Top 10 Gen Z Stars You Didn't Know Were Nepo Babies

Top 10 Gen Z Stars You Didn't Know Were Nepo Babies

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Gen Z Stars You Didn’t Know Were Nepo Babies.

For this list, we’ll be looking at the most notable young celebrities born in the mid-late ‘90s and 2000s you may not know have famous parents.

Did any of these names take you by surprise! Let us know in the comments!

#10: Nico Parker

Nico Parker only has a handful of credits to her name, but she’s already well on her way to becoming a superstar. The London-born actress made her silver screen debut in Tim Burton’s live-action version of Disney’s “Dumbo” in 2019, starring alongside Colin Farrell and Michael Keaton. More recently, she received attention for her portrayal of Sarah Miller in the HBO smash hit “The Last of Us”. But what many of us didn’t realize is that Parker is the daughter of actress Thandiwe Newton and filmmaker Ol Parker. There’s no denying she’s a star on the rise, and we can’t wait to see what she does next!

#9: Mia Threapleton

The daughter of Kate Winslet and Jim Threapleton, Mia Threapleton is following in her parents’ footsteps in the entertainment industry. In 2014, she had a minor part in the period piece, “A Little Chaos,” which starred her famous mom. A few years later in 2022, she portrayed the character of Rose in a television adaptation of “Dangerous Liaisons”. That same year, she and Winslet teamed up for the anthology series “I Am…” where they played an onscreen mother and daughter. Winslet would go on to earn a BAFTA TV Award for her work on the program, and we think it won’t be long before Mia is also bringing home gold.

#8: Maya Hawke

Maya Hawke practically has show business in her DNA! The young actress is the daughter of exes Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman. She made a big splash in the role of Robin Buckley on Netflix’s supernatural phenomenon “Stranger Things,” and has continued to impress ever since. Just take her role in Quentin Tarantino’s Academy Award-winning film “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, for instance. And we’d be remiss not to mention her work in 2022’s “Do Revenge”, or in 2023’s “Asteroid City”? Those are just a few of her credits, but in addition to acting, Hawke is also a talented musician. With an ever-growing resumé, we’re sure her famous parents couldn’t be more proud!

#7: Cooper Hoffman

The late Philip Seymour Hoffman is regarded as one of the best actors the world has ever had. It seems he passed his talented genes down to his son, Cooper, who carried on his father’s legacy and lit up on the big screen in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Licorice Pizza.” Just at the start of his 20s, this is his only complete credit as of 2023. However, Hoffman has two big pictures on the horizon scheduled to come out in 2024, including “Wildcat” with Laura Linney and Maya Hawke. Chock-full of talent and potential, Cooper Hoffman is one to watch!

#6: Maude Apatow

From the time she was young, Maude Apatow was building her filmography through her dad Judd Apatow’s comedies. She and her younger sister Iris both starred opposite their mom Leslie Mann in his films such as “Knocked Up” and “This Is 40.” Apatow’s time in front of the camera paid off, and offered the young starlet an acting career that some could only dream of. She’s notably impressed audiences in HBO’s hit “Euphoria”, and also makes time to fuel her passion for the stage. Indeed, 2023 has seen her take her talents both to Off-Broadway and the West End, in productions of “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Cabaret,” respectively.

#5: Lily-Rose Depp

Daughter of Johnny Depp and singer, model, and actress Vanessa Paradis, Lily-Rose Depp was destined for the bright lights of Hollywood. Born in France in 1999, she was offered work opportunities for Chanel when she was only a teen, soon being thrust into the spotlight and taking up modeling. She also started acting in her adolescence, with parts in flicks like “The Dancer.” Then, in 2023, she made waves at the Cannes International Film Festival with the premiere of her controversial HBO series “The Idol.” An icon in the making, Depp has only scratched the surface of what we’re sure she’ll accomplish in the fashion and acting industries.

#4: Ty Tennant

In 2002, Georgia Moffett gave birth to Ty Tennant. Years later, Moffett and her “Doctor Who” co-star David Tennant tied the knot, and he adopted Ty. Taking after his parents, he’s pursued a career in the entertainment industry, with 2019’s “Tolkien” being his first major film project. Since then, Tennant has appeared on a number of television series including “War of the Worlds”, “Doom Patrol” and “Around the World in 80 Days”. Most notably, the young actor starred in the “Game of Thrones” prequel, “House of the Dragon” as Young Aegon II Targaryen.

#3: Sam Nivola

Not all parents want their kids to follow in their footsteps, and for Sam Nivola, that couldn’t be more true. The son of Alessandro Nivola and Emily Mortimer, he revealed in a 2022 profile with The New Yorker, that his famous parents weren't too keen on the idea of him and his sister, May, pursuing acting. However, that didn’t stop the siblings from being cast in Noah Baumbach’s “White Noise”. Although the Nivola kids had acted in projects prior to it, the flick thrust them into the spotlight. With credits in new films like “Eileen” with Anne Hathaway and the upcoming “Maestro” with Bradley Cooper, Sam’s budding career is shaping up to be quite exciting.

#2: Charlie Hall

Charlie Hall is no stranger to show business. Growing up as the son of Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Brad Hall, he has acting in his veins. For instance, he was in one episode of his mom’s HBO comedy, “Veep” in 2019. He also started a web series at one point. More recently, Hall caught folks’ attention as Andrew on “The Sex Lives of College Girls.” In addition to being an actor, he’s also pretty athletic, having played college basketball while attending Northwestern University. We’re betting those skills come in handy, notably helping him with his work on shows like “Bel-Air.” Between his comedic talents and athletic ability, we’re sure his career is gonna be a slam dunk.

#1: Gracie Abrams

Gracie Abrams did not follow her famous dad J. J. Abrams into the world of directing, but rather forged her own path in a different creative industry: music. The young singer-songwriter released her very first extended play in the year 2020, and has been creating new music ever since. Her first studio album, “Good Riddance,” came out in 2023, showing everyone she’s a force to be reckoned with. She was also selected as one of the opening acts for Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated Eras Tour. Although she’s still at the beginning of her career, it looks like Abrams is already making a splash, and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.