Hollywood Nepotism: The Good, the Bad, and The Ugly

[methodwriter85]

       I'll start.

 

      My current favorite nepotism is Lily Rabe. She's fantastic, with a luminous presence and a wonderful legacy for Jill Clayburgh. She has the definite chops for a long and successful career in movies, t.v., and stage. I love that she started earning her stripes on the stage.

 

       Good nepotism for me...I'm really loving Emma Roberts. I think she's done a great job in playing to her strengths, and that she course-corrected away from trying to do American Sweetheart parts. Her character in Scream 4 was great, and she re-iterated how good she is to me on American Horror Story.

 

       Potentially good nepotism for me...currently, I like Dakota Johnson a lot. I think she has a good presence, and I think she might actually have more of her father's talent as opposed to Melanie Griffith, who was such a "one great fluke role for a mediocre actress" character it's crazy. I'm not sure what 50 Shades of Grey will do for her, but I have liked her in all the bit parts I've seen her in.

 

     As for "leaning towards bad"....I haven't really been that impressed with Mamie Gumer. Maybe it's massively unfair to compare her to her legend of a mother, but that's the rub of nepotism. Maybe she's more of a stage actress as opposed to someone suited for t.v. and film? I'm not sure, but I've yet to really take notice of her in a role.

 

       As for the ugly...Jaden Smith owns this thread. Mainly because his daddy refuses to let Jaden actually work his way through sitcoms and Disney Channel t.v. movies and build himself that way, and started buying his son leading movie roles. Even Aaron Spelling didn't try to have Tori headline massive budget movies.

[AimingforYoko]

The good:

I think both Bridges boys surpassed their dad. I think Michael Douglas surpassed Kirk, as well. Walter Huston was probably a better actor, but John had the better career as a director and writer. (Although Chinatown, not too shabby) I think all the Carradines had a better career than their dad, a lifelong 'B' player in some really bad films.

The bad:
Sofia Coppola. Although she was not first choice for Godfather III (Winona Ryder), and she found her niche behind the camera.

[GreekGeek]

The good:

 

Marlo Thomas, in her early years as "That Girl" plus her continuation of her dad's work at St. Jude's Children's Hospital

Liza Minnelli, at least until she began matching her mother's train-wreckery as well as her singing and acting talents.

Angelina Jolie, once she got through with her psycho-chick phase and began adopting children.

The others who have already been mentioned, especially the Bridges and Carradine brothers.

 

The bad:

 

Kate Hudson--maybe this is unfair, as she was good in Almost Famous, but she got pigeonholed into silly rom coms. Not that Goldie Hawn was any great shakes as an actress either.

Melanie Griffith--silly baby girl voice, not attractive in anyone over 12.

Frank Sinatra Jr., even though he is not a movie star.

[methodwriter85]

Speaking of Goldie Hawn's off-spring...

 

Kate Hudson, I think, reminds me of Katie Holmes in the sense that she had potential, then got lazy and didn't develop it. Oliver Hudson hasn't really been a movie star, more of a t.v. star. I don't think he would've had a shot at stardom without his name- but I do think he improved during his time as kind-hearted dimwit Adam on The Rules of Engagement. He's not half-bad as the villain on Nashville- I don't think the guy can really "lead" a show, but  I think he's developing into a dependable supporting character type.

 

On deck is Wyatt Russell, who really does look like a perfect blend between Goldie and Kurt. He was a hockey player until injuries sidelined him, so he's trying to get into the biz right now. I only really know him from a short cameo as the hockey player that hits on Debbie in This is 40, but he apparently stole the show in 22 Jump Street, so we'll see. I do think that it's good it seems like he's taking things slowly and building things up, like Jack Quaid is. (Marvel in The Hunger Games.)

 

Because it needs to be said again, the Jaden Smith route has to be the WORST  nepotism route any person can take. Karate Kid did well while After Earth did well overseas, but the over-exposure he's gotten hasn't been good for the kid.

