Being called a “nepo baby” is something stars rarely take as a compliment, but actor Jack Quaid isn’t offended by those who see him as one.
“The Boys” star, who is the son of actors Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan, told the Daily Beast this week that he’s “inclined to agree” with those who feel he was given an advantage in Hollywood because of his famous parents.
“I am an immensely privileged person, was able to get representation pretty early on, and that’s more than half the battle,” Quaid explained. “I knew the door was open for me in a lot of ways that it’s just not for a lot of actors. And I’ve just tried to work as hard as I possibly can to prove that I deserve to walk through that door.”
“Nepo,” or nepotism, babies have been the topic of heated discourse in entertainment media circles for some time. The term generally refers to the children of actors, singers and other public figures who benefit professionally from their parents’ fame and connections.
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Quaid ― whose acting credits include “The Hunger Games” and last year’s Oscar-winning drama “Oppenheimer” ― was featured prominently in a much-talked-about 2022 New York Magazine cover story dedicated to nepotism in Hollywood.
Last year, Ryan defended Quaid from the nepotism claims, telling Glamour that her son was “really talented” in his own right.
“He’s more of a natural than I’ll ever be,” the “When Harry Met Sally” actor said. “That nepo stuff is so dismissive of his work ethic, his gifts, and how sensitive he is to the idea of his privilege.”
In his Daily Beast chat, Quaid shrugged off the implication that being deemed a nepo baby “undermines” his talents as an actor.
“I know that I work hard, and I know I’ve heard ‘no’ way more than I’ve heard ‘yes,’” he said. “But I also know that this industry is insanely hard to break into, and I had an easier time doing that than most. Both things can be true.”
Still, those hopeful Quaid will follow in Ryan’s footsteps by trying his hand at a romantic comedy might be waiting a while, as the actor says he’s made a “conscious decision” to steer clear of his mom’s preferred genre.
“It’s just got to be right, because, you know, my mom is the undisputed queen of rom-coms,” he quipped. “So I can’t just get into that space, it’s got to be right. It’s got to be something that feels different enough from what she’s done. I’m not looking to take her place or anything.”