Gwyneth Paltrow has claimed nepotism babies in Hollywood have to work harder to prove themselves, but admits their connections allow them to enter the industry “unfairly”.
The American actress, 49, opened up while appearing in Hailey Bieber’s Who’s In My Bathroom? YouTube series.
Gwyneth, the daughter of actress Blythe Danner and the late director Bruce Paltrow, said she believes celebrity children aren’t as fortunate in Hollywood as some people think.
Nepotism: Gwyneth Paltrow has claimed nepotism babes in Hollywood have to work harder to prove themselves, but admits their connections allow them to enter the industry “unfairly”.
She said she thinks nepotism babies would have to work “twice as hard” once they got their foot in the door to prove themselves because people would say they “don’t belong”.
But Gwyneth also admitted that children of famous parents can enter the industry “unfairly” and have access to opportunities that other people don’t have.
“Being someone’s kid gives you access that other people don’t have, so the playing field isn’t level in that regard,” she explained.
“However, I really feel like once your foot is in the door you wrongly walked in, you have to work almost twice as hard and be twice as good because people are willing to pull you down and tell you : ,Not you’. I don’t belong’ and ‘You’re only there for your father or your mother’ or whatever the case may be.’
Famous parents: Gwyneth is the daughter of actress Blythe Danner and director Bruce Paltrow (all pictured)
Giving advice to other nepotism babies, the Goop founder said the label shouldn’t “limit” them and urged people not to allow others to have a “negative impact” on their lives.
She added: “It shouldn’t limit you because I believe that nobody in the world, especially someone who doesn’t know you, should have a negative impact on your path or your decisions.”
Gwyneth has famous parents who found success in Hollywood, and her comments came while speaking to Hayley, daughter of actor Stephen Baldwin and graphic designer Kennya Baldwin.
The Iron Man star’s father Bruce, who died in 2002 at the age of 58, worked on shows like The White Shadow and St. Elsewhere, while her mother Blythe worked on series like Futureworld, Hearts of the West, 1776 and Meet The Parents.
Footsteps: Iron Man star Blythe’s mother (pictured) has starred in shows like Futureworld, Hearts of the West, 1776 and Meet The Parents
Following in her parents’ footsteps, Gwyneth has enjoyed a successful acting career, winning an Oscar and an Academy Award for Shakespeare in Love in 1999. She has since founded the lifestyle and wellness brand Goop.
Gwyneth’s comments come after Jennifer Aniston – who has famous parents – recently faced backlash after making comments about how internet stars are becoming famous in modern society.
Last month, the Friends star, 53, caused controversy with comments she made during an interview with Pam & Tommy star Sebastian Stan, 39, reflecting on how Paris Hilton and Monica Lewinsky’s fame is going through the rise of internet culture.
But she sparked an angry backlash from some Twitter users, who claimed her comments about finding fame were ironic given her parents are the late actress Nancy Dow and Days of Our Lives star John Aniston, 88.
Career: Following in her parents’ footsteps, Gwyneth had a successful acting career, winning an Oscar and an Academy Award for Shakespeare in Love in 1999.
In part of the Actors on Actors interview for Variety, the two discussed the infamous 1995 Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee sex tape leak that Stan’s Hulu series was based on, prompting Jennifer to open up about internet culture at the time to discuss.
Commenting on how the leak came at a time when the internet was starting to impact society, she said: “It was right around the time that the internet was really shaping a new culture about people’s celebrity.
“This thing about people getting famous for basically doing nothing but still having these incredible careers. And then women’s reputations… I mean – Paris Hilton, Monica Lewinsky, all of them.”
Lewinsky was embroiled in a 1998 sex scandal with then-President Bill Clinton after his two-year sexual relationship with the 24-year-old White House intern came to light while Paris Hilton’s private sex tape with her and then-boyfriend Rick Salomon was released in 2004 leaked to the internet.
Fame: Jennifer Aniston recently faced backlash after making comments about how internet stars find fame despite her father being Days of Our Lives actor John Aniston
Stan replied, “If you look back to the ’90s, you see how many things happened in that decade. Even the OJ Simpson thing was actually the start of the 24 hour news.’
His comment led the Horrible Bosses star to add, “I’m so happy we got a little taste of the industry before it became what it is today…More streaming services – you’re famous from TikTok.” , you are famous from YouTube, you are famous from Instagram. It’s almost as if it dilutes the actor’s job.
But her comments soon drew an angry backlash from Twitter users, who found her musings on finding fame ironic given she’s a nepotism babe herself.
One fan tweeted: “Jennifer Aniston plays the same character in every movie who’s just a version of herself and there’s nothing consistently. The only thing that saves her is that she has some pretty good co-stars to salvage as comic relief. Always the NEPOTISM babies without talent who want to speak their mind.
Not impressed: Twitter users were quick to call out the Friends star for her comments, claiming that her career was boosted by the fact that her parents, Nancy Dow and John Aniston, are actors
Another wrote, “Jennifer Aniston has to settle for her opinions when her nepotism brought her into the industry and now she continues to make $20 million a year just from syndicating a show that ended decades ago.”
“They are so pissed they can’t defend a celebrity title to stay in their weird nepotism Hollywood elite (sic),” said another Twitter user.
One fan mused, “Jennifer Aniston (nepotism babe) doesn’t talk about the true injustice to the acting industry (nepotism) and instead acts like the acting profession is being disparaged when people from all walks of life have the opportunity to become actors based on their own Hard work and virality (sic)’
Another added: “I feel so fortunate that nepotism got me into it before TikTok, YouTube, Twitch and other services gave other people a chance to be seen. I ~never~ could have competed against such a pool of candidates.’ – Jennifer Aniston, basically’.
However, some fans have come out in defense of the Marley & Me star, claiming she’s right that internet platforms have allowed influencers to get roles traditionally given to actors.
Estranged: Jennifer’s late mother, Nancy Dow, starred in shows like The Beverly Hillbillies and The Wild Wild West; The couple famously had a 15-year feud over a tell-all book in 1999
“She’s not wrong… the early ’00s were revolutionary. You had to have real talent,” one person commented.
Another added: “She’s kinda right though. Trained actors and those just out of training have been sidelined for influencers without any training for some time. And it’s happening across the board, regardless of race/class.”
Jennifer’s parents divorced when she was nine, and the actress had an estranged relationship with her father — who initially discouraged her from pursuing acting.
In 2012, the Bounty Hunter star told The Hollywood Reporter, “My dad’s advice was always, ‘Don’t do it. Become a doctor. Become a lawyer.’
“He didn’t want me to be heartbroken because he knew it was tough business. It forced me to take it even harder. Do what makes you happy and never let people lock you up.”
Born to be a star: Jennifer landed her first TV role opposite The Big Bang Theory star Mayim Bialik (centre) on the short-lived 1990 series Molloy
However, the veteran actor supported her career as she began to make a name for herself in Hollywood.
In a joint 1990 interview with E! News, the soap star praised the then-budding actress, saying, “Jennifer is a natural. There are certain things that can be learned in this business and certain things that cannot be learned. The comic instinct she has is spot on. That is their greatest asset.”
The Bruce Almighty star landed her first regular television role on Molloy in 1990, appearing in Ferris Bueller, a television adaptation of the 1986 film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
Both shows were canceled and the star had a few more minor roles before landing her breakout role as Rachel Green on Friends in 1994.
TV veteran: The actress also played the role of Jeannie Bueller in the Ferris Bueller spin-off series Ferris Bueller in the same year