[Princess Sparkle]

As for "leaning towards bad"....I haven't really been that impressed with Mamie Gumer. Maybe it's massively unfair to compare her to her legend of a mother, but that's the rub of nepotism. Maybe she's more of a stage actress as opposed to someone suited for t.v. and film? I'm not sure, but I've yet to really take notice of her in a role.

 

I actually think she's flat out terrible as an actress.  She is very, very lucky to be the daughter of Meryl Streep.  I feel the same way about Eva Amurri.  

 

I don't know if it's nepotism per se, but I think Angelina Jolie, Bryce Dallas Howard,Gwyneth Paltrow, Jane Fonda and Drew Barrymore are all great success stories.  And save for Bryce, all succeed their parent's legacies.  

 

She's more tv than movies, but Rashida Jones has done pretty well for herself.

[gwlisa]

Can I be superficial about this? Kate Hudson isn't attractive to me. I saw a pic recently and I'm amazed with all her money she has never gotten her ears pinned back. Especially since she had a nose job, she's morally ok with plastic surgery.

 

I see women who are much more attractive and wonder how they never hit it big yet Kate Hudson headlined some rom coms. Nepotism at its worst.

 

<img>http://cdn03.cdn.justjared.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/hudson-advice/kate-hudson-gives-baby-advice-to-today-savannah-guthrie-06.jpg</img>

[methodwriter85]

   I'm also pretty sure that Kate Hudson got a minor boob job to take her to a B-cup instead of staying flat. And I'll be superficial as well- Mamie Gumer has a similar face where you can tell she's Meryl's daughter, but the features just did not come together that well. And Rumer Willis was just an unfortunate combination of her parents. Although with Rumer, I gotta hand it to her for sticking in there and taking whatever will come her way even when it's dumb t.v. comedies and such. She reminds me of Jamie Lee Curtis in that regard. That's not to say that she'll ever end up doing the iconic roles that Jamie Lee Curtis did, but she's clearly paying her dues and working as much as she can instead of resorting to reality t.v. ala Tori Spelling.

 

I don't know if it's nepotism per se, but I think Angelina Jolie, Bryce Dallas Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jane Fonda and Drew Barrymore are all great success stories.  And save for Bryce, all succeed their parent's legacies.

 

 

       As much as Gwyneth Paltrow can be one stuck-up, annoying snob, I have to say she's very capable of acting her skinny little Macrobiotic butt off that I don't mind her as much as I would someone who had a similar attitude but was a shitty actress. She's done a pretty good job of surviving past her ingénue days. As for Bryce, it's always disappointed me that she hasn't had a bigger career...I've been on her side since The Village.

Edited August 5, 2014 by methodwriter85

[methodwriter85]

After watching Very Good Girls, I am again reminded of my utter shock that Elizabeth Olsen actually came from the Olsen family, because her sisters had very little actual acting talent. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Olsen just has "It"- this ability to make things seem real and grounded and like she's not acting in a part. She's been able to play tortured young women, ditzy teenage girls in love, and she's getting a shot at the action flicks. If you had told me four years ago that there would be an Olsen sister with a legitimate shot at eventually making the A-list movie star list, I would have laughed my ass off.

 

I'm really excited to see what she does.

Edited October 28, 2014 by methodwriter85

[methodwriter85]

 

It looks like a film that Meryl is doing as a favour to her daughter in hopes of waking up her dormant career.

 

I mean, I love Eva Amurri, but there's a reason why she's a working t.v. actress and not some big movie actress. In Mamie's case, it's pretty pathetic she wasn't even able to carry a CW Grey's Anatomy Junior type show. To be brutally honest, at 31 and with the connections she has, if it hasn't happened now, it ain't happening. She hasn't even managed to pull the "very limited but can be good in the right role", like Emma Roberts did.

 

I mean, Emma Roberts was HORRIBLE in American Sweetheart roles, but her career has took off playing brittle, bitchy roles. She looks set to play a sorority girl on Scream Queens on Fox, and Ryan Murphy seems to love her, which means she'll always have a spot on a show unless she does something to piss him off.

