People who could have been nepo babies but chose to make it on their own

Liza

Jamie Lee Curtis Abramovitz.

For my "Here's Lucy" audition, I went by "Lucie McGillicuddy."

^^^I wore a blond wig, so nobody recognized me.

Mamie Gummer

Gummer is such an unappealing surname. She should've used Streep.

Just like Tori, Donald Trump, Jr. told the person hiring him, "Dad, I don't want you to tell people you only hired me because mom was making you."

[quote] Just like Tori, Donald Trump, Jr. told the person hiring him, "Dad, I don't want you to tell people you only hired me because mom was making you."

Not the same. The other producers hired Tori (without knowing she was Aaron's daughter) based solely on the strength of her audition. She's said her father played no role in her hiring.

😏 [italic] TONI Spelling ?

As if .......

Please PLEASE tell me that OP is writing satire.

Otherwise, I'm not sure I can live in a world where are that stupid.

That story, OP, is nonsense spin of that era. Everyone in the TV industry of that time knew exactly who Randy and Tori were.

Jesus was the ultimate nepo baby.

Jessica Pegula- Tennis Player

Kate Hudson is a stage name... the talentless baby machine's actual name is Goldie Hawn Jr.

[quote] Please PLEASE tell me that OP is writing satire.

Not satire. Tori’s told that story herself many times. I’m just repeating it.

[quote]That story, OP, is nonsense spin of that era. Everyone in the TV industry of that time knew exactly who Randy and Tori were.

Yes, hence why she went as [italic]Toni[/italic]; so people wouldn’t think it was her.

Maybe Enrique Iglesias? Julio never wanted him to follow his footsteps.

OP, there is no such thing as nepo babies "making it on their own". The life they were born into makes it impossible for them to be able to do such a thing even if they wanted.

Also, I don't believe for a moment that Tori would have gotten that role if her last name wasn't Spelling. Just compare her looks to the other two main actresses hired for the show.

Nicolas Cage. Born into the legendary Coppola family (Francis Ford Coppola is his uncle), Nic changed his last name to avoid nepotism claims, but talent is talent and he ended up winning the family's 8th Oscar (Best Actor, Leaving Las Vegas). Sofia would follow with number 9 (Best Original Screenplay, Lost in Translation). The three ex-spouses are also Oscar winners: David Shire (Norma Rae), Spike Jonze (Her), & Patricia Arquette (Boyhood).

[quote] Also, I don't believe for a moment that Tori would have gotten that role if her last name wasn't Spelling.

She could’ve been any Spelling, not necessarily a relation of Aaron’s. The other producers weren’t aware she was Aaron’s daughter.

[quote]When Tori stepped into the room to audition she even stated that she did not want special treatment based on who her father was.

Then what was the point of changing her name?

From Tori's Wikipedia page:

"At age six, Spelling was given acting lessons from an acting coach hired by her father, and was subsequently given guest spots on television series such as The Love Boat, T. J. Hooker, Hotel, Fantasy Island, Vega$ and Saved by the Bell."

Aaron Spelling produced at least 3 of those shows. How then did Tori "make it on her own"?

[quote]How then did Tori "make it on her own"?

Those were all very minor background parts. Tori's big breakout role was on BH90210, which she won under an alias.

Anyone who didn't catch the satire (or self-owning by Tori Spelling, assuming she really does tell that story) in OP's post needs to go back and re-read it.

"Toni" instead of "Tori" Spelling?

Saying "I made my super-connected, ultrarich dad call the producers to INSTRUCT them that this girl who's going to walk in is totally NOT someone he's related to or cares about!" ?

Walking in and saying "I'm here anonymously, and I don't want any special treatment just because my dad's your boss." ?

Side-splitting. Also tragic, because even after probably $100,000 of plastic surgery, she still looks like her dad in drag (and that is not a compliment).

LOL.

That story is just PR spin.

Of course they knew who she was. Or, if they all did not immediately figure it out, someone quickly informed them.

It's a great story though and kudos to whomever came up with it.

It doesn't even matter if that untrue story is true, she grew up in that world so would have known the right way to present herself, to talk, to network.

