13 historically significant individuals born on January 31. January 31 is the birth date of several notable individuals in politics, literature, and entertainment. Among those born on this day are Swedish diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner Alva Myrdal (1902), Japanese Nobel Prize-winning author Kenzaburō Ōe (1935), former Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands (1938), Venezuelan actress Patricia Velásquez (1971), and Australian actress Portia de Rossi (1973). They achieved prominence in the 20th and early 21st centuries.
Total Born
13
Countries
9
Top Century
20th· 8
Top Field
scientist
3 individuals
Headline Figures
Birth Distribution by Century
20th (8)
19th (2)
16th (2)
16th C.20th C.
20th Century
8Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Rudolf Mössbauer
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Physics (1961)
Kenzaburō Ōe
essayistnovelist
Japanese writer who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1994, known for novels exploring post-war Japan and his experiences raising a disabled son.
Preity Zinta
actorfilm actor
Bollywood actress known for her roles in films like 'Kal Ho Naa Ho' and 'Veer-Zaara' who later became co-owner of the Punjab Kings cricket team.
Portia de Rossi
autobiographerfilm actor
Australian-born actress best known for her role as Lindsay Bluth Fünke on Arrested Development and as a cast member of Ally McBeal.
Alva Myrdal
diplomatpolitician
Swedish diplomat and sociologist who won the 1982 Nobel Peace Prize for her work in nuclear disarmament and served as a UN ambassador.
Beatrix of the Netherlands
amateuraristocrat
Queen of the Netherlands from 1980 to 2013, who abdicated in favor of her son Willem-Alexander after a 33-year reign.
Patricia Velásquez
actorfilm actor
Venezuelan actress and model who gained international recognition for her role as Anck-su-namun in The Mummy Returns (1999) and became one of the first Latina supermodels.
Bouna Sarr
association football player
Full-back who plays for Bayern Munich and represented France at youth levels before switching to play for Senegal's senior national team.
19th Century
2Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Irving Langmuir
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1932)
Theodore W. Richards
scientist
Nobel laureate: Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1914)
18th Century
1Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Joseph Paul Gaimard
botanistexplorer
French naval surgeon and naturalist (1793-1858)
16th Century
2Figure
Lifespan
Notes
Origin
Jacob Milich
astronomermathematician
German astronomer and mathematician (1501-1559)
Daniel Schwenter
librarianlinguist
German mathematician
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the most famous person born on January 31?
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, born on January 31, 1938, is one of the most recognized individuals with this birth date. She ruled from 1980 to 2013. Nobel Prize winner Kenzaburō Ōe and Swedish diplomat Alva Myrdal are also notable.
Are there any Nobel Prize winners born on January 31?
Yes, Alva Myrdal, born in 1902, received the Peace Prize in 1982, and Kenzaburō Ōe, born in 1935, won the Literature Prize in 1994. They contributed to diplomacy and literature.
What celebrities were born on January 31?
Venezuelan actress and model Patricia Velásquez, born in 1971, and Australian-American actress Portia de Rossi, born in 1973, are celebrities born on January 31. Both have had successful film and television careers.