 

Rumer Willis is doing the Dancing with the Stars route. I don't think she'll ever get near her parents, but I admire that she's basically taken whatever she can and really worked on her dues instead of just bitching to Daddy to put her in more movies.

 

Dakota Johnson's newfound fame is well-deserved. Anyone who can take Anastacia Steele and make her into a relatable person is pretty talented in my opinion, especially when you're against someone who is clearly phoning it in

Edited May 9, 2015 by methodwriter85

[Bastet]

I actually think she's flat out terrible as an actress.  She is very, very lucky to be the daughter of Meryl Streep.  I feel the same way about Eva Amurri.

 

I've only ever seen Amurri in The Banger Sisters (well, and that quick, dialogue-free shot of her in Dead Man Walking), and she was so bad I felt sorry for her.  I don't know if she's improved with age, but based on that one role I would certainly say she's no Susan Sarandon.

 

I don't think I've seen Meryl Streep's daughter in anything.  But they both have very tough acts to follow, so I hope their moms passed on thick skin if nothing else.

[Athena]

Having seen all three of Streep's daughters in this photospread. I have to agree with another poster who said they haven't inherited Streep's looks. Streep was beautiful in her early films in addition to being talented. Her daughters are good looking, but they aren't Streep. Hard legacy to follow though.

[methodwriter85]

Having seen all three of Streep's daughters in this photospread. I have to agree with another poster who said they haven't inherited Streep's looks. Streep was beautiful in her early films in addition to being talented. Her daughters are good looking, but they aren't Streep. Hard legacy to follow though.

 

It's like Rumer. She's not ugly, but she's never going to be cast as the beauty. And I think she's done a rather good job at working with that.

 

Seriously though, THIS is pretty hard to live up to. It's unreal. You can see where Streep is their mother, but the features just didn't come together in the same exquisite way.

 

She's not a movie star, but Heather Locklear's daughter is a clear chip off the old block. She's done a few things at this point and I think she's inherited her mother's charm and charisma. If she plays her cards right I think Ava Sambora can do really well.

[ChelseaNH]

So, does Scott Eastwood have any staying power?  Did he get anything more from his father than his bone structure?

[methodwriter85]

So, does Scott Eastwood have any staying power?  Did he get anything more from his father than his bone structure?

 

People seem to have generally positive reviews of The Longest Ride. It didn't set the world on fire but the movie at least made back its production budget. It seems like a good "first movie lead" for him. Not setting the world on fire but not embarrassing, either.

 

Dave Franco- great nepotism. He has a lot of charm and charisma and he's such a good little scene stealer. He's too short to be a leading man but I can see him having a great sidekick career.

Edited May 10, 2015 by methodwriter85

[JBC344]

People seem to have generally positive reviews of The Longest Ride. It didn't set the world on fire but the movie at least made back its production budget. It seems like a good "first movie lead" for him. Not setting the world on fire but not embarrassing, either.

 

Dave Franco- great nepotism. He has a lot of charm and charisma and he's such a good little scene stealer. He's too short to be a leading man but I can see him having a great sidekick career.

The Franco brothers remind me so much of the Fanning sisters.  Older sibling who is regarded as a great actor but tends to do mostly critical acclaim work with the occasional mainstream movie.  Younger sibling who is regarded as a good actor who is a much more accessible conventional (looks and talent) actor whose career is just as successful.

[Rick Kitchen]

Scott Eastwood's next film is Snowden with an all-star cast, if that film doesn't make money with Joseph Gordon Levitt, Shailene Woodley, Melissa Leo, and Tom Wilkinson, there's going to be something wrong with the script.

He's also in Suicide Squad, though I don't know who he's playing.  Considering it's a huge cast, he probably won't get much screen time.

[methodwriter85]

Agreed. James has always that this kind of "loner in the corner Jordan Catalano" kind of beauty to him, while Dave Franco is so clearly the Homecoming King/President of His Frat beauty. Similar to how Dakota Fanning is pretty in this quiet, brainy way while Elle is toootttallly someone who looks like she should have been her high school Homecoming Queen.

