Stranger Things Star Maya Hawke Admits Nepotism Got Her the Role in Tarantino Film

June 2, 20244 Mins Read

Stranger Things star Maya Hawke recently shared her thoughts on the hot topic of “nepo babies,” and how it affected her getting a role in Quentin Tarantino’s film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. She agrees that she wouldn’t have gotten the role if not for the fame of her family.

In an interview with The Times, Hawke discussed the many thoughts she had on the current trend of criticizing young talent for being the children of famous actors, including being cast in Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. She shares that she was aware people were mocking her online for a clip that surfaced, where she said she had auditioned for the role in Tarantino’s film. She said, “I never meant to imply that I didn’t get the part for nepotistic reasons — I think I totally did.”

Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley in Stranger Things

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The daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, the actress may have had a leg up on other actors trying to get roles, but she is obviously not without talent. She became a fan favorite on Stranger Things, playing Robin Buckley, and has appeared in acclaimed films such as Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City and Bradley Cooper’s Maestro. When asked about whether she deserves the success she has garnered, she thoughtfully told The Times, “There are so many people who deserve to have this kind of life who don’t, but I think I’m comfortable with not deserving it and doing it anyway. And I know that my not doing it wouldn’t help anyone. I saw two paths when I was first starting, and one of them was: change your name, get a nose job and go to open casting roles.”

Hawke’s Relationship With Tarantino

Hawke’s mother, Thurman, has been in some of Tarantino’s finest work. Thurman absolutely commands the screen as Mia Wallace, and is an unstoppable force in the Kill Bill films. Though, behind the scenes, Thurman and Tarantino’s relationship has been rocky, to say the least. However, Hawke says that when the opportunity came up to work with the iconic director, her mother had no problems with it. “I had a lot of different conversations around it with my mum, and it was always wildly supported,” Hawke said.

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Hawke shouldn’t be singled out here, as she wasn’t the only actress cast in the film that has famous actors for parents. Margaret Qualley, the daughter of actress Andie MacDowell, and Rumer Willis, the daughter of Bruce Willis, were also cast in the film. Though, according to Hawke, that was by design. Hawke said that Tarantino “was making an active effort to cast a lot of young Hollywood.” This adds up, as the film is a love letter to Hollywood, by a director who is obsessed with it. Hawke will reprise her role as Robin Buckley in the fifth and final season of Stranger Things, which is yet to have an official release date.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is available to stream on Hulu.

Source: The Times