Emma Roberts has insisted that being a ‘nepo baby’ isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, revealing that her famous family members have actually cost her jobs in the past.
The American actress, 33, made a name for herself in the 2010s, starring in films such as Scream 4 and We’re the Millers, and becoming a star of TV series American Horror Story.
But her star might have risen higher if it wasn’t for the fact that her dad is The Dark Knight actor Eric Roberts, while her aunt is none other than Pretty Woman Julia Roberts.
At least, that’s how Emma sees it, sharing: ‘I’ve lost more jobs than I’ve gained from being in the business. People have opinions and sometimes maybe they’re not good opinions of people in your family.’
A nepo baby is a person working in the entertainment industry who is perceived to have benefited from the success of their parents (or other family members) in similar careers.
However, Emma insisted to Flaunt magazine that she’s anything but: ‘I’ve never gotten a job because of it, I know I definitely have lost a couple of jobs because of it.’
The Madame Web actress then referred to a 2022 article by the New Yorker whichcontained a picture that superimposed the faces of so-called nepo babies onto the faces of actual babies.
While Emma didn’t appear in this image, she still regarded it as a ‘cheap shot’: ‘Should I be offended? It was a cheap shot to put all the celebrity kids on the cover of a magazine on babies’ bodies.’
She continued: ‘Maybe the nepo baby conversation would’ve been a more interesting article written intelligently in Vanity Fair with nuance, but instead it was kind of this viral hating-on-people thing.’
Last month, Emma reminded everyone that none other than George Clooney is a nepo baby himself, with a famous aunt arguably giving him a leg-up into the industry.
‘Everybody loves the kind of overnight success story. And so if you’re kind of not the girl from the middle of nowhere that broke into Hollywood, there’s kind of an eye roll of like, “Well, your dad was this”,’ the actress told Table for Two.
‘I always joke, “Why is no one calling out George Clooney for being a nepo baby? [His aunt] Rosemary Clooney was an icon”,’ she pointed out on the Table for Two podcast.
She then argued that women in the industry are more likely to be hit with claims of being a nepo baby, adding: ‘I feel like young girls get it harder with the nepo baby thing. I don’t really see people calling out sons of famous actors, not that they should be called out.’
Rosemary Clooney was a hugely popular actress and singer in the 1950s, with George making his first steps in the industry as a chauffeur to his aunt and other famous stars.
Emma also said in her interview that, while nepo babies get ‘a leg up’ in the industry, they still need to prove themselves and can struggle ‘if people don’t have good experiences with other people in your family’.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : Brad Pitt, 60, shows rare PDA with girlfriend Ines de Ramon, 34, at British Grand Prix
MORE : Cara Delevingne confesses to getting drunk for first time at 8 years old
MORE : 90s TV heartthrob, 63, strips completely naked for new role