 

 

He's also in Suicide Squad, though I don't know who he's playing.  Considering it's a huge cast, he probably won't get much screen time.

 

Probably not, but it's a good thing to be involved with something that's likely going to be absolutely huge.

 

Wyatt Russell is apparently going to appear in a Richard Linklater movie about baseball players. That should be good for him. I thought he did a pretty good job holding his own in 22 Jump Street and he seems to be sticking, for now, with playing jocky types. I like that he's slowly building himself up.

 

Since we're talking Goldie Hawn's spawn again...I feel like Kate Hudson was actually good in her supporting roles, like Almost Famous or the bit she did in 200 Cigarettes. Her problem is that she tried for the America's Sweetheart crown (not that I can blame her), and it had some vastly mixed results. I don't expect her to launch a big comeback like Reese is right now, though.

 

Oliver Hudson is a terrible actor but he was adorable as Stupid Adam on The Rules of Engagement. He had many, many failed shows before that. Again, I don't think he has it in him to lead a show, but playing an ensemble seemed to work for him.

Edited May 10, 2015 by methodwriter85

[JBC344]

I think all that Kate Hudson is missing is a few good quality drama roles to put her back where people are talking about her talent outside of her just being an all around cool person.  I know she is currently filming the movie about the gulf coast oil spill (Deepwater Horizon) which has a great cast.  She also is playing Jennifer Pryor in the Richard Pryor biopic that Lee Daniels is doing.  She also has "Rock the Kasbah" coming out this Christmas.  I know not many people saw the Zach Braff movie, but everything I have read that she was really good in it.  She also got great reviews when she did Glee.

 

I have always liked Kate and hope that she continues to do quality work that is seen.

[SallyAlbright]

Lily-Rose Depp is only fifteen, so I feel creepy saying that she is a knockout beauty. But, she will be starring alongside Natalie Portman in a new French film and I am curious to see if she can act.

[methodwriter85]

 

I think all that Kate Hudson is missing is a few good quality drama roles to put her back where people are talking about her talent outside of her just being an all around cool person.

 

She wasn't bad on Glee, and I liked her in the Skeleton Key. I do think it's probably a good thing she's aging out of plucky romantic comedy lead ingenue roles- I don't think that was ever really a good fit for her.

 

I always kind of thought that Penny Lane was probably very close to her own personality and that's why she was so good in that part. The problem is when she tried to do her mother's mode of the daffy blonde comedy movies.

 

Emily Osment is pretty likable. I haven't seen her do much more than be a sitcom comedienne on Young and Hungry, but I think she'll stick around- I can see her having a Kaley Cuoco kind of career. It's great that Haley is coming back...he's not leading man handsome but that never stopped Phillip Seymour-Hoffman.

Edited May 13, 2015 by methodwriter85

[methodwriter85]

Cody Horn in Magic Mike. She is so awkward I feel bad for her. It must be nice when your daddy is/was the CEO of WB Pictures, though.

Edited June 13, 2015 by methodwriter85

[KatWay]

Cody Horn is just a really bad actress.

 

I have to say, Bryce Dallas Howard does nothing for me as an actress. She's never impressed me. And, as embarrassing as it is to admit I've seen all four (five?) Twilight movies and paid attention, I even preferred Victoria No.1 to Bryce's Victoria.

[cpcathy]

I realize we're talking about Twilight of all things, but Victoria number 1 rocked, frankly. Bryce Dallas Howard turned Victoria into another mustached-twirling evil-doer.

[Amethyst]

Co-sign on Cody Horn and Bryce Dallas Howard.  Horn was abysmal in Magic Mike, with a permanent "smelled a fart" look on her face.  It's funny that they're dropping two of the major characters from the first movie and no one really cares.

 

Bryce seems cool IRL, but her acting is fine, not outstanding.  She was good in The Help, but her OTT, racist bitch of a character just chewed the scenery.  And it was no big loss when her character was killed off in Twilight.  Rachelle Lefevre really made a great Victoria: menacing, gorgeous, and cruel.

