Patrick Schwarzenegger and 4 Other Nepo Kids Who Proved They've Got Talent
In addition to hard work, these actors and actresses also have to deal with accusations of nepotism.
Children of popular actors often follow in their parents' footsteps. And usually, good old nepotism is involved.
But truly talented kids of Hollywood actors and actresses prove that they are worthy of fame and the same cult status as their famous parents.
1. Patrick Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger's son, Patrick, starred in the third season of the acclaimed series The White Lotus. Patrick played the role of Saxon Ratliff, a man from a wealthy and privileged family.
Despite his convincing performance, Patrick could not avoid accusations that he got the role because of his famous parents. However, the actor believes that his father had nothing to do with it, because he studied acting for many years.
The actor already has a decent baggage of roles – and he started with supporting parts in such projects as Scream Queens, Stuck in Love and The Terminal List. And his portrayal of the repulsive and self-assured Saxon only confirms that Patrick has spent years honing his acting skills.
2. Margaret Qualley
As a typical nepo baby, the daughter of '90s superstar Andie MacDowell Margaret Qualley could have remained just another rising star from a successful family.
But Margaret has proven that her talent transcends family ties. Yorgos Lanthimos himself places her next to his muse Emma Stone, one of the Coen brothers cannot imagine his solo work without her, and Tarantino casts her in his movies.
After the premiere of Coralie Fargeat's The Substance, the whole world knows about Margaret Qualley and her talent – and rightly so.
3. Jack Quaid
Jack Quaid is the son of 90's rom-com queen Meg Ryan and actor Dennis Quaid. His first role, though small, was an instant blockbuster – the film adaptation of The Hunger Games, in the first two parts of which the actor played a tribute named Marvel.
The next projects Jack was involved in were not so successful. Fame came to him when he signed on to star in The Boys. The show, in which the actor has one of the lead roles, received recognition from both viewers and critics.
A recent high-profile project involving Quaid Jr. is Christopher Nolan 's biopic Oppenheimer, in which he played Richard Feynman.
4. Maya Hawke
Eight years ago, the daughter of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke, Maya Hawke, played Jo March in the BBC miniseries Little Women, based on the novel of the same name by Louisa May Alcott.
In 2019, she was cast in the third season of the main Netflix hit Stranger Things and then played a supporting role in Quentin Tarantino 's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. It was with this director that Maya's mother's brilliant career began.
5. John David Washington
John David Washington is the son of Hollywood legend Denzel Washington. He made his first screen appearance in his father's movie – it was the biographical drama Malcolm X, where the 8-year-old John played an episodic role.
Denzel took his son for a small role in one of his next projects, the crime film Devil in a Blue Dress. Success came for John with the comedy BlacKkKlansman for which Washington was nominated for a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
And John soon starred in his first blockbuster – Christopher Nolan's science fiction thriller Tenet.