Tom Hanks weighs in on the “Nepo Babies” debate and defends his own kin

Last Updated on January 10, 2023

There’s an age-old saying that goes, “It’s not what you know. It’s who you know.” The latest article from New York Magazine addressing the issue of certain celebrities getting their break due to their familial relations is sparking discussions. The article refers to them as “nepo babies” and it has been garnering responses from some of the more notable figures of the topic. Tom Hanks has his own children involved with show business and he’s addressed the issue in a recent interview according to The Hollywood Reporter.

While promoting his film, A Man Called Otto, Hanks explained in an interview with Reuters (via The Sun) that this notion isn’t as outlandish as it’s claimed to be. “Look, this is a family business. This is what we’ve been doing forever. It’s what all of our kids grew up in. If we were a plumbing supply business or if we ran the florist shop down the street, the whole family would be putting in time at some point, even if it was just inventory at the end of the year.”

Hanks’ most famous son, Colin, has headlined his own projects and has been able to lead a successful career in acting. And the rest of Tom’s children, with actress Rita Wilson, work in the entertainment business in some notable capacity (yes, even Chet). However, Hanks professes it’s the quality of work that they put out that’s the most important thing, regardless of how the opportunities came about.

“The thing that doesn’t change no matter what happens, no matter what your last name is, is whether it works or not,” Hanks explains. “That’s the issue anytime any of us go off and try to tell a fresh story or create something that has a beginning and a middle and an end. Doesn’t matter what our last names are. We have to do the work in order to make that a true and authentic experience for the audience. That’s a much bigger task than worrying about whether anybody’s going to try to scathe us or not.”

These comments come after the responses of actors such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Kate Hudson, Lily Allen, and Allison Williams, daughter of journalist Brian Williams, who can be seen in the upcoming M3GAN, as they defend their position as the children of entertainers who have forged their own careers.