Stars and their famous mothers

Some children might be stars in their mother’s eyes, and some children not only have stars for mothers, but they end up becoming stars all on their own. And in some families, the Reynolds, Smiths, Hedrens, and Hawns, there are so many famous artists they become entire constellations. In honor of Mother’s Day, visit with some of Hollywood’s proudest mammas.  

As one of the most celebrated actresses in history, Meryl Streep certainly had plenty of talent to pass on to her children – and all three of her daughters have gone into acting. Mamie and Meryl have appeared in three films together, while Grace has been seen in shows like The Newsroom and American Horror Story: Freak Show. Louisa is poised to make her TV debut in Julian Fellowes’ new series, The Gilded Age.

From hit records to hit television shows, these powerhouse women have made us all fall in love with them as they've continued to dominate Hollywood.

When it comes to making a name for himself as an actor, Jack Quaid will have what his mom is having. While Meg Ryan will forever remain a rom-com queen (When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail), Jack Quaid, her son by Dennis Quaid, has carved himself a nice place on genre television with his breakout role on superhero series The Boys.

You don’t get much more Hollywood royalty than the star of Singin’ In The Rain and Princess Leia, but the family talent has passed down through the generations to Lourd, who even appeared in Star Wars films with Fisher. Lourd broke out on Ryan Murphy television projects Scream Queens and the American Horror Story franchise; she’s since gone on to notable turns in films like Booksmart. Sadly, Reynolds and Fisher are no longer with us.

Both legends in their own right (Ladd in films like Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore; Laura Dern in well, everything, but notably for the David Lynch-verse and Jurassic Park), the formidable pair lit up the screening playing mother and daughter in Dern's short-lived HBO series Enlightened.

While Melanie Griffith couldn't be prouder of daughter Dakota Johnson's success, don't expect her to watch a Fifty Shades movie anytime soon. The legendary actress (Working Girl) revealed that she would much prefer to support her daughter from afar. As for Dakota's grandmother (and Melanie's mother) Tippi Hedren? The former Alfred Hitchcock muse has said she's interested in the flicks.

The acting genes are strong in Susan Sarandon’s family. Her daughter, Eva Amurri, has appeared in numerous projects alongside Sarandon. Miles, Sarandon’s son by longtime partner Tim Robbins, has recently embarked on an acting career as well, appearing in films like Blockers and Halloween.

Both accomplished actresses with major awards — an Oscar for Gwyneth and a Tony for Blythe — the pair are truly a golden duo, and not just because of their shared blonde locks. Danner still acts regularly, and when Paltrow isn’t running her wellness empire, Goop, she takes on an assortment of projects from Ryan Murphy shows to Marvel movies.

While Eleanor appeared alongside her mother in Paris Can Wait in 2016, she spends most of her time as a model and freelance journalist, writing for Vice and Village Voice.

Hollywood cool-girl Zoë Kravitz is not only the spitting image of her mother Lisa Bonet, but she also inherited her mother's love of acting, having starred in a string of critically acclaimed projects including Mad Max: Fury Road and Big Little Lies.

Though Mod Squad and Twin Peaks star Peggy Lipton has sadly passed away, she was extremely close with her daughter Rashida Jones. Jones first broke out on television in shows such as The Office and Parks and Recreation, but she’s since gone on to write, produce, and direct projects too.

It's safe to say funny runs in the family. These hilarious ladies make acting a family affair, having starred in several comedies together, starting in 2007 with Knocked Up. Maude has since branched out from the family funny business into projects like The King of Staten Island and Ryan Murphy’s Hollywood.

From action flicks to the ER, these leading ladies have both played impactful characters.

Roxie Roker made history as Helen Willis on The Jeffersons, portraying half of the first interracial couple on American television. But she also produced a family with quite the Hollywood pedigree as mother of rock star-performer Lenny Kravitz, who himself is father to actress Zoë Kravitz.

From impromptu dance sessions during interviews to starring on Showtime's The L Word together, it seems this mother-daughter duo never has a dull moment.

Herself a member of Hollywood royalty as sister to Francis Ford Coppola, Adrian in Rocky and Connie Corleone in The Godfather series, Talia Shire also offered the world gifted offspring. Both Jason and Robert Schwartzman have made their mark on the big screen, with Robert best known for The Princess Diaries and Jason particularly beloved for his turns in Wes Anderson films. Both brothers have also appeared on screen with their mom in projects such as I Heart Huckabees and Palo Alto.

While Uma continues to dominate everywhere from the stage to the big screen, her daughter with Ethan Hawke, Maya, is proving to be a formidable talent in her own right, appearing in Little Women, Stranger Things, and more.

