Nepotism has been a constant in Hollywood, but 2022 was the year that every up and coming celebrity seemed like a nepo baby. It sparked a lot of talk, this realization: some people say these A-listers are getting off too easy, and others say they are talented and hardworking in their own right. These are the nepo babies that everyone’s asking to see. Do you think they deserved the limelight?
Hailey Bieber
When people think of Hailey Bieber, some just think of her as a model, but almost everyone recognizes her because she’s married to pop star Justin Bieber. And Hailey didn’t marry into fame, she was born into it. She is part of the famous Baldwin brothers clan, her father, Stephen Baldwin, and most famous member of the clan, Alec Baldwin (Hailey’s uncle).
At around the age of 18 the model started her career, and she is still going strong today. Recently, Bieber made her feelings about the current debate known, by sporting a tshirt that said ‘nepo baby’ on it.
Michael Consuelos
Michael Consuelos started acting at a young age and is now most famous for playing a younger version of his father’s character on Riverdale. While the casting choice makes perfect sense, the public is still pretty worked up about it.
With actor Mark Consuelos as his father and talk show host Kelly Ripa as his mother, Michael is definitely a nepo baby. That being said, the young actor did have to audition for the role, just like everyone else.
Charlie Hall
Charlie Hall is known for being actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s son and an actor in his own right. Charlie’s first role was in his mother’s show Veep in 2019.
Although Charlie hasn’t commented on the whole nepo baby debate — not even when he was specifically mentioned in a New York Magazine article — his mom had something to say. In her most Mariah Carey “I don’t know her” fashion, Julia clarified, “Yeah. I didn’t read it.”
Sydney Chandler
Sydney Chandler recently rose to fame with a starring role in Don’t Worry Darling — an opportunity that was readily available due to her father, Kyle Chandler, being a famous actor. According to Sydney herself, “My dad is an actor, and so you never want to do what your parents are doing. So I stayed very far away from that … [until] I ended up taking an acting class in Austin here in town when I was studying for my writing.”
While Sydney’s nepotism is inconsequential, it’s not the only thing the actress has made waves for. Chandler is seven years older than her boyfriend, actor Louis Partridge, which fans have an issue with being that Louis was just 17 years old when they met.
Deacon Phillippe
Singer/actor Deacon Phillippe is classified as a nepo baby because his parents are actors Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, but we’re not so sure he deserves the label. So far, Deacon’s only acting credit is a small role in Never Have I Ever.
Other than that, he’s known for his music, which he independently uploaded onto his TikTok. Sure, you could argue that Phillippe has so many TikTok followers because of his famous parents. But, what’s he supposed to do about that? Never use social media at all?
Zoë Kravitz
Actress Zoë Kravitz is the daughter of singer Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet. Zoë comes from a truly A-list family, has found immense fame herself, and has zero shame in being a nepo baby.
Although Kravitz used to have “deep insecurity” about following in her parents’ footsteps, she’s now confident with her place in the limelight. “It’s completely normal for people to be in the family business. It’s literally where last names came from.” She’s not wrong!
Maya Hawke
No one was particularly surprised when Maya Hawke got into acting, seeing as both her parents — Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke — are actors themselves. Maya knows she’s lucky, but she feels she’s figured out the perfect way to deal with it.
“You will get chances for free, but the chances will not be infinite, so you have to keep working and do a good job. If you do a bad job, the chances will stop. That’s my ethos.” Wait, does she think we regular folk get endless chances at our jobs?
Lewis Pullman
Lewis Pullman had a backup plan in case acting didn’t work out for him. While that’s an understandable strategy for most people, Lewis’s father is actor Bill Pullman, so it was pretty much guaranteed that he’d make it in Hollywood.
Nonetheless, Pullman was prepared for anything, he was “on the tractor division [in college]. I figured if acting didn’t work out I could be on the road crew, working the backhoe.” Clearly, that wasn’t necessary.
Jaden Smith
Jaden Smith has had a tough go of his time in Hollywood, as he was heavily mocked during his teenage years for saying all the dumb things every teenager ever has said — but he did so in the public eye.
Jaden started off following in his parents, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith’s, footsteps with acting but has since switched to working in music. We argue that Jaden’s struggle with fame was due to starting out too early… at just the age of five!
John David Washington
At first, John David Washington didn’t plan to be an actor like his father, Denzel Washington. John David actually had a successful football career but, sadly, had to retire due to an injury.
