Sam Nivola Addresses Nepo Baby Title
The White Lotus star addressed whether or not his success is attributed to his famous parents, Emily Mortimer (Paddington in Peru, The Newsroom) and Alessandro Nivola (Kraven the Hunter, The Brutalist).
"Other than my genes, I don't think I can attribute much of my success to my parents," he said in an interview with Variety. "I feel proud that I've done it for myself, and sometimes in spite of them."
Sam's first major role was in Noah Baumbach's 2022 film White Noise as the on-screen son of Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig's characters, a role his high school drama teacher helped him land and audition for.
"I didn't get my dad's agent to call up so-and-so," Sam said of his White Noise character Heinrich Gladney. "I did it by myself. I didn't want to give anyone an excuse to be able to say that anything I've achieved has been because of anyone other than me. And I'm proud of that."
Fun fact: Sam's real-life sister played his little sister in White Noise, but that wasn't their first time acting together. The siblings worked together on an episode of The Pursuit of Love, a British miniseries written and directed by their mother, based on a 1945 novel by Nancy Mitford.
Sam had his acting debut in 2013 when he starred in the episode "Six" of Doll & Em, a show starring his mother and produced by his father.
Since then, Sam has starred in several films and TV shows portraying the son of some major stars, including 2023's Eileen and Maestro. In 2024, he starred as Will Winbury, the awkward son of Nicole Kidman, in the Netflix limited series The Perfect Couple.
It's fair to say that his genes probably had more to do with his career than he considers, but I don't think that's always bad. Sure, when nepotism is attributed to unqualified people who might underperform, it's an ethical problem. But, based on Sam's consistent performances and his ability to carve a proper lane for himself, his parents should be congratulated for introducing him to the craft. Besides, you probably didn't even know who his parents were until I said it.
In June, during a Variety conversation with actor Cooper Koch, Sam said his parents advised against him following in their footsteps. "My whole thing was that my parents really didn't want me to be an actor, which I totally get — I don't know if I'd want my kid to be an actor," he admitted. "It's a really mentally tough career to be in."
Well, I'm glad that his parents lost that battle. Sam's latest projects slapped.
Do you love all things TV and movies? Subscribe to the Screen Time newsletter to get your weekly dose of what to watch next and what everyone is flailing over from someone who watches everything!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time Magazine
13 minutes ago
- Time Magazine
Breaking Down the Ending of Netflix's 'Saare Jahan Se Accha: The Silent Guardians'
Warning: This post contains spoilers for Saare Jahan Se Accha. Set in the 1970s, Saare Jahan Se Accha: The Silent Guardians unspools an intense tale of espionage and military strategy, following an Indian counterintelligence officer as he confronts an imminent nuclear threat. Premiering on Aug. 13 on Netflix, the series finds drama in the complex and dangerous workings of intelligence operations, where every step can mean the difference between life and death. By showcasing the intrigue, betrayal, and sacrifice of the agents involved, the series exposes the human cost behind national security. Let's break down the major plot lines in Saare Jahan Se Accha: The Silent Guardians. The conflict between India and Pakistan in Saare Jahan Se Accha is more than a territorial or ideological dispute—it is a race for power. The storyline is inspired by real historical events: since the partition of the British subcontinent in 1947, the two countries have fought wars primarily over the disputed Kashmir province. In the series—which begins in the early 1960s and unfolds in a linear timeline—after two wars within five years, Indian physicist Homi Jehangir Bhabha publicly advocates for India to become a nuclear power. This declaration draws the attention of the CIA, which fears an arms race in the region and begins acting to prevent India from developing its bomb. Indian agent Vishnu Shankar (Pratik Gandhi) discovers that confidential information about Bhabha's trip was leaked to the Americans and tries to prevent an assassination attempt. However, the scientist dies when the plane explodes mid-air in 1966, putting India's nuclear program on hold. This event leads to the creation of a new Indian espionage agency, focused especially on monitoring threats in enemy territories: the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). In Saare Jahan Se Accha, tensions between the countries rise again with the crisis in East Pakistan that triggers the 1971 war. Pakistan is divided, and India claims victory—which is seen as a national humiliation across the border. The prime ministers of both countries sign the Simla Agreement, intended as a peace treaty, but unexpectedly marking the beginning of another conflict. Determined never to lose again, the Pakistani government secretly initiates efforts to acquire its own nuclear bomb, turning the dispute into a silent war of intelligence and strategy. In Episode 3 of the series, it becomes clear that Pakistan is not building its own nuclear reactor from scratch, but buying one from the French manufacturer HGN—a company active in nuclear technology that also helped China become a nuclear power—with components that will enable the production of neutralized plutonium. This material will be converted into weapons-grade plutonium, suitable for nuclear arms manufacture. To curb this threat, Vishnu, now leading R&AW operations in Pakistan, organizes a risky secret mission to intercept a shipment near the port of Gadani, where the cargo is expected to arrive. He is aided by Yasir Abbas, a weapons specialist; Raghuveer Singh, a sniper who served in Kashmir and Tawang; Uday Bhan, an explosives expert; and Sukhbir Singh, an Indian agent undercover in Pakistan posing as a Karachi stockbroker. With heavy military security and constant surveillance, the location is nearly impenetrable but still has vulnerabilities. Vishnu's team infiltrates an abandoned underground tunnel about 800 meters from the port to plant explosives at strategic points, since the trucks carrying the dismantled reactor—split into three loads—will pass directly above it. However, Pakistani soldiers patrolling the area discover the team, leading to a firefight that kills three soldiers. Yasir, Uday, and Raghuveer don Pakistani army uniforms to execute a new plan: blow up the ship carrying the reactor. Meanwhile, Vishnu heads to a watchtower and