Maya Hawke, an actress and the daughter of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke, recently acknowledged that her casting in Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood” was influenced by her famous lineage. In a candid discussion with The Times of London, she addressed the often-discussed ‘nepo baby’ phenomenon in Hollywood.
Initially, Hawke had maintained that she auditioned for the role of Flower Child in the movie. However, she later clarified her statements during her interview with The Times of London. She admitted,
“I never meant to imply that I didn’t get the part for nepotistic reasons — I think I totally did.”
Tarantino’s casting choices have often included actors with prominent family backgrounds. Alongside Hawke, Margaret Qualley and Rumer Willis, both of whom have famous parents, were also cast in the film as part of an effort to feature “a lot of young Hollywood.”
Reflecting on her opportunities due to her background, Hawke shared some insightful thoughts on privilege and merit.
“Deserves is a complicated word. There are so many people who deserve to have this kind of life who don’t,” she stated.
Continuing on the theme of self-acceptance and dealing with public perception, Maya commented on how she viewed her career path given her famous parents:
“It’s OK to be made fun of when you’re in rarefied air. It’s a lucky place to be.”
Despite critical opinions about nepotism, Maya Hawke values her relationship with her family over external views.
Her collaborations with both parents in professional projects underscore this bond—having appeared alongside Uma Thurman in ‘The Kill Instance’ and Ethan Hawke co-producing ‘Wildcat,’ which portrays Flannery O’Connor.
