Like mother, like daughter! These mother/daughter duos have turned stardom into a family business and proved to Hollywood that talent can be hereditary.
Blythe Danner & Gwyneth Paltrow
It’s hard not to love Gwyneth Paltrow. She makes an adorably sassy Pepper Pots and an unforgettable Viola De Lesseps (at least according to the 10 awards she won for her role in Shakespeare in Love). Gwyneth got her acting start on the stage in 1990 at the Williamstown Theater Festival before moving to the big screen only a year later.
This is where Gwyneth’s mother comes in. Blythe Danner had been a regular on the stage at the Williamstown Theater Festival before her daughter made her debut. Blythe has had quite the acting career, herself. She won Emmy awards in both 2005 and 2006 for her role on the television show Huff. She’s also got two Tony awards under her belt for her performances in Butterflies Are Free and The Miser.
Together, Blythe and Gwyneth are a triple threat, having proven their collective might on the big screen, the small screen, and the stage.
Kate Hudson & Goldie Hawn
Perhaps most famous for her role on Rowan and Martin’s Laugh In, Goldie Hawn was once the “it” girl of television and film comedy. She even won an Academy Award for her role in the 1969 comedy Cactus Flower.
Kate Hudson has certainly followed in her mother’s comedic footsteps. She is just as blonde, beautiful, and successful as Goldie. Best known for her roles in You, Me, and Dupree, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and Almost Famous, Kate has adopted her mother’s role as the attractive funny girl. Kate has made it well known that her success should not be associated with that of her parents though. Worry not, Kate. With your talent and charm, it’s pretty clear that you own your success.
Mariska Hargitay & Jayne Mansfield
Has Hollywood seen a sex-symbol quite like Jayne Mansfield since her reign? Probably not. As one of the earliest Playboy Playmates, Jayne might just be the “original” blonde bombshell. Most of Jayne’s films did not take off, and she is probably better known for her sexy Las Vegas nightclub acts.
Jayne’s daughter has certainly not followed in her footsteps. Mariska Hargitay is a prolific television actress (including an appearance in the 1993 pilot of Seinfeld! Who knew?!), but she is best known for her role as Olivia Benson on Law and Order SVU. She has held this role since 1999 and it inspired her to found the Joyful Heart Foundation, which provides support to victims of sexual assault.
Janet Leigh & Jamie Lee Curtis
Actress and author Jamie Lee Curtis has done it all, from acting in film and television roles, to writing a New York Times bestselling children’s book, to blogging for The Huffington Post. Whether you remember her as a Lindsay Lohan’s mom in Freaky Friday or as the author of Today I Feel Silly, and Other Moods That Make My Day, Jamie seems to be everywhere.
Maybe she gets it from her mom. Janet Leigh, Jamie’s mother, was also a prolific actress and writer. Janet began acting in 1947 and didn’t stop until her death in 2004. She was probably best known for her role in Psycho – and the infamous shower scene. And she wasn’t the only “scream queen” in the family – years later, Jamie Lee got her start in the Halloween horror saga.
Judy Garland & Liza Minelli
It’s hard think of Judy Garland as anyone other than Dorothy, from The Wizard of Oz. She brought us from black and white into color in one of the most memorable films to have graced the big screen. It might come as a surprise to hear that the innocent and kind-hearted Dorothy died at age 47 due to an accidental drug overdose.
Judy’s daughter, Liza Minelli, has followed in her mother’s footsteps to a certain extent. Liza has enjoyed a classy Hollywood acting career, including roles in The Sterile Cuckoo and Cabaret. Like her mother, she has divorced four times; perhaps like for Judy, Liza’s fifth will stick. Personal lives aside, both Judy and Liza have become well known names and faces in the world of film.
Melanie Griffith & Tippi Hedren
It’s difficult to decide whether Melanie Griffith is more famous for her roles in Working Girl and Celebrity or for taking actor Antonio Banderas off of the dating market. Either way, she’s a Hollywood superstar whose name is well known (and a little difficult to pronounce).
Melanie’s mother has owned her share of the limelight as well. Once known as the next Grace Kelly, Tippi Hedren was a successful actress and model in her youth before taking an interest in big cats. She currently lives on the Shambala Preserve in California where she serves as president of the Roar Foundation, which funds the preserves efforts in caring for endangered big cats.
Debbie Reynolds & Carrie Fisher
Debbie Reynolds acted in over 50 films during her career, but in case you can’t conjure up a memory of her, she sang and danced alongside Gene Kelly in the 1952 production of Singin’ In The Rain. Having begun her tremendous career in 1948, she’s been acting for over 50 years!
And it seems that Debbie gave her daughter some tips on making it to the top. Carrie Fisher is best known for her role in the original Star Wars trilogy. Despite the fact that she’s acted in several other high profile films such as When Harry Met Sally, and Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, she’ll forever be remembered as Princess Leia.
