Meet the new wave of secret ‘nepo babies’ – do you know their VERY famous parents who they’ve distanced themselves from?
FROM Lily Rose Depp, Brooklyn Beckham to Lily Collins, there are tonnes of successful stars working hard to make a name for themselves – who everyone also knows just so happen to have super famous parents.
‘Nepo Baby’ is often the catchy term used to describe the kids of celebs who have seemingly benefited in some way as a result of their parents‘ fame.
But there are some famous offspring who aren’t so keen to use the family name, and have actually seemingly worked hard to distance themselves from their parents’ shadows, keeping their famous family connection very low key.
Here, we take a look at the new generation of emerging talent who have made a name from themselves away from their super star parents… but can you guess whose offspring they are?
Scroll down to the bottom for the answers.
Nico Parker
She actually looks exactly like her famous mum, but very few The Last Of Us fans would have known who Nico Parker was when she played lead actor Pedro Pascal‘s daughter Sarah Miller in the first episode of the HBO hit.
The 19-year-old actresses dad is a famous filmmaker, and her mum has starred in everything from Mission: Impossible 2, Westworld, The Pursuit of Happyness, Run Fatboy Run and Line of Duty.
Nico made her film debut at the age of 11 in 2019 as Milly Farrier in the Walt Disney film Dumbo, directed by Tim Burton, and has also starred alongside her mother in sci-fi thriller Reminiscence, with Hugh Jackman.
Earlier this year she starred in her first leading role, winning the Breakthrough Performance Award at Sundance Festival for her role in film Suncoast.
While she doesn’t make a big deal about who her parents are, it’s always Thandiwe to have connections.
Nico was lucky to practically grew up on sets, telling Entertainment Weekly: “I was lucky to be able to experience that at such a young age.
“But because I was so little, it was just like, this is just my parents’ job. I didn’t see it as a flashy, exciting thing.”
Emmeline ‘Luka’ Bale
Emmeline, 19, who also goes by the name Luca, is a runway model who has worked with the likes of Dolce and Gabbana.
While Luka appeared in her father’s 2022 Marvel film, Thor: Love and Thunder, she has since focused on modelling, like her American mum.
Speaking years ago in 2009 to the Daily Mail, her father actually insisted he didn’t want his daughter following in his footsteps to become an actor, saying: “Amateur is absolutely fine, but no way professionally.
“I’ve seen the way that unfortunately some kids are unhappy in those situations.
“There’s no way I’d put my daughter through that.”
Margaret Qualley
Her mother was one of the biggest actresses of her era, starring in the likes of Four Weddings and a Funeral and Groundhog Day, so Margaret Qualley always had big shoes to fill if she wanted to get into acting.
And despite not using her famous mum’s last name, the 28 year old has done incredibly well to carve out her own name and reputation in the industry.
She’s most recognisable for her roles in HBO television series The Leftovers, playing a young mum who leaves her abusive partner in The Maid, and her praised performance opposite Emma Stone in Poor Things.
She’s mega talented, but of course there’s no denying that her connections have inevitably helped her move in all the right circles.
When she wed her now-husband, producer Jack Antonoff last year, many called it ‘the wedding of 2023’.
Her famous mother was of course in attendance – as was Taylor Swift, Zoë Kravitz and Lana Del Rey.
Speaking to Elle, she recently said: “I was always super proud of my mom. Her job always mattered a lot to her.
“She’s a really hard worker. And I think it’s part of the reason why I’ve always been able to dream so big is because of her success.
“It made me believe that the sky’s the limit.”
Maya Hawke
25-year-old Maya has not one, but two mega famous parents, and while some people may guess who her famous father is due to her surname, her mum is more surprising.
The actor got her big break playing Robin Buckley in the Netflix series Stranger Things, and also starred in 2023 film Maestro alongside Bradley Cooper, and the 2017 BBC adaptation of Little Women among other projects.
Speaking about being labelled as a ‘nepo baby’, Maya previously admitted to the Times that she believed her family ties influenced her casting in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as Flower Child, one of Charles Manson’s followers.
