Emma Roberts, the daughter of actor Eric Roberts and niece of Julia Roberts, weighs in on the nepotism debate in Hollywood, suggesting that it may be more challenging for female "nepo babies" compared to their male counterparts. Roberts believes that women in the industry may face greater scrutiny and skepticism due to their family connections.
Emma Roberts, the daughter of actor Eric Roberts and niece of Academy Award-winning actress Julia Roberts, has joined the ongoing conversation surrounding nepotism in Hollywood. While acknowledging the benefits of having a family in the industry, Roberts suggests that women may face greater challenges than men when it comes to overcoming preconceived notions and proving their worth.
Nepotism in Hollywood: Emma Roberts Questions Gender Bias
In a recent interview on Bruce Bozzi's podcast "Table for Two," Roberts expressed her belief that female "nepo babies" are often subject to heightened expectations and skepticism. "People definitely have preconceived notions of you," she said. "I think there's two sides of the coin, you know. People like to say, 'You have a leg up because you have family in the industry,' but then the other side to that is, you know, you have to prove yourself more."
Roberts also noted that women in Hollywood tend to be scrutinized for their personal lives and appearance more than their male counterparts. She believes that this scrutiny can be particularly challenging for those with famous family connections. "I think young girls, I feel like, get it harder with the ... nepo baby thing," she said. "Like, I don’t really see people calling out, you know, sons of famous actors, not that they should be called out. I don't think anyone should be called out for wanting to follow their dream."
Nepotism in Hollywood: Emma Roberts Questions Gender Bias
Emma Roberts pointed to George Clooney as an example of a male actor with a famous relative who has not been labeled a "nepo baby." She suggested that this disparity may reflect a gender bias in the industry. "I always joke, I'm like, ‘Why is no one calling out George Clooney for being a nepo baby? [His aunt] Rosemary Clooney was an icon,'" she said. "I'm just kidding, but I feel like also, the point is that young girls, I feel like, get it harder with the... nepo baby thing."
Roberts emphasized that the path to success in Hollywood is not always easy, even for those with family connections. "People kind of only see your wins, because they only see when you're on the poster of a movie. They don't see all of the, like, rejection along the way," she said. "I think it's important to talk about, otherwise people just think, ‘Oh, you know, everything has been so great and linear and easy.’"
Nepotism in Hollywood: Emma Roberts Questions Gender Bias
Emma Roberts has starred in numerous television series and films, including "Unfabulous," "Scream Queens," and "American Horror Story." She acknowledged that her family connections have provided her with opportunities, but she also attributes her success to hard work and perseverance. "I saw very up close what that really looks like with my Aunt Julia," she said of fame. "It’s obviously, you know, it's fun, and it’s great, but there is a part of it that’s really scary. And so I’ve always wanted to kind of carve my own path."
Despite the challenges, Roberts remains passionate about her career and is determined to prove herself on her own terms. "In my later teens, I was like, I never want my fame to outweigh my work," she said. "Because there’s nothing scarier to me than being so famous that you’re never left alone, but also you’re not getting good jobs."
Nepotism in Hollywood: Emma Roberts Questions Gender Bias
The discussion surrounding nepotism in Hollywood will likely continue, but Emma Roberts' perspective sheds light on the unique challenges that female "nepo babies" may face. It remains to be seen whether the industry will address the gender bias that she suggests exists.
