I’m sure by now you know that they make up about 90% of the creative industries, but there are still some names that you probably don’t realise come from a background of fame. Here is a list of ten celebrities you (probably) didn’t realise are nepo babies…
Disclaimer: of course, nepo baby discourse is always a fun one to partake in – but I am in no way diminishing their very real talents and successful careers. If anything, I wish I was them.
There’s no denying that Jennifer Aniston has worked her way to become a household name through her decade-long role on television sitcom Friends, and successful comedy films. However, what you probably didn’t know was that her father John Aniston acted on Days of Our Lives for 37 years, and her mother Nancy Dow was a successful actress, model, and author.
Has she addressed the nepo baby claims: No, but in 2022 Aniston faced backlash for her famous roots after saying celebrities like Paris Hilton and Monica Lewinsky are “famous for doing nothing”.
American film director, screenwriter, former actress, and producer Sofia Coppola is best known for directing The Virgin Suicides, Maire Antoinette, and Priscilla. She is the daughter of filmmakers Eleanor and Francis Ford Coppola, who is, for context, considered one of the greatest directors of all time, and best known for directing The Godfather. Sofia Coppola also debuted as an actress as an infant in The Godfather, and later played a key role in The Godfather III.
Has she addressed the nepo baby claims: No, but in 2023 Coppola came under some heat after her 16-year-old daughter, Romy Mars, debuted as the internet’s new favourite nepo baby, following a viral TikTok in which she claimed she was grounded for trying to charter a helicopter to have dinner with a friend.
Kaia Gerber first made her runway debut in 2017 for a Calvin Klein collection and has since been on the cover of numerous international editions of Vogue, been named Model of the Year, and acted in several projects including Bottoms and American Horror Story. She is the daughter of supermodel Cindy Crawford.
Has she addressed the nepo baby claims: Yes, in 2023, Gerber said “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.”
Gracie Abrams is an American singer-songwriter, debuting in 2019 with her first EP Minor. She was born to film director and producers, J.J. Abrams and Katie McGrath.
Has she addressed the nepo baby claims: Yes, in an interview with Rolling Stone, Abrams said “Obviously we can’t control where we are born into, and there are a million visible and even more invisible advantages to having family members who are in any entertainment industry. I know how hard I work, and I know how separate I’ve kept [my parents] from every conversation about anything careerwise, but of course you can understand what it looks like from the outside.”
Best known for his title role in Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen, earning him the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, Ben Platt is the son of film and theatre producer Marc Platt.
Has he addressed the nepo baby claims: Not really. When Rolling Stone asked Platt about being on the cover of New York Magazine’s Nepo Baby cover, he asked to skip the comment and ended the interview early...
Maude Apatow is best known for her portrayal of Lexi Howard in Euphoria but has been acting since 2004 when she debuted in films Knocked Up, Funny People, and This is 40 - all produced and directed by her father Judd Apatow. Her mother, Leslie Mann, is also a successful American actress, with Maude appearing alongside her mother in all three of the films.
Has she addressed the nepo baby claims: Yes, in an interview with Net-a-Porter Apatow said “At first it was sad. I try not to let it get to me because I obviously understand that I’m in such a lucky position”.
American actor Jake Gyllenhaal is widely known for his prominent roles in Donnie Darko, Brokeback Mountain, Nightcrawler, Zodiac, and Spider-Man: Far From Home. Debuting as a child actor in 1991, he is the son of director Stephen Gyllenhaal and screenwriter Noami Foner.
Has he addressed the nepo baby claims: Despite his appearance in most nepo-baby lists, no.
The English actress is best known for her leading role in season one of Netflix’s Bridgerton and began her career as a child actress in BBC One’s Waterloo Road. Unbeknownst to most, she is the daughter of Emmerdale screenwriter Tim Dynevor, and actress Sally Dynevor, who is widely known for her role as Sally Webster on Coronation Street.
Has she addressed the nepo baby claims: No, and she seems to get away with it most of the time.
Despite the giveaway last name, many are still unaware that this American producer and actress, best known for Wild Child, Scream Queens, and American Horror Story, is the niece of famous actress Julia Roberts. One of her earliest roles was in America’s Sweethearts, which her aunt starred in.
Has she addressed the nepo baby claims: Yes, Roberts told PopEater “They talk about nepotism, which I think is so ridiculous considering it’s obviously not true; because I’ve auditioned for so many things and never gotten the part … maybe someone can get you one part, but they can’t really get you 10 parts”.
American actress Riley Keough had her breakthrough role in The Girlfriend Experience, and has since starred in several projects, most recently playing Daisy Jones in Daisy Jones & The Six. She is the granddaughter of Elvis and Priscilla Presley, and daughter to the late Lisa Marie Presley. She became the sole owner of the Graceland estate following her mother’s death.
Has she addressed the nepo baby claims: Yes, Keough said that "[I] grew up very privileged with my mother, but my dad didn't live like that. And I think experiencing both sides has been helpful”. She also spoke about her bond with Zoe Kravitz, daughter of Lenny Kravitz, saying that “we would hang out as nepo babies, literally”.
