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Nepotism has always been a part of the entertainment industry, whether you like it or not. From George Clooney to Lily-Rose Depp, “nepo baby” are everywhere, and fans have varying opinions on them all. Despite the hate these actors may get sometimes, there are many who wholeheartedly embrace the term, including Maya Hawke.
Maya Hawke is the daughter of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke, and she is completely okay with being called a “nepo baby.” In a recent interview, theStranger Thingsactress got candid about whether or not nepotism has anything to do with her getting roles in the industry and whether she thinks she deserves the opportunities she gets.
Maya Hawke Opens Up About Nepotism
Everyone has their own opinion on nepotism and to what extent should it be allowed in the entertainment industry. While some believe that there is nothing wrong with following in your family’s footsteps, others believe that nepotism is totally unfair in terms of opportunities. Of course, there is also a middle ground where people opine that “nepo kids” are fine as long as they are talented, likeRobert Downey Jr.andGeorge Clooney.
Maya Hawkeis totally okay if people label her as a “nepo kid” and she sees nothing wrong in the term. In a recent interview withTimes of London, the actress opened up about her time in Quentin Tarantino’sOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood,where she played the role of Flower Child.
Maya Hawke Has No Guilt Over Her Nepo Baby Status, Claims She Couldn’t Have Made It on Her Own as an Artist
She stated that she was trolled for saying that she auditioned for the role, as fans were convinced that she got the role due to“nepotistic reasons.”Hawke stated that while she said she auditioned for the film, she never implied that nepotism didn’t have a hand in her getting the part. On the contrary, theStranger Thingsactress believes that’s why she got the role in the first place.
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.
When asked if she thinks she deserves the opportunities that come her way, Hawke had the perfect answer waiting.
‘Deserves’ is a complicated word…there are so many people who deserve to have this kind of life who don’t, but I think I’m comfortable with not deserving it and doing it anyway. And I know that my not doing it wouldn’t help anyone. I saw two paths when I was first starting, and one of them was: change your name, get a nose job and go to open casting roles.
In the end, Hawke decided to go with the flow and embrace the fact that she is and forever will beEthan HawkeandUma Thurman’s daughter. She is okay with being made fun of and is proud of the relationship she has with her parents.
It’s OK to be made fun of when you’re in rarefied air. It’s a lucky place to be. My relationships with my parents are really honest and positive, and that supersedes anything anyone can say about it.
Clearly, the young actress is not ashamed of being called a “nepo kid” and is absolutely proud of the last name she has.
Fans Applaud Maya Hawke’s Honesty
After Hawke’s words reached the Internet, there was no stopping the netizens from giving their opinions on the matter and surprisingly, in a rare feat, it looks like a majority of them are appreciating what the actress had to say about nepotism.
On X, fans pointed out Hawke’s honesty and stated that they didn’t care how someone got to where they were as long as they had talent and kept proving themselves.
“I thought I was going to get nuts”: Stranger Things Star Maya Hawke Couldn’t Stop Laughing At Her Father’s Humiliating Experience
Fans also praised her talents as an actress stating that while her family name may have gotten her a job in Hollywood, her talent cannot be denied.
Here’s what the fans had to say about Hawke’s words:
Honestly, I respect her for being real about it. Nepo babies are everywhere in Hollywood, and at least she’s admitting it. 🤷♂️
— Nathalie May (@nathaliemayy)June 15, 2025
She’s so real for this lol
— hgtp://altif (@altifbrown)June 29, 2025
As a parent, you work hard to create opportunities for your children than you didn’t necessarily have at their age. I can at least respect her for being honest about it. I don’t care why someone is where they are if they’ve got talent.
— Prodi Lemaj (@ProdiLemaj)June 29, 2025
Why not? Anyone would take advantage of their privileges. Just as long as you continue to earn it & not just take.
— Eric Curto (@annericelover)June 25, 2025
She’s a very talented actress/actor on her own though. I’m sure the Hollywood pedigree definitely helped opened many doors, but her talent can’t be debated.
— Abigail Ratchford (@AbiRatchford)August 25, 2025
I had no clue who her parents were in Stranger Things and was immediately drawn to her. Even if she got the part because of who she was, she made a darn good job out of it. She rules in her own right.
— isa kadyn (@lakadyn)August 11, 2025
Nepotism was, is, and always will be a touchy subject in the industry. Different people will look at it from a different point of view. On the other hand, actors like Hawke, who are so candid in acknowledging their privilege, will continue to offer fresh perspectives on both the advantages and disadvantages of being a “nepo baby.”
You can rent/buyOnce Upon a Time in Hollywoodon Prime Video andStranger Thingsis available to stream on Netflix.
Mishkaat Khan
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2257
A connoisseur of all things horror, fantasy, and the occasional chick flick, Mishkaat has been penning pieces for FandomWire since 2022. She started off as an intern and has worked her way up to a Senior Writer with over 2000 articles to her name.Outside of entertainment, she has also written well-researched medical content as a freelance writer and has experience in social media management.When not writing, you can find her relaxing with a romance novel and a tall glass of iced coffee in her hand or watching re-runs of ‘Supernatural’ and ‘The Office.’