Tori looked like Aaron Spelling in drag, everybody knew who she was.

R19 are you joking? Just because he had a different name doesn't mean his family weren't pulling strings for Nicholas Cage, how else explain his miscasting in Peggy Sue Got Married and Moonstruck, amongst others?

Oh and Spike Jonse wrote the other movie Cage was nominated for, Adaptation.

What about Chet Hanks, Tom’s son? He goes by Chet Hanx.

Harrison Ford's son became a respected chef, totally unrelated to show biz.

R28 There's a well known story about Cage's start. When Nic Cage told FFC he wanted to be an actor, his uncle was displeased and didn't want him to do it, so Nic changed his name and did it anyway. Jonze writing the film doesn't have anything to do with the quality of Cage's acting. He could've sucked in the role, but instead receive his second Best Actor nomination. You seem to conflate nepotism with talent. The point of R19's post was to show that the family is uniquely talented in the cinematic arts, both as individuals and as a whole. In the case of the ex-spouses, talent attracts talent. Say what you will about nepotism, but if the person can show they've got the goods and build their own career, then there you have it.

My pick for this thread is Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Daughter of the French billionaire, she went into entertainment, made her own money, and when the time comes will inherit billions. For now, she will continue to live comfortably on her hundreds of millions.

Even Tori at some point (much later) admitted that story was bullshit.

She did make the role her own though, and could be very funny. Ultimately you can’t Forde the public to like you (or like a role you’re playing) no matter how great your connections are.

Force***

But but mommy and daddy's money buy them these careers except the athletes of course

R31 bullshit, he still got his first movie parts based on his family connections, being miscast in otherwise good movies.

And my point about Adaptation was that Nic had "an in" with the writer and got the part based on who-you-know, which is the point of this thread.

I'm not saying he hasn't been very good in some roles but he hardly pulled himself up on his own charm & talent, Cage or no Cage. And the family are talented, bit no "uniquely" so.

R36, I don't get it?

Any story about Tori Spelling getting hired NOT because of her father deserves all the Sure, Jans in the word.

There will never be enough Sure, Jans for that lie.

Your satire is too subtle for this crowd I’m afraid OP

"OP, there is no such thing as nepo babies "making it on their own". The life they were born into makes it impossible for them to be able to do such a thing even if they wanted. "

I generally agree with this. That said, that doesn't mean that even though they made it, they didn't deserve to. Some nepo babies are actually talented and eventually create their own legacy.

More interesting would be the opposite of a nepo baby - someone who made it despite coming from parents/family that people know but who lost their standing and nobody really wants to help. Has that ever happened?

Jane Fonda and Tom Hayden's son Troy Garity never really has gone for broke with his being Jane Fonda's son. He's matured into a fine character actor. Jane Fonda's rep (the whole Fonda family rep with acting, really) obviously got him in the door but he's proved his worth by now I do dare say.

He was good as the barber in "Barbershop" and really did quite well in "Soldier's Girl."

It's shocking just how retarded some posters are here.

The likes of Liza and Jane Fonda, while getting to the door (using R41's analogy) both proved they had the talent to make it with the best of them and be their own person.

Unfortunately for them, they both had demons from childhood which may have held them back from reaching their full potential or leading a well-balanced life.

Ivanka Trump, definitely. She graduated with a bachelors degree claiming she graduated cum laude only to have it later revealed she had a slightly higher then B average GPA and at her interview they said normally with someone with your qualifications, we'd start them off as a junior mailroom clerk, but we're so impressed by your credentials, we'd like to offer you a VP position of a billion dollar family crime syndicate. Corner office ok?

Totally self made woman. An inspiration.

Princess Anne and her daughter, Zara Tindall, are both Olympians and Zara is a silver medallist. Anne could easily have just chosen to settle into her destined role of "working royal" and Zara could have got a cushy job like Beatrice or Eugenie, but they didn't.

Tori wasn't funny in BH90210. they just changed the music when her character was being exceptionally naive or stupid. There was nothing humorous or clever about that show. It was a schlockfest.