[ribboninthesky1]

I randomly came across a Conan clip about Howard's ability to cry on cue.  I wasn't impressed. 

 

I haven't seen Horn in anything else, but she didn't really bother me in Magic Mike.  It's not exactly a showcase of master class acting by anyone, except maybe McConaughey.  And I'm not so sure that was master class as much as McConaughey channeling his creepy side. 

[methodwriter85]

I think I like Bryce Dallas Howard as a person and I'm one of the few people who loved The Village, but yeah, I'm not really bowled over by her. She seems to have become a serviceable "go-to" supporting actress, and that seems about right.

 

Her husband deserves so much more fame than he has, though. Poor Seth Gabel. Their kids must have incredibly beautiful blue eyes. I hope one of them inherits Daddy's talent.

[Ohwell]

Cody Horn in Magic Mike. She is so awkward I feel bad for her. It must be nice when your daddy is/was the CEO of WB Pictures, though.

Ah, so that's who that was!  I wondered who she was in Magic Mike because I had never seen her before.  I thought she was just awful and humorless and I couldn't for the life of me understand what the guy saw in her. 

[millennium]

I hate the Gyllenhaals, spawn of a director and a screenwriter.

 

Is there anyone working in movies anymore who made it on their own, without any family clout?

[methodwriter85]

I hate the Gyllenhaals, spawn of a director and a screenwriter.

 

Is there anyone working in movies anymore who made it on their own, without any family clout?

Jennifer Lawrence came from a middle-class family from Kentucky.

 

Although really, it's just really hard for anybody to just come to Hollywood to try and make it, without either family clout, or having an affluent family. (See: Katie Holmes- her family was ordinary but pretty loaded.) Costs of living is pretty expensive, you no longer have a studio system that pays the contract players even if they're not working, and they don't make as many movies/network t.v. shows as they used to, so people are competing for less and less roles.

 

BTW, Jesse Eisenberg is Hailee Eisenberg's big brother, aka the Pepsi Girl. Hailee wasn't really much of a child actress but I'm glad her brother's around.

Edited June 15, 2015 by methodwriter85

[millennium]

Jennifer Lawrence came from a middle-class family from Kentucky.

 

Although really, it's just really hard for anybody to just come to Hollywood to try and make it, without either family clout, or having an affluent family. (See: Katie Holmes- her family was ordinary but pretty loaded.) Costs of living is pretty expensive, you no longer have a studio system that pays the contract players even if they're not working, and they don't make as many movies/network t.v. shows as they used to, so people are competing for less and less roles.

 

 

I suppose a parallel might be drawn between the way Hollywood chooses stars and the way it selects properties to turn into movies.

 

In the past ten or fifteen years there has been a swift and tragic decline in the number of original films/stories produced by the major studios, which instead opt for sequels and prequels to past successes, or "reboots" of nostalgic television shows -- even movies developed from Saturday Night Live sketches.   The studios would rather bet on past popularity than take a chance on something new, despite that something new might turn out to be more successful than the reheated junk they've been serving up for years now.

 

Do they hire from stars' families for the same reasons?   To hedge their bets?  I'm sure pressure from the stars themselves is also to blame (how else can Jaden Smith be explained?).  But I think the industry's phobia about taking chances on new ideas and faces also accounts for the current sad state of American film-making.

[Dejana]

I suppose a parallel might be drawn between the way Hollywood chooses stars and the way it selects properties to turn into movies.

 

In the past ten or fifteen years there has been a swift and tragic decline in the number of original films/stories produced by the major studios, which instead opt for sequels and prequels to past successes, or "reboots" of nostalgic television shows -- even movies developed from Saturday Night Live sketches.   The studios would rather bet on past popularity than take a chance on something new, despite that something new might turn out to be more successful than the reheated junk they've been serving up for years now.

 

Do they hire from stars' families for the same reasons?   To hedge their bets?  I'm sure pressure from the stars themselves is also to blame (how else can Jaden Smith be explained?).  But I think the industry's phobia about taking chances on new ideas and faces also accounts for the current sad state of American film-making.