One rom-com “it” girl begets another. Lea Thompson was the darling ingenue of the 1980s with her turns in classics such as Back to the Future and Some Kind of Wonderful. And her daughter with Some Kind of Wonderful director Howie Deutch, Zoey, has also entered the family business. Deutch broke out in Netflix’s 2019 rom-com Set It Up and has continued to build an eclectic resume with projects like Ryan Murphy’s The Politician.

The Smith family has talent in abundance, with mom Jada Pinkett Smith still making headlines with her own talk show and children Jaden and Willow making names for themselves everywhere from film to fashion to music.

Eldest daughter to Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, Rumer Willis has been an actor like her parents from a young age. Seen more recently in films such as The House Bunny and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Willis made her film debut in Now and Then, playing the sister to the younger version of Moore’s character, Sam.

Mariska Hargitay has been entertaining us as Detective Olivia Benson on Law and Order: SVU since 1999, but it’s no surprise she knows how to hold an audience’s attention considering her mom, Jayne Mansfield, was also an actress and one of the most memorable sex symbols of the 1950s.

The Hawn-Russell clan has no shortage of talent to offer the world. While Goldie Hawn continues to excel in her comedic sweet spot, all of her children have carved out a place for themselves in Hollywood. Kate Hudson rose to prominence as a rom-com star, much like her mom, and now balances her time between performing and athleisure line Fabletics. Brother Oliver has found his sweet spot in TV on shows such as Rules of Engagement, Nashville, and Scream Queens. And while half-brother Wyatt started as a hockey player, he’s since excelled on TV, including Lodge 49 and as the reviled John Walker on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Jamie Lee Curtis seemed destined to be a performer given her parents were Psycho star Janet Leigh and Some Like It Hot leading man Tony Curtis. Following in her mother’s scream queen footsteps, Curtis made her film debut in the original Halloween — and is still carrying the legacy of Laurie Strode in movies today. The two even appeared together in horror projects like The Fog prior to Leigh’s death.

While Benedict Cumberbatch has eclipsed his mother when it comes to global stardom, he still hails from an acting family. His mother, Wanda Ventham, is well-known in British film and television and would be most recognizable to audiences from guest appearances on Doctor Who. In a fun moment of art imitating life, Ventham and her husband — Cumberbatch’s father, actor Timothy Carlton — played Cumberbatch’s Sherlock Holmes’ parents on the BBC series.

There may never be a more iconic mother-daughter duo in Hollywood history than Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli. Garland passed on her star-making pipes to Liza, daughter by second husband director Vincente Minnelli. They both are best-known for their turns in movie musicals (The Wizard of Oz, Meet Me in St. Louis, Cabaret). While Garland was alive, Minnelli performed with her mother numerous times both on stage and on Garland’s TV variety program, The Judy Garland Show.

Four Weddings and a Funeral Star Andie MacDowell largely stepped back from acting to raise her children, but that didn’t stop her daughters from pursuing a career in the arts. While Rainey is best known for releasing music under the name Rainsford, Margaret is building herself a steady acting career in projects like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Fosse/Verdon.

The mother-daughter relationship in Sissy Spacek's hit film Carrie may have been a nightmare, but it's clear she has inspired her real-life daughters. Following in her mother's footsteps, you may recognize Schuyler Fisk as the star of the undeniable 1995 classic, The Baby-Sitters Club. While Schuyler has continued to act, she also has a successful career as a musician. Younger sister Madison has made a career behind the camera.

The Presley family is a hunk of, hunk of burning talent. While Priscilla Presley, wife to the king of rock’n’roll himself, was an actress, her daughter with Elvis, Lisa Marie, has built herself a successful music career. In turn, Lisa Marie’s daughter, Riley Keough is steadily building her resume as a model and actress and will portray fictional 1970s rock goddess Daisy Jones in the television adaptation of bestselling novel Daisy Jones and the Six.

While Dame Maggie Smith needs no introduction, her son Toby Stephens also has quite the Hollywood resume. He first rose to prominence on the British stage, following in the footsteps of his parents, but he’s had notable turns as a Bond villain in Die Another Day, Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre, and starring on Starz’s Black Sails.

Minnie Riperton was a singer-songwriter best known for her 1975 single “Lovin’ You,” but she also must have had something funny in her bones as mom to SNL alum and all-around comedic legend Maya Rudolph. Sadly, Rudolph lost her mom at a young age when Riperton died from cancer at the age of 31. But Rudolph carries on her mother’s legacy as an entertainer, often singing in her acting roles.

While Dree is an established model, she, like Oscar-winning mom Mariel, has put her focus on acting.

One of the most striking stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age, known for classics like Casablanca, Ingrid Bergman passed on her legendary beauty to her daughter by filmmaker Roberto Rossellini, Isabella. Rossellini has followed in her mother’s footsteps as an actress with memorable turns in films such as Blue Velvet and Death Becomes Her.

Having inherited her mother's natural beauty, Dylan Penn is an actress and model who has fronted campaigns for Ralph Lauren Denim Supply and Frye.