Sukhbir sets off in a boat with a backup plan if the others fail to detonate the explosives from inside. Yasir, Uday, and Raghuveer are killed by Pakistani forces after planting explosives on the cargo, which are then defused. Using a walkie-talkie, Vishnu informs Sukhbir of the situation, and then he initiates his plan. Piloting a boat loaded with explosives toward the ship, Sukhbir exchanges gunfire with the army once they spot him. Despite being wounded, he recovers enough to successfully ram into the ship, resulting in a massive explosion that destroys both vessels. The mission was never supposed to be a suicide operation, but following the failure of the initial plan and the deaths of the specialists, Sukhbir initiated his backup plan. With that, Pakistan loses its nuclear reactor. At the start of Saare Jahan Se Accha, several spies from the CIA, Mossad, and KGB are uncovered and killed in Pakistan, as well as intermediaries assisting India. However, the most prominent characters involved in the R&AW mission die beginning in Episode 3. Naushad Ahmed, a respected senior officer in the Pakistan Army, begins feeding information on Pakistan's nuclear program to R&AW after being blackmailed with photos of his son, Altamash Ahmed, with another boy. Naushad asks his friend Murtaza Malik, head of Pakistan's intelligence agency, to look after his son before said friend shoots him in the head. The three specialists on Vishnu's team—Yasir Abbas, Raghuveer Singh, and Uday Bhan—are killed during the violent confrontation with Pakistani soldiers on the ship. The most poignant sacrifice is that of Sukhbir, whose intentional crash into the cargo ship amounts to a suicide mission. This act ensures the reactor's total destruction as he sacrifices his life for the success of the operation and his country. Vishnu Shankar is the sole survivor of this mission, carrying the memory of his fallen comrades who gave their lives for national security—a silent and invisible gesture to the public. The series' conclusion reinforces the somber tone that permeates the narrative. After the successful mission, Vishnu returns to India but carries the weight of loss and the heavy responsibility of his role. Though Vishnu's mission to sabotage the imminent nuclear threat succeeds, he is already en route to a new assignment in the final minutes of the last episode. The series closes with Vishnu on the India-China border, symbolizing that despite this battle's victory, the intelligence war never ends. Each completed mission is merely a step toward the next, in a relentless fight to protect his country from unseen dangers.
Forbes
13 minutes ago
- Forbes
Good News And Bad News About ‘Wednesday' Season 2 Viewership
The numbers are in, and according to new data, there has been an effective zero percent drop in viewership between seasons of Wednesday, indicating interest in the show is still there after a nearly three-year break. That's the good news, that Wednesday didn't lose viewership over time because of the break. It got 50 million views in its first five days of streaming, compared to season 1 getting 50.1 million views over the same period. More good news is that because season 2 of Wednesday is split in half, so unlike Wednesday season 1, there will be a second spike of viewership next month, something the original Wednesday did not have with its eight-episode binge-drop. So, more viewership over the long term may be incoming. I'm not exactly sure I view this 50 million tie as amazing news, however. I think even with half the season out, you would want to see that above season 1 if you're trying to ramp up interest in a show you've already greenlit for season 3 and want to continue making indefinitely. Almost every show with multiple seasons on Netflix's all-time list has had its later seasons pass its first season, from Bridgerton to Stranger Things to Money Heist. The lone, recent exceptions are seasons 2 and 3 of Squid Game, but…there was also the complaint that they did not live up dramatically to season 1 at all. So that's not good. I think we have to bank on the idea that Wednesday season 2 with its second part 2 influx of views may ultimately surpass season 1. But I also think the lesson here is that a nearly three-year gap between seasons of a show like this depresses viewership more than we might see otherwise. Fortunately, however, season 3 of Wednesday is about to start production in November, way, way sooner than the gap between season 1 and production starting on season 2, which was over a year. By my calculations, this time around we may be waiting only ('only') a year and a half for Wednesday season 3. It's a big hit, that's the main thing. Interest did not crash and it will remain a hugely important show for the future of Netflix given that its monsters like Stranger Things and Squid Game are about to end, or have already ended. Nothing is exactly close to Wednesday's level of success, short of Bridgerton being made eternally. Though even that is not particularly close. The show has a long life ahead of it. Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Vince McMahon Was Angry Over Hulk Hogan's Appearance at the WWE Raw Netflix Premiere
The wrestling world is still mourning the loss of WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan. Recently, TMZ aired a special documentary honoring the legacy of the late professional wrestler. One of the people who spoke in the documentary was former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. Hulk Hogan's final WWE appearance was during Raw's Netflix debut. On that night, the WWE Hall of Famer was booed out of the building. During the documentary, Vince McMahon commented on the segment. McMahon claimed that the segment was not set up properly. He also stated that Hogan deserved a lot more than just walking out, standing on the ramp. McMahon also stated that the way Hogan was treated angered him. 'It wasn't set up properly. I'm sure he was probably despondent after that. I was angry because we've known each other for a lifetime, professionally and personally. Setting up, so to speak, this larger-than-life superhero, you don't just let him walk out there. He deserved something very, very special. More than anyone, they owe him. It's just like, 'Okay, here comes Hulk Hogan.' I got angry because that's not the way I would have done it, and he deserved much more,' Vince McMahon said. [H/T Recently, during an episode of Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw, Jimmy Hart also revealed that Hogan was devastated that he was booed during his appearance on the Netflix premiere of WWE post Vince McMahon Was Angry Over Hulk Hogan's Appearance at the WWE Raw Netflix Premiere appeared first on Wrestlezone. Solve the daily Crossword