 

Is there really any more nepotism in Hollywood than any other industry? Law firms, restaurants, funeral homes, etc. hire within the family all the time, too, but it just goes under radar in comparison.

[JBC344]

Is there really any more nepotism in Hollywood than any other industry? Law firms, restaurants, funeral homes, etc. hire within the family all the time, too, but it just goes under radar in comparison.

Absolutely not.  I've always said that the idea of "nepotism" in Hollywood is laughable, considering that the industry is all about who you know anyway. I'm an actor in Hollywood and I'm not the next Meryl Streep but if I had the access to reach some big name producers/directors/studio heads I would be a lot further in my career.  There are a number of "unfortunate" reasons why some are the "chosen" ones.  Nepotism, looks, body, money, clout, etc.

 

 I think nepotism can get a lot of people in the door but it won't build or sustain a career.  Look at Cody Horn, she got her shot with Magic Mike and it never took off from there (I personally thought she was ok/serviceable). 

[SallyAlbright]

Not sure he really counts since they kind of came up together, but since Ben is more famous I'll go ahead and list Casey Affleck. I think he's a fantastic actor and quite underrated because he's more of a character actor than a movie star. However, he's had a pretty solid career and I can definitely see him turning in great performances for many years to come.

[Athena]

I have not seen Dave Franco in any significant role, but I already like him much more than James Franco.

[raezen]

You could say the same thing about Jennifer Lawrence'so costar Josh Hutcherson. From Kentucky with no Hollywood connections before but has been acting since he was 8 and comparing his imdb page to hers he arguably has even more connections then her even if he's not as famous at this point.

I have mixed feelings about the Wahlberg'so sometimes but what I will say is I don't think Mark necessarily got that much of a hand up being connected with the NKOTB member that ended the band. But this is coming from someone who was a preteen at the time and none too pleased with Donnie because of it.

Edited June 15, 2015 by raezen

[methodwriter85]

I mean, it helped, but what got Mark Wahlberg going was that he lucked into a one-hit wonder, and Calvin Klein noticed that he looked really hot with his sagged jeans. Sexy bad boys with a load of sex appeal can go pretty damn far, as seen here. Luckily, Mark was pretty smart with how he played his cards.

Edited June 15, 2015 by methodwriter85

[millennium]

 I think nepotism can get a lot of people in the door but it won't build or sustain a career.  Look at Cody Horn, she got her shot with Magic Mike and it never took off from there (I personally thought she was ok/serviceable). 

 

Or look at Colin Hanks, devoid of talent, beyond vanilla, yet his IMDB dance card is pretty full.

[Rick Kitchen]

It's too bad Colin Hanks's half brother hasn't learned to keep his mouth shut.

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2015/06/04/tom-hanks-rapper-son-kicked-off-instagram-for-using-n-word/

http://www.inquisitr.com/2161272/tom-hanks-son-chet-hazes-bizarre-meeting-with-rapper-machine-gun-kelly/

Edited June 16, 2015 by Rick Kitchen

[AimingforYoko]

Katherine Waterston to play female lead in Potter spinoff, Fantastc Beasts and Where to Find Them.

[methodwriter85]

Or look at Colin Hanks, devoid of talent, beyond vanilla, yet his IMDB dance card is pretty full.

 

Aww, I liked Colin Hanks when he was on Roswell.

 

I mean, his IMDB dance card is full but at the same time, he's not exactly an A-list star. I thought he was okay with a nice charisma to him, but there's a reason why Colin is not leading movies that people will actually see.

 

I remember WAY back when, on the old Fametracker site, they did a post where they compared Colin Hanks and Adam Brody, with Adam Brody winning. Although Adam Brody never really set the world on fire with his acting, either- he does at least have the looks, and if Whit Stillman ever makes more movies/tv shows, he'll be set.

[SallyAlbright]

Aww, I liked Colin Hanks when he was on Roswell.

