Writer Scarlett Curtis has publicly challenged actress Kate Winslet's recent assertion that her children are not beneficiaries of nepotism, offering a candid perspective on the advantages her own famous father provided.
A Public Disagreement on Privilege
Scarlett Curtis, the 30-year-old daughter of acclaimed writer and director Richard Curtis and broadcaster Emma Freud, took to Instagram to share a clip from a BBC interview with Winslet. In the interview, Winslet defended her son, Joe Anders, 21, who wrote the screenplay for her directorial debut, Goodbye June, stating her children 'are not getting a leg up'.
Curtis offered a detailed rebuttal, writing: 'Nepotism is about so much more than hand outs - it's about growing up in a world that is notoriously hard to penetrate and learning from a young age how to navigate that world.' She elaborated that it involves not needing multiple jobs to support creative dreams and, crucially, having the confidence to enter a field 'where you're literally just making s**t up and getting paid for it.'
Differing Views on Family Legacies
Addressing Winslet's comment about many children entering similar family businesses, Curtis responded bluntly: 'I love her so much but I do hate this s**t.' She drew a sharp distinction, noting: 'Doctors and lawyers have to get degrees to follow in their parents footsteps. We have to literally just step out the door.'
In a subsequent post, she quipped: 'I would legit teach a class on how to talk about the nepo baby question when it comes up in interviews. If any nepo parents or babies are interested you can email my dad and he'll pass it onto me.'
Established Careers and Acknowledged Advantages
Kate Winslet has two children working in the industry. Her son Joe, whose father is director Sam Mendes, starred alongside her in Lee and appeared in the Oscar-nominated 1917. Her daughter Mia Threapleton, from her marriage to Jim Threapleton, earned acclaim for her role with Winslet in the drama I Am Ruth.
Winslet told the BBC that while her children's creative ambitions didn't surprise her, it didn't guarantee jobs or respect. She advised them to ignore 'the white noise of silly terms like nepo baby.'
Conversely, Scarlett Curtis has been open about her privileged entry into the industry. She made a cameo aged seven in her father's film Love Actually. Her writing career began as a teen blogger, leading to columns for The Sunday Times Style and publications like The Guardian. She curated the bestselling essay collection Feminists Don't Wear Pink & Other Lies in 2018, featuring contributions from family friends like Keira Knightley.
Curtis has also acknowledged her background helped during her mental health struggles from ages 14 to 20, stating she always had access to treatment and parental understanding—a privilege she recognises is not universal.
