Latest news with #SamNivola
News18
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
White Lotus Star Sam Nivola Talks About His Success In Hollywood
Sam Nivola opens up about building his acting career independently, despite being the son of famous Hollywood actors Emily Mortimer and Alessandro Nivola. Sam Nivola is gradually earning his reputation in Hollywood. Although born to famous actors Emily Mortimer and Alessandro Nivola, Sam asserts that his achievement is all his own. The young upstart wishes the world to understand he's building his career on his own and with dignity. Sam recently opened up in an interview with Variety on whether his acting career is a result of his famous family background. He stated, 'Other than my genes, I don't think I can attribute much of my success to my parents." He continued, 'I feel proud that I've done it for myself and sometimes despite them. His honesty shows how much he wants to create a legacy in his own way. Even with the advantages of having parents well-settled in Hollywood, Sam stresses his hard work and perseverance in forging his career. Early Roles and Breakthrough Sam's first major role was in Noah Baumbach's 2022 film White Noise. He played Heinrich Gladney, the son of actors played by Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig. Interestingly enough, it was a high school drama teacher who got him this audition, rather than a family member. He said, 'I didn't have my dad's agent make so-and-so call me. I did it myself. I didn't want to provide anyone with any reason to say anything that I've done is due to anyone other than me." This comment emphasises his need to be known for his ability and effort. Beginning Early in the Industry Sam's acting career began in 2013, when he had a guest role in an episode of his mother's comedy series, Doll & Em and his father's production. Since that time, he has gradually built up his portfolio with a combination of TV and film appearances. He has played the sons of famous actors, including in the 2023 movies Eileen and Maestro. In 2024, he played Will Winbury, the gangly son of Nicole Kidman's character in the Netflix limited series The Perfect Couple. Breaking the Nepotism Stigma While many might point to Sam's genetics as providing him with an edge, it's obvious his ability and steady performances separated him. Nepotism can result in overpraising actors who are not qualified. But Sam's path is one of true passion for acting and an effort to prove himself. His parents' work in the industry must have exposed him early on, but his dedication has well characterised his career. Most may not even know his celebrity family connections unless mentioned. This is evidence of how much he has established his name. Parents' Prudence and Their Occupational Choice Curiously, Sam discovered that his parents had initially dissuaded him from pursuing an acting career. 'My whole thing was that my parents didn't want me to be an actor, which I get," he told Variety in an interview with actor Cooper Koch. 'I don't know if I'd want my kid to be an actor. It's a mentally tough career." This did not deter Sam and he pursued his dream. Since then, he has demonstrated his strength in a tough career. His success is a success story of resilience as well as being able to believe in one's calling despite the doubts closest to you. Sam's recent work has drawn positive notice, affirming his status as a rising star. His passion for choosing meaningful roles and acting with depth distinguishes him in a profession famous for its competition and criticism. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'White Lotus'' Sam Nivola worries 'old movie stars' with plastic surgery are taking roles from young actors
"It's not giving any space for the young'uns to move in and make a name for themselves," says the 21-year-old season 3 breakout. Sam Nivola thinks Hollywood is aging unusually in the 21st century — and that's not a good thing for his peers. The 21-year-old White Lotus breakout recently reflected on the state of the entertainment industry, specifically how older generations are clinging to their stardom and taking away lead roles from younger actors. "The old movie stars are getting plastic surgery, and they're looking younger and they're staying young," Nivola said in a new interview with Variety. "You have these really old people playing young roles. And it's not giving any space for the young'uns to move in and make a name for themselves." The actor, who played the youngest son in a wealthy North Carolina family on season 3 of the Emmy-winning HBO series, went on to explain how he thinks the film industry might be shaken without new marquee idols. "With all due respect to those people, one day they won't be here anymore, literally," Nivola said. "And they will have to create new stars." But Nivola offered one exception to the rule. "I think Timothée Chalamet is one of the best actors alive, and he's a total star," he said. "He's one of a very few examples I could come up with. But it's a different kind of movie star; he's not huge and jacked. He looks a little more like me." Nivola grew up in a household of thespians — his mother, Emily Mortimer, has starred in projects like The Newsroom and Lars and the Real Girl, while his father, Alessandro Nivola, has acted in films like The Brutalist and A Most Violent Year. He also lamented how the studio system has grown more financially conservative since his parents launched their careers in the