Summary
Maya Hawke readily admits that her role in Quentin Tarantino’sOnce Upon a Time in Hollywoodwas the result of nepotism. Hawke, who is set to return forStranger Thingsseason 5, is the daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, who are both acclaimed actors. One of her first acting roles was in Tarantino’s 2019 Hollywood dramedy,and has slowly been building to a prominent career. In addition to Netflix’s acclaimed sci-fi show, Hawke has gone on to star in everything from the teen black comedyDo Revengeto landing a major role inInside Out 2as the new emotion, Anxiety.
In an interview withThe Times of London, Hawke spoke out about the accusations that nepotism potentially sparked her career, including playing a serious role in her casting inOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood. She stated that she did audition for the movie, butHawke believes that she received the role because of her relationship with Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, and states that she never intended to insinuate otherwise. Check out her quote below:
I’ve been wildly made fun of for this clip when I said, on the red carpet, that I auditioned. I never meant to imply that I didn’t get the part for nepotistic reasons — I think I totally did…
Nepotism Is Becoming A Bigger Question In Hollywood
The Nepo-Baby Discussion Prompted Wider Debates
Sparked by aNew Yorkerarticle that criticized the prominence of nepotism in Hollywood, the “nepo-baby” movement questioned how many Hollywood stars were born into fame. With prominent figures, including Michael Douglas, Jane Fonda, Lily-Rose Depp, Dakota Johnson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Platt, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Miley Cyrus all being the children of famous faces, the meritocratic elements of the movie industry appear non-existent. There are still actors who do thrive with humble origins, butthe “nepo-baby” movement questioned whether nepotism is too common in Hollywood.
What A Nepo Baby Is (& Why Everyone’s Talking About Them Now)
The conversation around nepo babies is one of Hollywood’s biggest controversies, currently. Nepotism is sure to have an impact on the industry.
Maya Hawke’s admission that she was cast solely as a nod to her famous parents is not a surprise, given how many similar stories exist withinOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood. She starred alongside Rumer Willis and Lena Dunham, who both had famous parents. Of course, the movie is an intentional nod to Hollywood’s progression as an industry, so including the children of major stars is a way to consider that history and its coming future. Considering that Hawke will star in the majorupcoming movieInside Out 2, Tarantino was right about its direction.
The idea that actors primarily come from the children of pre-existing famous parents questions whether Hollywood actually cares about merit. Many of these actors are talented, buttheir ties to celebrity parents make a prominent role much more achievable for themthan for regular actors without famous parents. The “nepo-baby” concept is a means to tackle that question and to attempt to promote unknown voices in the movie industry. Hawke’s recognition that herOnce Upon a Time in Hollywoodrole was nepotistic is her way of reckoning with that question.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Cast
Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, which takes place in Los Angeles in 1969, at the height of hippy Hollywood. The two lead characters are Rick Dalton, the former star of a western TV series, and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth. Both struggle to make it in a Hollywood they don’t recognize anymore, but Rick soon realizes he’s the next-door neighbor of the infamous Sharon Tate.
