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The discourse in Hollywood around nepotism has existed for a long time. But it was only recently where people decided that not only will the discussion occur but they will also criticize those who have careers because of it.
These days, Patrick Schwarzenegger has been making headlines for his latest role in HBO’s famous show White Lotus. Now it seems, he wants to clear a few ‘accusations’ leveled at him.
But I personally fail to understand what is upsetting him so much.
Patrick Schwarzenegger might sound familiar to you, maybe because of his famous last name. Of course, he is the son of the one and only famed actor and former governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger that he shares wuth journalist Maria Shriver.
31-year-old young Schwarzenegger entered Hollywood in 2012 but he has only recently landed a role which has the potential to propel him to become a household name. He is playing Saxon Ratliff on HBO’s hit show White Lotus.
In an interview talking about his role, he lamented how people think he got the role because of who his father is. He said, “there are people who’ll say I only got this role because of who my dad is.”
“They’re not seeing that I’ve had ten years of acting classes, put on [high] school plays every week, worked on my characters for hours on end or the hundreds of rejected auditions I’ve been on,” the actor wanted people to know.
“Of course, it’s frustrating and you can get boxed in and you think at that moment, I wish I didn’t have my last name,” he said. “But that’s a small moment. I would never trade my life with anyone. I’m very fortunate to have the life and family that I have,” he clarified.
Well, I don’t understand why nepobabies not only want their cake but also insist of devouring it whole. Their famous last names are enough to get them through the door, but of course, they still need some iota of talent to take them the rest of the way.
But there are thousands of aspiring actors who never even get a chance to crack the door open even an inch. So the insistence that their famous last name or family connections did not have anything to do with their success is… tired.
Patrick Schwarzenegger wants everyone to know he has worked hard the last ten years with acting classes, and putting on plays. But does that mean no other aspiring actor works hard?
There are millions of Hollywood hopefuls who moonlight in service industry jobs and shared cramped apartments with other people just to be able to live somewhere near studios where they can go and audition day in and day out. People who have to beg for management agencies to sign them as clients.
What young Mr. Schwarzenegger is seeming to forget is, while he might have worked hard in acting classes, he never had to work odd jobs he did not like in order to support himself. He could rely on the generous bank of mom and dad, as many nepo kids do. He was able to be an aspiring actor with all the comforts the world had to offer as he waited to book his next role. He never had to worry about how he will pay rent in between acting jobs.
While he is adamant that people do not discount his hard work and struggle, he seems to forget that where he started his career, most aspiring actors would dream of that as their ultimate ambition.
He had a head start in Hollywood, and there is no need to deny that. Instead of vehemently denying his nepobaby status, perhaps he can be a little more humble and accept it. I would say perhaps he can says, yes, he did have a better start than most people in Hollywood. He can humbly tell audiences that while his last name might have opened doors for him, he will make sure he impresses audiences with his talent so they do not feel he is only riding on the coattails of his famous father, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Even if he doesn’t genuinely feel that way, perhaps he can act that way for our benefit.
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