It has been over six years since Quentin Tarantino’s film, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, made waves at the box office. Despite the passage of time, Maya Hawke, one of the film’s stars, has inadvertently stirred up controversy regarding her role in the movie.
At 27, Maya Hawke is the daughter of prominent actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman. Thurman’s long-standing professional relationship with Tarantino means Hawke has been familiar with the director for much of her life. In most industries, this connection wouldn’t raise eyebrows, but in a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Hawke mentioned her “kooky uncle Quentin,” which has rekindled discussions about nepotism in her career.
During the interview, Maya recalled feeling “scared” when auditioning for the film because of her familiarity with Tarantino. “I have known him my whole life. But, of course, in the room that day, he was very different, you know? He wasn’t, like, kooky Uncle Quentin — he was in serious mode,” she said.
The audition process involved organizing girls into two groups with actors Austin Butler and James Landry Hébert, each vying for the part of Tex, as they portrayed members of the Manson family. Ultimately, Hawke was cast as Flower Child, a Manson family member, though her recent comments have sparked speculation about whether her casting was based solely on her talent.
Hawke’s remarks have led to mixed reactions online. Some have labeled her a “nepo baby,” suggesting she secured the role through connections rather than merit. “Nobody suffers like nepo babies: true courage in the face of familiarity,” one fan commented on X. Another added, “he wasn’t like ‘kooky uncle Quentin’ hmm she would have gotten the role regardless.” A third speculated, “I mean, literally every QT film has at least one nepo baby and he’s done three films with her mum so she was always going to be pretty secure.”
On the other hand, some fans have defended Hawke, attributing her casting to her acting capabilities. One supporter wrote, “So many people are just so full of hate and jealousy. Before I knew who her parents are I thought she was a beautiful and talented actor. Her parents are also fantastic. Many children follow their parents into the same field.” Another added, “She is unique even if she’s a nepo, she proves that she is someone even with her chances she is Maya Hawke and not someone’s daughter.”
The term “nepo baby” refers to the offspring of a well-known or successful individual who is believed to have achieved success due to their parent’s connections or privilege rather than their own abilities. This term combines “nepotism” (favoring relatives) with “baby,” and is often used negatively in entertainment, politics, and business circles to suggest that the individual’s success wasn’t wholly earned.