However, Washington says that he’d always wanted to be an actor, but shied away from it in an attempt to do something he could call his own. “Even though I was hiding what I really wanted to do, it gave me an identity.” Hopefully, he’s now happy with his new career.
Dakota Johnson
Dakota Johnson is primarily known for two things — starring in the cringe-worthy 50 Shades of Grey and being the nepo baby of actors Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson.
Dakota was 10 years old when she started acting and, like many nepo babies, she got her start playing the daughter of her mom’s character in Crazy in Alabama. Nowadays, Johnson is starring in movies including her very first superhero film, which is set to be released in 2024.
Billie Lourd
Technically speaking, Billie Lourd is a second-generation nepo baby. The actress’s grandmother, Debbie Reynolds, was an extremely successful actress with a career that lasted over 70 years!
Billie’s mother (Debbie’s daughter) was Carrie Fisher, who had many acting credits to her name before her passing — the most famous being that of Princess Leia in the Star Wars movies. While no one seemed to mind Carrie’s rise to fame, propelled by her mother’s connections, people are apparently really bothered by Billie.
Jack Quaid
Jack Quaid tried to accept as little help as possible from his actor parents, Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid, when pursuing his own movie career. In fact, Jack even declined his father’s offer to share an agent.
Quaid also considered changing his last name, but ultimately decided against it. The change would’ve been unnecessary, anyway, as many fans were surprised to learn he’s a nepo baby. After a period of imposter syndrome, Jack is “making an effort to focus on that less and just really trying to embrace this.”
Maude Apatow
Actress Maude Apatow is saddened by the fact that her career is being defined by those of her director father Judd Apatow and her actress mother Leslie Mann. “I try not to let it get to me because I obviously understand that I’m in such a lucky position.”
She continued, “A lot of people [in a similar position] have proven themselves over the years, so I’ve got to keep going and make good work.” All in good time, Maude, all in good time.
Margaret Qualley
Margaret Qualley’s acting credits go all the way back to 2013, but she recently rose to Hollywood’s A-list with the series Maid in 2021. One could argue that Margaret got the role because of her mom, Andie MacDowell, who played her mother in the show.
However, no one can argue that Qualley did a fantastic job and received several award nominations for her work. Many people consider Margaret to be proof that not all nepo babies are created equal. Wow, it’s almost as if they’re individual people!
Zoey Deutch
Zoey Deutch is a charming actress, just like her mother Lea Thompson. Zoey got her start at the age of 15, with a guest spot in The Suite Life on Deck. Her breakout role came four years later, as the star of Vampire Academy.
Nowadays, Deutch is working side-by-side with her mother on a podcast called A Total Switch Show about a mother and daughter who swap bodies. Sounds appropriate!
Lily-Rose Depp
Lily-Rose Depp is a model, just like her mother Vanessa Paradis — and an actor, just like her father, Johnny Depp. Lily-Rose knows that people think her parents are the ones to thank for her career, but she disagrees.
“The internet cares a lot more about who your family is than the people who are casting you in things. Maybe you get your foot in the door, but you still just have your foot in the door. There’s a lot of work that comes after that.”
Miley Cyrus
Actress/singer Miley Cyrus is what’s known as a “platinum grade” nepo baby — meaning that her fame has surpassed that of her celebrity parent, singer/actor Billy Ray Cyrus. While Miley hasn’t commented on her nepo baby label, her fans have had her back.
One person said, “I’m sorry but Miley Cyrus is too talented to be a nepo baby. Her dad is a nepo daddy.” While another fan insisted, “Billy Ray and the rest of the family would be working at McDonald’s right now if it wasn’t for Miley!”
Kate Hudson
Kate Hudson is a beloved actress, as is her mother, Goldie Hawn. Kate’s father, Bill Hudson, used to be a musician and actor — although he no longer works and never had a relationship with Kate, making him irrelevant in the nepo baby debate.
As for Hudson’s thoughts on nepotism in Hollywood, she doesn’t care. “I don’t care where you come from, or what your relationship to the business is — if you work hard and you kill it, it doesn’t matter.”
Tracee Ellis Ross
Tracee Ellis Ross is a rare nepo baby case, in that many fans don’t know that her mother is the legendary singer Diana Ross. That being said, industry insiders do know, and it hasn’t always worked in Tracee’s favor.
The actress recalls an agent telling her, “You come with all these things. You’re pretty, you have style, your mom is Diana Ross — and then you get into a room and nothing happens. You just don’t pop.” Ouch, we guess nepo babies have to work for it, too!
