4 days ago
Nico Parker opens up about reaping 'the benefits' of being a nepo baby
Nico Parker has admitted she's 'reaped' the rewards of being born to successful parents as she addressed being a nepo baby.
The actress, 20, is the daughter of actress Thandiwe Newton and director Ol Parker. She also has an older sister, writer Ripley Parker, 24, who created hit Netflix series Everything Now.
In a new interview with The Times, Nico said nepotism 'needs to be acknowledged' and how she understood it could be 'annoying'.
Nico said: 'I never want to discredit myself and what I've done, but I also want to give full credit to my parents.
'They've both had brilliant careers and I am really fortunate because I get to reap the benefits. Especially very early in my career, I think you walk into rooms in a different way because people know who your parents are. You do need to acknowledge it - if you don't, where does that leave you? I totally get why it's annoying.'
Growing up, Nico admitted she had been embarrassed of her mum: 'She'd wear things and I'd be like, "Mom, oh my God".
'I would walk in front of her when she would pick me up from school. But in hindsight, she had it so figured out.'
Nico's parents taught her how she is not more important than anyone on set, though she remained tight-lipped on their advice to her.
She added: 'In terms of acting advice, I keep that stuff close to the chest — that feels very much like mine and theirs.'
Despite landing parts in the biggest movies recently, such as in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Nico admitted part of her 'wishes' she was living a normal life and at college like her friends.
Nico said: 'A lot of my closest friends are at university and doing what you could view as the "normal" 20-year-old experience.
'And when I go visit them part of me wishes this is what I was doing. But I really enjoy working.'
Nico is set to play Astrid in the live action remake of the 2010 fantasy adventure film How To Train Your Dragon, which is set for release on June 9.
Meanwhile, the young actress was recently asked by Ranvir Singh on ITV's Lorraine how she was coping with her fame.
She replied: 'I don't feel famous at all! I feel very normal and all my friends are at uni and I go to visit them. Life feels surprisingly normal despite it being quite a mad time.'
