Due to his recent controversial acquisition of Twitter, billionaire Elon Musk is the eighth most Googled celebrity of the year. Musk has been Googled 221,420 times per month in in the UK.
Rounding out the top ten are Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Styles. Cristiano Ronaldo is the ninth most Googled celebrity of the year in the UK, with Brits’ Googling the footballer, who just recently left Manchester United, 209,540 times per month this year. Harry Styles, completes the top ten, being searched 208,680 times per month in the UK throughout the year.
| The UK’s most Googled celebrities of the year | ||
| Rank | Celebrity | Average monthly Google searches in 2022 |
| 1 | Queen Elizabeth II | 516,290 |
| 2 | Johnny Depp | 437,490 |
| 3 | Amber Heard | 388,680 |
| 4 | Kim Kardashian | 238,170 |
| 5 | Will Smith | 231,090 |
| 6 | Millie Bobby Brown | 228,420 |
| 7 | Meghan Markle | 223,450 |
| 8 | Elon Musk | 221,420 |
| 9 | Cristiano Ronaldo | 209,540 |
| 10 | Harry Styles | 208,680 |
| 11 | Zendaya | 202,640 |
| 12 | Pete Davidson | 202,180 |
| 13 | Emma Raducanu | 177,710 |
| 14 | Rihanna | 144,880 |
| 15 | Kanye West | 142,460 |
| The UK’s most Googled women of the year | ||
| Rank | Celebrity | Average monthly Google searches in 2022 |
| 1 | Queen Elizabeth II | 516,290 |
| 2 | Amber Heard | 388,680 |
| 3 | Kim Kardashian | 238,170 |
| 4 | Millie Bobby Brown | 228,420 |
| 5 | Meghan Markle | 223,450 |
| 6 | Zendaya | 202,640 |
| 7 | Emma Raducanu | 177,710 |
| 8 | Rihanna | 144,880 |
| 9 | Kylie Jenner | 138,200 |
| 10 | Billie Eilish | 137,530 |
| The UK’s most Googled men of the year | ||
| Rank | Celebrity | Average monthly Google searches in 2022 |
| 1 | Johnny Depp | 437,490 |
| 2 | Will Smith | 231,090 |
| 3 | Elon Musk | 221,420 |
| 4 | Cristiano Ronaldo | 209,540 |
| 5 | Harry Styles | 208,680 |
| 6 | Pete Davidson | 202,180 |
| 7 | Kanye West | 142,460 |
| 8 | Tom Cruise | 141,610 |
| 9 | Ryan Reynolds | 139,930 |
| 10 | Prince Harry | 137,900 |
Commenting on the study, a spokesperson for CelebTattler said:
“This year has certainly not been lacking when it comes to celebrity news stories, whether it be Elon Musk taking over Twitter or the Don’t Worry Darling behind the scenes drama. This study offers a fascinating insight into which celebrities have had the biggest impact on the British people and it will be interesting to see if these search figures rise or fall in 2023.”