Speaking about having opportunities off the back of having famous parents, she said: “It’s a lucky place to be.
“My relationships with my parents are really honest and positive, and that supersedes anything anyone can say about it.”
Landon Barker
Landon Barker, 20, has just announced his upcoming tour, doing eight shows around the US and he released his debut single Friends With Your Ex was released last year.
The video starred TikTok megastar Charli D’Amelio, and with his tattoos and edgy looks, it’s probably hardly surprising Landon’s from rock royalty, and no doubt his dad would say he’s really grown up, literally in the Blink of an eye.
More recently, Landon’s fame level has skyrocketed even more and into the mainstream, with the arrival of his very famous stepmother.
She’s part of reality TV royalty and belongs to one of the biggest families on the planet – so let’s hope Landon can Keep Up.
Kaia Gerber
Given her extraordinary beauty, it will be no surprise that Kaia, 22, has a supermodel mum, who was one of the ‘Big Six’ nineties models, alongside the likes of Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell.
She therefore started her own modelling career at the tender age of just ten, starring in Young Versace’s first ever campaign, and has gone on to model for the likes of Vogue and Marc Jacobs.
She has also branched out into acting, and starred in films including Babylon and Bottoms.
Kaia, who has been dating Elvis star Austin Butler since 2022, says: “I won’t deny the privilege that I have.
“Even if it’s just the fact that I have a really great source of information and someone to give me great advice, that alone I feel very fortunate for.”
Maude Apatow
Maude, 26, rose to superstardom in US hit Euphoria, playing Lexi, the younger sister of Cassie, played by Sydney Sweeney, and last year she was cast in the Off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors.
But her parents are big names on the comedy film circuit, with her mum starring in the likes of Knocked Up, and This is 40.
Speaking about being labelled a ‘nepo baby’ to Net-a-Porter, Maude said: “I try not to let it get to me because I obviously understand that I’m in such a lucky position.
“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.
“It’s so early in my career, I don’t have much to show yet, but hopefully one day I’ll be really proud of the stuff I’ve done by myself.”
Deacon Phillippe
Deacon Phillippe’s parents may have split up, but not because of any Cruel Intentions… And while they are both big name actors, Deacon is actually more set on becoming a musician.
He’s a student at New York University, and in 2023 he released his debut album, A New Earth. He also appeared in Netflix show, Never Have I Ever.
In the past ‘nepo baby’ talk has really irritated the budding musician’s actor father, with him saying previously: “That’s what always annoys me about this whole nepotism talk with the industry.
“You know, so many people grow up and end up doing what their parents do, you know, to some degree or another.
“I always get offended for the children of actors and entertainers when people bring that up because yeah, of course, that’s what they’ve grown up around.”
ísadóra Bjarkardóttir Barney
Her mum was known for her eccentric sense of style and ‘out there’ outfits, as well as her innovative music.
But Ísadóra has more or less remained Oh So Quiet about her famous connections, and has proved herself to be an all rounder when it comes to the entertainment industry.
As well as being a musician herself, Ísadóra is also an actor, appearing in the 2022 film The Northman alongside Nicole Kidman, and she’s also modelled for Miu Miu.
FAMOUS FAMILY - DID YOU GUESS RIGHT?
Here are the answers - scroll down to see photos of each star with their famous parent...
- Nico Parker is the daughter of actress Thandiwe Newton and filmmaker Ol Parker.
- Emmeline’s dad is Batman actor Christian Bale, and American model and stunt performer Sibi Blazic.
- Margaret’s mum is Hollywood star Andie MacDowell.
- Maya is the daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman.
- Landon’s dad is Blink 182 rocker Travis Barker, and his step-mum is Kourtney Kardashian.
- Kaia’s mum is Cindy Crawford.
- Maude Apatow’s mum is Leslie Mann.
- Deacon is the son of Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe.
- ísadóra Bjarkardóttir Barney’s mum is Bjork.