Celebs Who Tried To Hide They Come From Famous Families
Nicolas Cage
Before the world met Nicolas Cage, Hollywood knew him as Nicolas Coppola; yes, that Coppola, nephew of legendary director Francis Ford Coppola. But instead of riding the family name, he ran from it. On the set of Fast Times at Ridgemont High, constant “Apocalypse Now” jokes about his uncle pushed him over the edge. He didn’t want punchlines, he wanted respect. So he reinvented himself, borrowing “Cage” from Marvel’s Luke Cage and avant-garde composer John Cage.
Olivia Wilde
Olivia Wilde staged a total identity rewrite. Born Olivia Cockburn, daughter of heavyweight journalists Andrew and Leslie Cockburn, she grew up in a world of politics and print, not Hollywood premieres. But when she stepped into acting, her mother gave sage advice: find your own name before the industry gives you one. Olivia chose “Wilde” as an homage to Oscar Wilde.
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie may have those razor-sharp cheekbones, but she also had a famous last name, Voight. Yes, she’s the daughter of Oscar-winning actor Jon Voight. As a child, she appeared with him under her birth name, but Hollywood nepotism wasn’t the legacy she wanted. When their relationship fractured, she dropped “Voight” entirely and legally became Angelina Jolie in 2002. A name she built, not inherited.
Lily Collins
Lily Collins may be the star of Emily in Paris, but long before berets and baguettes, she was born into rock royalty as the daughter of Phil Collins. Instead of leaning into her father’s fame, Lily carved out her own path in Hollywood, often auditioning without using her last name. She’s been open about rebuilding a relationship with her dad while building a career on her own terms.
Tracee Ellis Ross
Tracee Ellis Ross didn’t need to name-drop, her last name said it all. As the daughter of the legendary Diana Ross, expectations were sky-high. But rather than following her mother into music, Tracee turned to comedy and acting, stealing scenes in Girlfriends and Black-ish. She’s openly embraced her legacy while proving she’s more than Motown royalty.
George Clooney
George Clooney may look like he was born to play suave leading men, but he was actually born into showbiz. His father, Nick Clooney, was a TV host and broadcaster with his own talk show. Instead of sliding into the spotlight, George started with small TV roles and years of rejection before ER launched his career. Despite his famous last name, he built his charm and charisma the hard way.
Maya Rudolph
Maya Rudolph inherited legendary vocal cords. Her mother was Minnie Riperton, the iconic soul singer behind “Lovin’ You.” But instead of pursuing music, Maya took the comedic route, becoming a beloved star on Saturday Night Live and in films like Bridesmaids. She rarely sings publicly, choosing comedy over comparisons.
Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr. practically grew up on movie sets; his father, Robert Downey Sr., was an avant-garde filmmaker. But Hollywood lineage didn’t shield him from struggle. He started acting young, battled addiction publicly, and rebuilt himself into one of the industry’s greatest comeback stories. While people assumed he had an easy start, Downey often reminds fans his path was far from polished.
Kate Hudson
Kate Hudson was Hollywood-raised, daughter of beloved actress Goldie Hawn and stepson to Kurt Russell. But rather than leaning on family fame, she burst onto the scene in Almost Famous, earning an Oscar nomination and solidifying her own stardom. She’s one of the few nepo babies who matched, even rivalled, her parent’s cultural impact.
Zoey Deutch
Daughter of actress Lea Thompson (Back to the Future) and director Howard Deutch, she grew up around sets. But instead of banking on family nostalgia, Zoey chased quirky, clever roles in Set It Up, Zombieland, and indie hits. With razor-sharp timing and unconventional charm, she’s proven she’s not just “Lea’s daughter.”
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston may be TV royalty now, but she started life as the daughter of soap star John Aniston from Days of Our Lives. Their relationship wasn’t always easy, and Jennifer has openly talked about growing up in a tense household. Rather than inherit her father's path, she fought through years of rejections before Friends changed everything.
Riley Keough
Riley Keough carries one of the heaviest surnames in music, Presley. As Elvis’ granddaughter and daughter of Lisa Marie Presley, expectations were enormous. But Riley sidestepped music entirely, diving into indie films and prestige TV like Daisy Jones & The Six.
Nico Parker
Nico Parker, daughter of actress Thandiwe Newton and director Ol Parker, looks like Hollywood royalty but she’s building her own genre-defying career. She made a striking debut in Dumbo and broke hearts in The Last of Us, proving she could carry emotional weight beyond her years. While her look is instantly familiar, her choices are bold and unexpected.
Kiefer Sutherland
Kiefer Sutherland was born into cinematic cool, son of legendary actors Donald Sutherland and Shirley Douglas. But instead of coasting, he exploded onto the scene in The Lost Boys and later reinvented himself as an action icon in 24. With that gravelly voice and grit, Kiefer shook off comparisons and built a career that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with his father’s, not behind it.
Jack Quaid
Jack Quaid is instantly recognizable with Meg Ryan’s charm and Dennis Quaid’s grin. But rather than diving into rom-coms like his parents, Jack headed straight for chaos with roles in The Boys and Scream. He leans awkward, self-aware, and slightly unhinged, a total departure from the glossy 80s fame he was raised around.
Billie Lourd
Billie Lourd is Hollywood royalty squared, daughter of Star Wars icon Carrie Fisher and granddaughter of classic legend Debbie Reynolds. But instead of leaning into nostalgia, she earned her place through quirky roles in Scream Queens, American Horror Story, and Booksmart. She rarely speaks about her lineage.
Gigi Hadid
Gigi Hadid may rule the runway now, but she started as the daughter of Yolanda Hadid; model and Real Housewives alum. With a Real Housewife mother and a real estate mogul father, fame surrounded them early. But Gigi brought back the supermodel era with bold, high-concept looks.
Willow Smith
As the daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow was raised in full view of cameras. But instead of copying their parents, she took the experimental route. Willow dropped “Whip My Hair” at 10, then pivoted into ethereal alt-rock and healing anthems.
Bryce Dallas Howard
Bryce Dallas Howard grew up with a front-row seat to directing royalty, her father is Ron Howard, the Oscar-winning filmmaker. But she famously entered auditions without revealing her last name, determined to prove she could book roles without it.
Zoë Kravitz
Zoë Kravitz, daughter of rocker Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet, exudes inherited cool but she’s spun it into something entirely her own. From High Fidelity to The Batman, she’s become the queen of moody, stylish rebellion. Rather than chasing blockbuster flash or music stardom, Zoë thrives in offbeat roles and alt-fashion campaigns.
Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus was born into country fame as daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus, but she carved a different musical path. Miley traded Hannah Montana for rebellious pop reinvention, and went from arena stages to Grammy nominations.
Jane Fonda
Jane Fonda was born into movie royalty, daughter of Oscar-winning actor Henry Fonda. But instead of floating on his prestige, she reinvented herself in every decade: from Academy Award-winning actress to fitness mogul to political activist. Jane turned her legacy into a platform for power, proving that even a Fonda can redefine what fame stands for.
Michael Douglas
Michael Douglas, son of legendary actor Kirk Douglas, had one of Hollywood’s toughest acts to follow. But rather than copy his father’s intensity, he built a cooler, more corporate persona in films like Wall Street and Fatal Attraction. He went from Hollywood heir to Hollywood producer, winning an Oscar behind the camera before he won one in front of it.
