Becoming a star is easy. All you need is a little talent, some ingenuity, lots of grit, a bit of good luck, and a great big dream. Just kidding: What you really need is a famous parent. This is a list of current stars of film, TV, and music who are the sons and daughters of famous people. Some of these are brand new faces just rising in their first big roles, while others are finally booming after years of flying under the radar. Some have been famous in their own right for a while already. Maybe some are just successful because of nepotism.
Which faces of the big and small screen (and radio) were created by other famous faces? Oh, Mariska Hargitay, for example. The lovely star of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is the daughter of bodybuilder / plant aficionado Mickey Hargitay and early blonde bombshell Jayne Mansfield. Hargitay was only three and a half years old when Mansfield was killed in a car accident. Hargitay and her two brothers were in the car at the time.
Other TV stars with famous parents include Girls stars Allison Williams and Zosia Mamet. Williams is the daughter of NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams, and Mamet is the daughter of Glengarry Glen Ross writer David Mamet. Eve Hewson, who stars in Cinemax's The Knick and Bridge of Spies, is the daughter of U2 frontman Paul Hewson, aka Bono. Katie Cassidy, who stars in The CW series Arrow, is the daughter of 1970s heartthrob David Cassidy. And Tony Goldwyn, who plays President Grant on Scandal, is the grandson of media mogul Samuel Goldwyn - as in Metro Goldwyn Mayer.
Take a look at these apples who have not fallen far from their respective trees, and rest assured that even in Hollywood, anything is possible if you have the right connections (like to a famous parent - maybe Bono or someone like that).
20 Current Stars Who Have Famous Parents,
Dakota Johnson
Fifty Shades of Grey star Dakota Johnson is the daughter of actors Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson.
Mariska Hargitay
Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay is the daughter of Hollywood blonde bombshell Jayne Mansfield and 1955 Mr. Universe Mickey Hartigay.
Zoë Kravitz
Zoë Kravitz, star of Divergent series and Mad Max: Fury Road, is the daughter of actress Lisa Bonet and rock star & actor Lenny Kravitz.
Domhnall Gleeson
Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens actor Domhnall Gleeson, who also starred in Frank and About Time, is the son of Brendan Gleeson, who played Mad-Eye Moody in the Harry Potter series.
Grace Gummer
Mr. Robot star Grace Gummer is the daughter of actress Meryl Streep.
Allison Williams
Girls star Allison Williams is the daughter of NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams with Jane Stoddard.
Elle King
"Exes and Ohs" singer Elle King is the daughter of SNL alum Rob Schneider with model London King.
Eve Hewson
Eve Hewson, who plays Nurse Lucy Elkins on The Knick and appears in Bridge of Spies, is the daughter of U2 frontman Bono with Ali Hewson.
Margaret Qualley
Margaret Qualley, who plays Sarah Garvey on HBO's The Leftovers and stars in the Spike Jonze Kenzo fragrance ad, is the daughter of actress Andie MacDowell with Paul Qualley.
Billie Lourd
Billie Lourd, who plays Chanel #3 on Scream Queens, is the daughter of actress Carrie Fisher with Bryan Lourd.