Defending Famous Family Ties
Catherine Zeta-Jones defends her children and condemns the controversial nepo baby label.
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Key Points
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Dylan is 26 and pursuing acting in several upcoming short films, while 23-year-old Carys is working as an assistant director.
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The term “nepo baby” was used sporadically online during the 2010s and 2020s but gained wider attention in 2022 after a tweet about Maude Apatow and a New York Magazine cover calling it “the Year of the Nepo Baby.”
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Singer Lily Allen, whose father is actor Keith Allen, criticized the label in 2024 as “infantilising,” arguing that it was used specifically about women.
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Zeta-Jones said she did not fully understand the pressure facing young performers until she had children of her own, despite having experienced the excitement of theater herself as a teenager.
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Zeta-Jones began her breakthrough West End role in the 1987 production of “42nd Street” as a teenager and became widely known in Britain after starring in “The Darling Buds of May” in 1991.
Catherine Zeta-Jones called the term "nepo baby" "horrific" in a new interview, defending her children Dylan and Carys as they pursue careers in entertainment. The Oscar-winning actress said her 26-year-old son and 23-year-old daughter are "plugging away" to establish themselves despite being born into one of Hollywood's most famous families, according to The Times.
Zeta-Jones argued that her children did not choose their famous parents and that she and Michael Douglas would encourage different career paths if their kids lacked genuine talent or passion. The "nepo baby" label has sparked fierce debate about whether family connections unfairly boost entertainment careers.
What Dylan and Carys Are Actually Doing Now
Dylan Zeta-Jones is pursuing acting and has lined up roles in several upcoming short films. His younger sister Carys works as an assistant director, taking a different approach to breaking into the industry. Both siblings are working behind the scenes to build their own careers rather than relying on their parents' star power.
The 'Nepo Baby' Term Exploded in 2022
The phrase "nepo baby" circulated online sporadically during the 2010s but exploded into mainstream conversation in 2022. A viral tweet about actress Maude Apatow sparked the trend, followed by a New York Magazine cover story calling it "the Year of the Nepo Baby." The label quickly became a shorthand for celebrities born into famous families who pursued entertainment careers.
Other Celebrities Push Back Against the Label
Singer Lily Allen, whose father is actor Keith Allen, criticized the "nepo baby" term in 2024 as "infantilising." Allen argued the label was weaponized specifically against women in the industry. The debate highlights how the term divides people—some use it to expose unfair advantages, while those labeled "nepo babies" argue it dismisses their actual work and talent.
Zeta-Jones Didn't Understand the Pressure Until Now
Zeta-Jones said she only grasped the challenges young performers face after becoming a mother. She began her own career as a teenager, starring in the 1987 West End production of "42nd Street" and achieving wider fame after "The Darling Buds of May" in 1991. Now she sees how her children navigate similar pressures while also battling the assumption that they didn't earn their opportunities.
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