Top 10 Child Stars You Didn't Know Were Nepotism Babies

A native of the City of Angels, Emily Osment rose to prominence playing arguably one of the greatest sidekicks in kid show history. For five years, Osment starred as Lilly Truscott, the best friend of the titular character in Disney Channel’s “Hannah Montana”. To win the star-making role, she probably got acting advice from her Oscar-nominated older brother Haley Joel Osment. Haley, you may recall, became one of the most recognizable young faces in Hollywood due to his performance in 1999’s “The Sixth Sense”. It also probably helped that Osment’s father, and manager, is actor Eugene Osment, who has made appearances in films like “Minority Report” and “A.I. Artificial Intelligence”.

This budding star made her on-screen debut in the Disney+ comedy series “The Santa Clauses”. Allen-Dick plays Sandra Calvin-Claus, the youngest daughter of Tim Allen’s lead character who, it turns out, inherited some of his magical powers. If it seems like the young actress feels right at home on the show, that’s probably because she’s starring opposite her real-life father. Yes, just like in the Claus-verse, Allen-Dick is the youngest child of Tim Allen, from his marriage with actress Jane Hajduk. According to Allen, he initially envisioned a tiny role for his daughter on the series, as an elf, but the producers felt she was better suited for a much bigger part.

Born to Hollywood director Richard Linklater, Lorelei Linklater first briefly appeared in her father’s 2001 film “Waking Life”. Her most recognizable role to date was in the critically acclaimed “Boyhood,” which was also directed by her father, and shot over the course of 12 years. In the film, Linklater plays Samantha, the older sister to the central character Mason. The actress reportedly nabbed the role without even auditioning for it. Nonetheless, she turned out to be perfect for the part, even though she apparently almost opted out halfway through the 12-year shoot. Linklater has continued to appear in mostly independent films since then.

The term ‘nepotism baby’ began to catch on in 2022 after a social media post about Maude Apatow’s Hollywood connections went viral. If you were a fan of the raunchy comedy film genre in the mid-to-late 2000s, then you definitely recognize her last name. The actress is the older daughter of famed writer-director Judd Apatow and his longtime collaborator Leslie Mann. Like many other nepo babies, Apatow got her start in her father’s movies, appearing as her mother’s daughter in “Knocked Up” and “This is 40”. In those films, she also shared the screen with her younger sister Iris. Regarding her status, Apatow deems herself lucky, but apparently hopes to do more projects that don’t involve her famous parents.

One of the breakout characters on HBO’s “The Last of Us” was Sarah, the daughter of Pedro Pascal’s Joel, who appeared in the first episode. When the show premiered, many viewers noted how the actress who played the part, Nico Parker, bore a striking resemblance to another Hollywood performer. Turns out that striking resemblance is as a result of good ol’ genes, as Parker is the daughter of “Westworld” star Thandiwe Newton. Not only does she have a famous mother but her father, Ol Parker, is also an industry heavyweight, having written and directed 2018’s “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again”. Parker herself weighed in on the ‘nepo baby’ discourse, acknowledging the incredible advantage her parents’ positions afforded her.

Emma Roberts has gained notoriety for playing rich, self-involved characters on shows like “American Horror Story” and “Scream Queens”. While we’re sure she differs from her well-known characters in so many ways, in real life, Roberts also comes from a pretty privileged background. Her father, Eric Roberts, is an Oscar-nominated actor who has blossomed on the screen for over 40 years with more than 700 credits to his name. But even more famous is her aunt, America’s sweetheart Julia Roberts, who has been a leading lady in Hollywood since her starring role in 1990’s “Pretty Woman”. Roberts reportedly developed an interest in acting from watching her aunt Julia work on set.

Making your on-screen debut in a Hollywood blockbuster may be nerve-racking, but it’s probably much easier when your parents call the shots on set. That was the case for Ever Anderson whose first film appearance came in 2016’s “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter”. The young actress is the oldest daughter of the franchise’s star Milla Jovovich, and Paul W. S. Anderson, who wrote and directed the 2016 film. Although the couple reportedly tried to veer Anderson away from the industry, her dream of being in the movies eventually triumphed. Since her debut, she has appeared in Marvel’s “Black Widow” as a young Natasha Romanoff and as one of the titular characters in the 2023 film “Peter Pan & Wendy”.

Long before she gained international fame on the Netflix period drama “Bridgerton,” Phoebe Dynevor got her start as a child actress in her native England. Dynevor was only 14 when she launched her career with a regular role on the BBC One drama series “Waterloo Road”. But while her name has now traveled across the pond, that of her mother remains pretty popular back in their home country. Dynevor’s mother, Sally, has starred on the long-running ITV soap opera “Coronation Street” since 1986. Her father, Tim, also works in the British entertainment industry, most notably as a screenwriter on “Emmerdale,” another long-running soap opera.

The acting genes in New Zealand actress Thomasin McKenzie’s family go up two generations. McKenzie’s grandmother, Dame Kate Harcourt is a legend in the country’s industry, having enjoyed a lengthy career in film, TV, theater and radio. Her mother, Miranda Harcourt, was also conferred the title of Dame, and is an actress and acting coach in New Zealand. That probably explains McKenzie’s impressive acting chops, which have earned her critical acclaim and major roles in films like “Jojo Rabbit” and “Old”. If you ask her mother Miranda, however, she’ll tell you that the family’s influence had nothing to do with McKenzie’s success, seeing as they’re relatively unknown in Hollywood.

Although his first speaking role came in Wes Anderson’s “Moonrise Kingdom,” Lucas Hedges made his on-screen debut in the lesser-known 2007 comedy “Dan in Real Life”. The film was co-written and directed by Hedges’ father Peter Hedges. The filmmaker and novelist is most notable for penning the screenplay for 1993’s “What's Eating Gilbert Grape,” which was based on his own novel of the same name. He also received an Oscar nomination for writing the screenplay for the rom-com “About a Boy”. It’s certainly not the only Academy Award nod in their household, as Hedges also received a nomination for his breakout performance in the critically lauded drama “Manchester by the Sea”.