Kate Winslet has blunt response to ‘nepo baby’ accusations about her kids

Kate Winslet has added her opinion into the mix when it comes to the whole 'nepo baby' debate.

If you're unfamiliar, the term nepotism babies - 'nepo babies' for short - is used to describe the offspring of celebrities or influential people, implying that their family connections help their career prospects.

There's a whole mix of opinions on the controversial topic, with some people believing some 'nepo babies' bag their gigs and have a far easier time entering the industry, not due to talent but simply due to their famous parents.

However, others point out that it's not exactly unheard of for a youngster to follow in the footsteps of their parents, and why shouldn't they get to do that?

Now, as we say, the 50-year-old Titanic actress has shared her take, since two of her children are pursuing careers in the film industry.

Kate Winslet isn't a fan of the term 'nepo babies' (Joe Maher/Getty Images)

Winslet is mum to three kids, Mia Threapleton, 25, who she shares with film director Jim Threapleton, Joe Anders, 21, who she shares with director Sam Mendes, and a 12-year-old boy called Bear, whose dad is her husband Edward Abel Smith.

As we say, her two adult children have both decided to go into the entertainment business, with Mia making her feature film debut in the 2020 movie Shadows.

She also starred in Wes Anderson’s 2025 film The Phoenician Scheme and acted alongside her famous mum in n the Bafta-winning drama I Am Ruth.

Meanwhile, Joe wrote the screenplay for his mum's directorial debut, Goodbye June and starred opposite her in the 2023 film Lee.

However, Winslet doesn't think her children have had a 'leg up' and isn't a fan of the 'nepo baby' phrase.

In a recent interview with the BBC, she was discussing how her family don't watch her iconic Christmas movie The Holiday together, and she hasn't seen it in years.

She explained: "We don't sit down and watch films I'm in. I barely do. Almost everything I've been in I've only seen once.

Both of her adult children have followed in her footsteps into the film industry (Stephanie Augello/Getty Images)

"When you watch the finished product, for most actors that's an excruciating experience. It's kind of something you have to go through. So no, we haven't seen The Holiday for years."

The actress was then asked: "How difficult is it to get the balance between encouraging them with their career and the whole nepo baby argument?"

To which she pondered for a moment before answering: "I don't like the nepo baby term because you know, these kids aren't getting a leg up.

"He would say to me 'I don't want people to think that this film is just being made because you're my mum. The film would have been made with or without me. The script is so so good'.

She continued: "And with Mia, I mean I just try and say to my children just follow your heart. There are lots and lots of people in the world whose children go into similar family business, whether it's being a judge or a lawyer or a doctor."