 

I mean, his IMDB dance card is full but at the same time, he's not exactly an A-list star. I thought he was okay with a nice charisma to him, but there's a reason why Colin is not leading movies that people will actually see.

 

I remember WAY back when, on the old Fametracker site, they did a post where they compared Colin Hanks and Adam Brody, with Adam Brody winning. Although Adam Brody never really set the world on fire with his acting, either- he does at least have the looks, and if Whit Stillman ever makes more movies/tv shows, he'll be set.

Oh, I love Adam Brody! He's worked pretty steadily since the OC but I'm still waiting for him to get some big roles. I think he suffers from looking so young. He's 35 but could still pass for early twenties, IMO. Lucky guy, he probably won't hit his "prime" until he's in his forties.

[Constantinople]

Laura Dern, daughter of Bruce Dern and Dianne Ladd and everyone's favorite silver screen paeleobotanist.

I don't have strong feelings about her one way or the other as an actress, though I still want my money back for Teachers.

[methodwriter85]

She was rather good and affecting as a teenager in the 1986 film, Smooth Talk, where the Dad from Everwood preys on her.

 

I also liked her in The Fault in Our Stars. What a cool mom.

[JBC344]

I find Laura Dern to be incredibly underrated in terms of star power, but I have never heard another actor not praise her work.  She is one of those "character actors/just below A list stars" that seems to garner a lot of respect and admiration from others.

[King of Birds]

I don't know her recent work, but Dern had Rambling Rose, and the Lynch films- Blue Velvet and Wild At Heart. I'll take that you posted her as "the good" part of this thread.

[caracas1914]

My favorite nepotism story isn't even a really famous coupling, it was during the making of "Broadcast News" (William Hurt, Holly Hunter, Albert Brooks) when supposedly the casting director used the Director's daughter for a minor cast part and not because of who she was, but simply because she was the best audition they got. It was such a non flashy role and yet they couldn't help but pretend she made it on some innate standout talent and just happened to be the Director's daughter.

Edited June 17, 2015 by caracas1914

[caracas1914]

Probably mentioned upthread but Angelica Houston when first cast at a young age  by her dad John in a movie got IIRC very  bad reviews and latter blossomed into one of the great actresses of her generation.

[Ohwell]

I'm watching "Single White Female" right now with Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh.  I never thought Bridget Fonda was that good as an actress but I wonder what happened to her?  I think the last time I saw her was in "Godfather Part III."  I liked Jennifer Jason Leigh as an actress, but I don't think I ever saw her in a role where she smiled much.  I always thought there was a sadness about her because she was young when her father, Vic Morrow, was killed.  She looks just like him.

[methodwriter85]

Jennifer Jason Leigh had that sadness to her even before her father got killed- see: The Best Little Girl in the World.

 

Anyway, over in the over thread, we were trying to figure out why it seems like Nicola Peltz is getting so much work despite being such a shitty actress. Her family is rich, but do they have like strong connections in the industry? Is her father basically bribing directors to cast her? I mean, she's pretty but not anything special, and her acting is terrible. I don't get it.

[Athena]

I'm watching "Single White Female" right now with Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh.  I never thought Bridget Fonda was that good as an actress but I wonder what happened to her? 

 

Both LeBeau's Le Blog and JoBlo covered Bridget Fonda's departure. In short, she married Danny Elfman and started a family. She retired from acting and hasn't really appeared since. She did not need to work, and I wonder if the pressure of being a Fonda got to her or she didn't think acting was really worth it.

 

Anyway, over in the over thread, we were trying to figure out why it seems like Nicola Peltz is getting so much work despite being such a shitty actress. Her family is rich, but do they have like strong connections in the industry? Is her father basically bribing directors to cast her? I mean, she's pretty but not anything special, and her acting is terrible. I don't get it.

 

I have no idea who this girl is, but I looked her up. Her father is a billionaire, and he is very well connected in the New York Jewish community. As an investment fund manager, he also links to Hollywood. He could have gotten her through the door with good management and agent. You really can't underestimate the value of connections of rich people.