Nepotism in Hollywood is a highly debated issue, with many calling it out while others seemingly normalize it as a part of privilege that cannot really just be thrown out the window just for the sake of political correctness. Maya Hawke seems to be in the latter category as she recently embraced the reality of her Hollywood journey.
The daughter of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke, Maya is fully aware of the advantages her famous parents have provided her. In an interview with ‘The Times of London‘, the ‘Stranger Things‘ star reflected on the complexities of nepotism and her place in the industry. Here’s what she said.
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“It’s A Lucky Place To Be”: Maya Hawke Says She Is Aware Of The Benefits Her Parents’ Fame Permit Her
Maya Hawke is not shying away from acknowledging her privilege and how it helped her to make a place for herself in the industry. The ‘Stranger Things‘ actress admitted that her path to success has been smoother due to her parents’ influence.
“‘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,” she explained.
“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,” Maya explained. However, she added that she believes it’s okay to tease people who benefit from nepotism.
“It’s OK to be made fun of when you’re in rarefied air,” she explained. “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,” the actress said.
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Maya Hawke She Is Aware She Got Cast In Films Because Of Nepotism
Maya Hawke also opened up about her role in Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood‘, noting the nepotistic nature of her casting. She regretted any implication that she earned the part solely on her merits.
“I’ve been wildly made fun of for this clip when I said, on the red carpet, that I auditioned,” she said of the movie. “I never meant to imply that I didn’t get the part for nepotistic reasons — I think I totally did.”
She also talked about her biggest role to date, Robin in ‘Stranger Things‘. “I feel so lucky that my, for lack of a better word, breakout role was this smart, funny, awkward and goofy person,” she explained. “I didn’t have to be a femme fatale — not that I have what it takes to be one.”
Beyond acting, Hawke has also ventured into music, and recently released her third album, ‘Chaos Angel‘. However, she has mixed feelings about her music career, as many concert-goers are there primarily because of her fame from ‘Stranger Things‘.
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