Maya Hawke Is “Comfortable” With Embracing Nepotism To Get More Roles In Hollywood

Maya Hawke, Courtey of CELINE SUTTER.

“Nepotism,” or “nepo baby” are popular words thrown around at Hollywood celebrities, as most of them come from parents who were already in the industry — giving their careers an “easy” boost, rather than starting from the outside.

The ‘Stranger Things’ star Maya Hawke is the daughter of actors Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke, and recently opened up to The Times of London about her path to Hollywood, acknowledging her advantage due to her parents.

While considering whether she deserves the success she’s already received in the industry at a young age, Maya Hawke said, “‘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.”

Hawke said she’s “comfortable” embracing her nepotism, even if it leads to being made fun of: “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.”

Maya Hawke recalled comments she made to The Hollywood Reporter in 2019 regarding her role in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood — one of her first major projects.

“I’ve been wildly made fun of when I said on the red carpet, that I auditioned,” the actress said about auditioning for Tarantino. “I never meant to imply that I didn’t get the part for nepotistic reasons — I think I totally did.”