Who is Tessa Gourin? Jack Nicholson’s daughter slams Lily-Rose Depp for her remarks on ‘nepo baby’ controversy
SAN FRANSISCO, CALIFORNIA: Tessa Gourin opened her heart in a recent article. She clapped back at the recent "nepo baby" controversy happening in the entertainment industry. In a recent article she wrote, the actress stated, "In recent months, "nepo baby" is the worst thing you could ever call the successful child of a celebrity. Yet, as Jack Nicholson's "illegitimate" daughter, it's a label that I would be thrilled to have applied to me."
As per Newsweek, Gourin also slammed Lily-Rose Depp and said, "I was particularly incensed when Lily-Rose Depp (who it should be noted I am a fan of) suggested that it was misogynistic to be labeled a nepo baby when it is unquestionable that her being the child of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis is why the proverbial doors were opened for her."
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Who is Tessa Gourin?
Gourin is an actress who has appeared in movies such as 'Stranger's Arms', 'Untitled True Crime Project' and 'Stage Play'. She was born in New York in 1994 and is 28 years old. The actress also operates her pottery Instagram account named Mushrooms by Tessa, as per Sportskeeda.
What did Lily-Rose Depp say?
Depp, who is the daughter of actor Johnny Depp, spoke out about nepotism in Hollywood on 'The Drew Barrymore Show'. She said, “I just hear it a lot more about women, and I don't think that it's a coincidence. It's weird to me to reduce somebody to the idea that they're only there because it's a generational thing. It just doesn't make any sense.” She also added, "If somebody's mom or dad is a doctor, and then the kid becomes a doctor, you're not going to be like, ‘Well, you're only a doctor because your parent is a doctor.’ It's like, ‘No, I went to medical school and trained.’”
The actress also claimed, “The internet seems to care a lot about that kind of stuff. People are going to have preconceived ideas about you or how you got there, and I can definitely say that nothing is going to get you the part except for being right for the part.” She continued, “The internet cares a lot more about who your family is than the people who are casting you in things. Maybe you get your foot in the door, but you still just have your foot in the door. There's a lot of work that comes after that.”
Who are Tessa Gourin's parents?
Gourin was born to a real estate agent named Jennine, who claimed that she had an affair with veteran actor Jack Nicholson in the 1990s and Gourin is their child. However, the iconic actor has never acknowledged the fact that Gourin is his child.
Tessa Gourin's response to Lily-Rose Depp
Soon after the interview, Gourin clapped back at the actress. In a series of Instagram stories, she wrote, "I'd be thrilled to use my 'nepo baby' title (that I can't claim bc it isn't considered 'legitimate') if it meant I could get in the room and showcase my talent and craft. Do you know how hard it is to even get an audition?! Let alone an agent/manager?! Now we're gonna cry about that??!!!"
She then said, "This obsession our society has with identifying as victims in any circumstance is truly terrifying to me." Gourin continued. "Acting is an art form and a craft. Use your rage of feeling misunderstood or victimized by Hollywood and put it into work that you are so lucky to be getting!!!!"Can we just start taking the win? F***. Life is unfair. It is the artist's DUTY to take the unfairness of life and put it into their work. End of story."
She also added, "Do you know where I put my complicated feelings about the way 'men in my life have defined me?' THE STAGE!!!!!!" Further, she claimed, "The more dedicated to my craft I have become, the more liberating it has felt to let my art speak for me. (With the help of the playwright of course). After all, that is at the core, what being an actor is."
In the article, Gourin wrote, "Having grown up without my father, I've sat on the sidelines and watched in frustration as other celebrity children have seamlessly secured roles or been signed to huge agencies. More recently, I have grown even more frustrated at what I think is a missed opportunity for these so-called "nepo babies" to own their position and embrace it instead of complaining about it."
Gourin then added, "As an actor, I know how difficult it is to get facetime with a casting director or to be considered for a role. Moreover, to even know about the audition in the first place is a huge privilege in itself. Having compelling scripts sent your way is a gift that should never be downplayed. It is no secret that Hollywood was built on connections. However, once those doors open, you have to roll up your sleeves and get to work, which should be an exciting prospect if you truly love acting as an art form. You can't continually book the work without the talent."
The actress added, "I hope that those privileged enough to be called "nepo babies" are taking the same approach. Yes, your mommy or daddy might be famous, but just embrace it and be thankful it opened a door for you. Then put in the work to prove that you deserve it."
Tessa Gourin on dad Jack Nicholson
Gourin also spoke about her alleged father Jack Nicholson in the article. "It's probably difficult for some to fathom exactly how I could have a legendary actor for a father, but not count myself among the enviably connected. The truth is, in all of my 28 years of life, we have never had a relationship."
Further, she added, "Although I flew from New York City to Los Angeles to meet on the odd occasion as a young girl (at the behest of my mother), it was always clear that he wanted no part in my life. Have you ever been on a date and sensed that the other person just wasn't feeling it? That's pretty much how every interaction I have ever had with Jack Nicholson has gone. Harsh though it may seem, I hold no bitterness toward him for his decision, though it's taken a while for me to understand it."
Later, she stated, "I don't hide the fact that Jack Nicholson is my biological father. Why should I? However, it is also not something I've ever lead with in a conversation. So many people have been forced to live with the pain of a parent's absence, famous or not. But it makes it that much harder when that absent parent is actively in the lives of their other children, which is the case for me."
Further, Gourin said, "Jack has always been a source of fascination for me. In more recent years, when I've had the urge to know more about him, I've watched his old interviews or acceptance speeches on YouTube. It's through this that I've discovered we have the same sense of humor. I even read Anjelica Huston's memoir, Watch Me, for the sole purpose of gaining an insight into the years she spent with him. I think he's one of the greatest actors of all time (groundbreaking opinion, I know)."
Gourin further stated that she "heard he likes to paint" like herself. "He is also said to be a student of method acting, which I am too. If there is anything I am mourning, it is not a father-daughter relationship, but an artist-to-artist connection that we could have shared had the circumstances been different. In the end, he's a celebrity with whom I just happen to share DNA," she added.
The 28-year-old also mentioned, "It should be noted that Jack was never a "deadbeat dad." I grew up on the Upper East Side and went to (and was thrown out of) many prestigious private schools, through his financial help."
"I'm very much legitimate. I'm not something to be ashamed of. While Jack has never publicly acknowledged that he is my biological father, I exist in a very major way. If you know me personally, you know that I'm not exactly someone who fades into the background...trust me I've tried. I've grown up feeling like I have to apologize for existing and it's exhausting. Since I can remember, I have always wanted to act. As a little girl, I would dress up as Orphan Annie and refused to take that curly red wig off. Looking back, I'm sure genetics were instrumental in my instinctual desire to act," the actress added.