Summary
- Sarah Paulson believes talent, not nepotism, is key to success in Hollywood, using her own experience as an example.
- Many famous children have differing opinions on nepotism, with Miley Cyrus acknowledging her privilege and Lily-Rose Depp rejecting the label.
- The debate around nepotism in the entertainment industry continues, with strong opinions on both sides.
People in Hollywood have been fighting over the term "nepo baby" for a while now, with strong opinions on both sides. Some consider that nepotism gives people an unfair advantage in the entertainment industry, while others adamantly claim that, no matter who someone's parents are, talent is the only thing that matters. Now, Sarah Paulson has decided to offer her point of view.
Seemingly defending her costar and friend, Ella Beatty, she expressed that she doesn't think nepotism played that big a part in an artist's success, as people can be talented, and therefore successful, no matter where they come from.
Sarah Paulson Shared Her Thoughts About 'Nepo Babies'
Sarah Paulson decided to weigh in on the debate about nepotism in the entertainment industry, and her opinions caused a little controversy, as she dubbed having famous parents as not "relevant" when it comes to making it in show business.
"The nepo baby thing gets a lot of play, but the truth of the matter is like, this is a perfect example of why I sort of don't know how much weight that holds or if it's really specific to the real gravitas that Ella possesses." Sarah Paulson was referring to Ella Beatty, daughter of Oscar winners Annette Bening and Warren Beatty, her costar in Appropriate.
"The sort of specialness of the way she was raised, I think, by two real human beings — who may have a certain standing or status within the industry — but that is the least relevant thing to them as a family," she explained.
The American Horror Story star used her own success as an example, and credit where credit's due, she made it on her own, with no family in show business.
"My mom was a waitress at Sardi's, which was the restaurant right next to the theater where we began this production at the Helen Hayes," she shared. "That was her first job in New York, and there I am now. I had dreams then of being an actress and now actually getting to do it is such a wild thing."
The Nepo Baby Debate Is Controversial In The Industry
Sarah Paulson is far from the first person in show business to weigh in on the nepo baby discussion, and her statement is far from the most controversial.
Some of the most notable people who have spoken about this are actually children of famous people, and the opinions widely differ.
Miley Cyrus was praised for her self-awareness regarding her own privilege, acknowledging that she had a head start because her dad was famous. She said she "used" her dad's fame to her advantage, and his contacts helped her not only get opportunities in show business but also allowed her to learn about the industry early on. Miley also spoke candidly about her upbringing and said that being financially well-off and having a stable childhood also meant she was privileged.
Lily-Rose Depp, for her part, denounced the term "nepo baby", and was upset at the implication that she had it easier because she's the daughter of a famous actor.
"It’s weird to me to reduce somebody to the idea that they’re only there because it’s a generational thing. It just doesn’t make any sense. If somebody’s mom or dad is a doctor, and then the kid becomes a doctor, you’re not going to be like, 'Well, you’re only a doctor because your parent is a doctor.' It’s like, 'No, I went to medical school and trained'."
