From Kendall to Gracie Abrams, some of your favorite artists, actors, and influencers are considered a nepo baby. Keep reading to find out what it means.
Have you ever been so impressed by the performance of an actress or actor that, out of curiosity, you Google them and then find out that their parents are famous? Are you disappointed after learning that? Yeah, me too.
This idea of the “Nepo-Baby” is something that has sparked a lot of frustration on social media, causing people to wonder if the kids of famous actors, writers, directors, or models have a much easier path into the industry because of their last name. This could be true, at least in some cases, and it’s called nepotism.
Basically, nepotism is when some people use their power to obtain certain opportunities or favors for their family members—for example, landing a job without the usual selection process. So, in the case of actors, children of celebrities might not even have to audition for a part because their daddy called the casting director to cash in a favor. Is it unfair? Yes. Are some of these Nepo-Babies talented? Also yes, and sometimes they even end up changing their last name to separate themselves from these nepotism ties.
For this reason, some Nepo-Babies are not very well-known by the general public. It’s shocking to find out who they’re related to, because it makes you wonder if they realize their privilege or advantage over other industry hopefuls. But let's face it, some Nepo-Babies are so iconic that we don't even care who their parents are—we might even thank the media for granting them the spotlight so quickly.
So, here are some interesting Nepo-Babies that you’re probably not aware of:
Elle King
The country-pop singer—maybe you remember her 2014 radio hit "Ex's & Oh's"—is the daughter of well-known actor Rob Schneider, the dude from movies like Grown Ups and The Hot Chick. Unlike other children of celebrities, Elle decided to change her last name to her mother’s last name to cut connections with her father and create a career for herself, something that shocked a lot of people on TikTok when they found out who her father is. She’s actually really talented! Even her father tweeted about this, clarifying that she’s earned her accomplishments all by herself and that he’s proud of her.
Margaret Qualley
You may know the actress from her last leading role on the Netflix show Maid. Well, did you know that her mother is actress Andie MacDowell (known for her roles in 90s movies like Four Weddings and a Funeral and Groundhog Day)? They both act in Maid and play as mother and daughter on-screen, which makes the show so much more interesting. If you haven’t seen it, go watch it! Margaret has had small roles in movies like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, but in Maid people got to see her leading talent.
Iris Law and Rafferty Law
The last name makes it obvious, but these are Jude Law’s kids, the famous British actor who’s been in countless movies, but you’ve probably seen him in Sherlock Holmes or The Holiday. Recently, he also played young Albus Dumbledore in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald. Iris is a model/actress with a large media following on Instagram and TikTok, but she received more attention when she shaved her hair and dyed it blonde. She is what people call an “Instagram model”, but TBH, she is a fashion icon and her outfits are fire. Rafferty, on the other hand, isn’t as well-known as his sister. He had a lead role in the 2021 film Twist, an adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist, but it was . . . bad. The reviews of this one were brutal, which proves that even if you are a Nepo-Baby, your career moves won’t always be successful.
Jack Quaid
You may know him from his role as Hughie Campbell on the Amazon series The Boys, a really good and gritty show. But did you know that he’s the son of Meg Ryan, the iconic leading lady from Sleepless in Seattle and When Harry Met Sally (I like old movies, don't judge), and Dennis Quaid, the father in The Parent Trap? I know the last name gives it away, but it's still, like, what?! Jack sure is a Nepo-Baby, but his performance in the Amazon hit series blew us away, so we understand why he’s so famous now.
Beanie Feldstein
Now this bitch is talented AF—she's an amazing actress and singer. She was in Lady Bird, Neighbors 2, and Booksmart, where she really caught people's attention. You may not know it, but her brother is actor and Oscar nominee Jonah Hill from Superbad and The Wolf of Wall Street, to name a few of the many movies he’s been in. So maybe she had an easier time making it in the acting industry, but I bet she would have made it anyway. She’ll soon be seen as Fanny Brice in the new production of Funny Girl. Somewhere, Lea Michele is crying in a corner.
Zoey Deutch
People love this actress—myself included—and she’s been since she was a kid. But do you know who her mother is? Zoey’s the daughter of actress Lea Thompson, AKA Marty McFly's mother in Back to the Future. Zoey has been in some great Netflix productions, like Ryan Murphy's The Politician—Murphy is a director devoted to casting Nepo-Babies—and the rom-com Set It Up. She’s also been in Zombieland: Double Tap, where she played one of her most iconic and fun characters. She’s one of Hollywood's favorite Nepo-Babies, so be prepared to see her in lots of movies and series for years to come.
So, there you have it. Some of these Nepo-Babies are shocking, some are obvious, and some make you wonder: Why didn't I realize it earlier? They look exactly like their parents! Maybe they were offered more opportunities because of their last names, or were able to break into the industry because of their parental connections, but some just want to make it by themselves. Even so, it would sure be nice to be a Nepo-Baby. Life would definitely be easier if my mom was a rich and famous actress. As they say on TikTok: Zooey Deutch, how—does it feel—to live MY dream?!!