mid-1990s. "They've Moneyball-ed the film industry!" he told Variety. "Everything is about data now — and trying to predict, to the nearest dollar, how much money a movie's going to make. It screws the idea of risk-taking." He pointed to one major victim of that paradigm shift. "Comedy is more about risk-taking than any other genre," he said. "It's rare to have comedies at all. It's been pretty dry for a little while." Nivola, who previously had roles in Maestro and White Noise, will soon star in one of those rare comedies: Driver's Ed, a new film from director Bobby Farrelly (Dumb and Dumber) that will also feature Ella Stiller, Alyssa Milano, Kumail Nanjiani, and Molly isn't the only White Lotus actor who has denounced certain cosmetic procedures. Aimee Lou Wood, who portrayed Chelsea on season 3 of the show, recently told the Run-Through With Vogue podcast why she avoids Botox. "I'm very anti-Botox," she said. "People can do whatever the hell they want, but for myself — because, you know, a lot of my career relies on these facial expressions — I can't start freezing my face. It needs to move." Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly Solve the daily Crossword
Pink Villa
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
The White Lotus Star Sam Nivola Reacts to ‘Nepo Baby' Label, Says ‘I Feel Proud That…'
Sam Nivola amazed the audience with his brilliant performance in The White Lotus season 3. The actor is the son of the popular actors Alessandro Nivola and the British actress Emily Mortimer and hence is often labelled as a nepo kid. However, the young star revealed that he is proud of bagging an important role in the HBO show, all by himself. Nivola portrayed the role of Lochlan Ratliff, alongside some of the veteran actors, such as Jason Isaacs, Walton Goggins, Patrick Schwarzenegger, and Michelle Monaghan. Sam Nivola on being tagged a nepo baby In conversation with Variety, the actor talked about the nepotism and about being tagged as a nepo baby. Nivola stated, 'Other than my genes, I don't think I can attribute much of my success to my parents. I feel proud that I've done it for myself, and sometimes in spite of them." He added, '[With my first role] I didn't get my dad's agent to call up so-and-so. 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." Speaking of his popular parents, the actor claimed that they were upset by the news of him dropping out of the college to pursue acting. Sam explained, 'My parents were upset. It totally scared them, which is understandable. I wasn't happy at the time because I couldn't dedicate everything in me to acting. And I have problems with authority figures." Meanwhile, though Nivola grew up in the spotlight, he wasn't ready for the fame that presented itself to him after his The White Lotus performance. The actor said, 'When The White Lotus was at its peak, I literally couldn't walk down the street in Brooklyn—my hometown—without being swarmed." All seasons of The White Lotus are available to stream on HBO.
Buzz Feed
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Sam Nivola Addresses Nepo Baby Title
Sam Nivola is undoubtedly making a name for himself in Hollywood, and he wants the world to know that he's doing it on his own terms. 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!
News18
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
White Lotus Star Sam Nivola Reacts To ‘Nepo Baby' Label, Feels Proud To Have Found Work Himself
The White Lotus actor Sam Nivola doesn't consider himself a nepo baby because he has created his own work opportunities. Sam Nivola is 'proud" he's never relied on his famous parents for help with his career. The White Lotus star is the son of actors Emily Mortimer and Alessandro Nivola and the pair banned him from auditioning for roles before he turned 18, but a year before then, his high school drama teacher helped him land an audition for White Noise and he sent in a self-tape in secret. Once he made it through to the next round to play the son of Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig's characters, he confessed to his parents and they said: 'Holy f****** s***, it's a Noah Baumbach movie?! You have to do the callback!" And asked about being a 'nepo baby", he laughed to Variety: 'Other than my genes, I don't think I can attribute much of my success to my parents. I feel proud that I've done it for myself, and sometimes in spite of them." '[With my first role] I didn't get my dad's agent to call up so-and-so. 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." Emily and Alessandro were further 'upset" when Sam, now 21, dropped out of college after just one semester studying Latin and film at Columbia. He said: 'My parents were upset. It totally scared them, which is understandable. I wasn't happy at the time because I couldn't dedicate everything in me to acting. 'And, I have problems with authority figures." Despite growing up with parents in the public eye, Sam was unprepared for the level of fame The White Lotus would bring him. He said: 'When The White Lotus was at its peak, I literally couldn't walk down the street in Brooklyn — my hometown — without being swarmed." To escape the attention, the Perfect Couple actor and his friends asked ChatGPT to find 'the worst bar in the East Village" and ended up in a taproom where speaking was banned. He recalled: 'We're yelling, 'This place is f****** awesome!' and everyone's like, 'Shhh!'" view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
