Kristina Roberts
Sam Nivola, best known for his role in the popular series The White Lotus, has a life story that many young actors might find surprising. Born to well-known actors Emily Mortimer and Alessandro Nivola, many would think he had a direct path to Hollywood fame. But Sam says his journey has been quite different, and most importantly, his own.
From a young age, Sam was surrounded by the world of acting. His parents were already established in the film industry, but they had strict rules for him. They didn’t want him to audition for acting roles until he was 18 years old. Perhaps they wanted him to have a normal childhood, away from the pressures and competitiveness of the entertainment world. Sam respected this rule for most of his teenage years—until something unexpected happened.
In his final year of high school, his drama teacher saw something special in him. The teacher suggested he audition for the movie White Noise, directed by the well-known filmmaker Noah Baumbach. Instead of telling his parents right away, Sam decided to secretly make a self-taped audition and send it in. He was taking a risk, but he was also following his passion.
When Sam got called back for the next round of auditions, the excitement could no longer be hidden. That was the moment he finally told his parents. He remembers their reaction clearly. “Holy f****** s***, it’s a Noah Baumbach movie?! You have to do the callback!” they exclaimed. In that moment, their strict rule didn’t seem so important anymore. They were just as thrilled as he was.
Sam ended up playing the son of Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig’s characters in White Noise. This role became the stepping stone for his career, and soon after, he landed another big role in The White Lotus, a show that gave him even more recognition.
However, with fame came a new challenge—being labeled a “nepo baby.” The term is often used for children of famous parents who succeed in the same field, implying they got their opportunities mainly because of their family connections. When Variety asked him about it, Sam didn’t get defensive. Instead, he laughed and replied, “Other than my genes, I don’t think I can attribute much of my success to my parents. I feel proud that I’ve done it for myself, and sometimes in spite of them.”
He explained that for his first acting job, he didn’t ask his father’s agent to make calls or set up meetings. Everything was done on his own. “I had not wanted to give anyone an excuse to say that anything I had achieved was because of anyone other than myself,” Sam said. His determination to succeed independently is something he feels deeply proud of.
But life after The White Lotus wasn’t always easy. The show’s success brought him sudden and intense attention. People recognized him everywhere he went, and the constant eyes on him felt overwhelming at times. There was even a moment when he slipped into a quiet, little-known bar just to escape the crowds and have some peace.
Sam is now 21 years old, but his path to acting wasn’t just about talent—it also involved making big life decisions. After enrolling at Columbia University to study Latin and film, he stayed only for one semester before deciding to leave. This was not an easy choice, and it certainly didn’t please his parents. Emily and Alessandro were both “upset” and “totally scared” when he told them. They worried about his future and whether leaving university was the right move.
From Sam’s perspective, though, the decision was necessary. At that time, he was unhappy because he couldn’t fully dedicate himself to acting while balancing his studies. Acting wasn’t just a hobby for him—it was what he truly wanted to do with his life. Choosing between the classroom and the stage, he picked the stage without looking back.
In many ways, Sam’s story is about finding your own path, even when people—including your parents—have different plans for you. While having famous parents might make it easier to get noticed in Hollywood, Sam wants people to know that every role he has earned came from his own effort and not from family favors.
It’s also a reminder that pursuing your dream sometimes means going against what others expect of you. For Sam, this meant secretly auditioning for his first film, facing public labels like “nepo baby” without letting them define him, and making a bold choice to leave college early in order to focus on his passion.
Even though his parents may have been nervous about some of his decisions, it’s clear that they now share in his pride and happiness. From a secret audition tape in high school to starring in a major television hit, Sam has shown that hard work, determination, and belief in oneself can create a path that feels truly earned.
Fame has its challenges—being recognized everywhere, dealing with opinions from strangers, and living under constant comparison to his parents—but Sam sees these as part of the job. His approach is not to let labels limit him. “I feel proud that I’ve done it for myself,” he says, and that pride is what keeps him moving forward.
Looking back, the journey from sneaking in an audition to becoming a recognizable name in Hollywood wasn’t quick or easy. It was built on quiet choices, personal risks, and moments of courage that weren’t always visible to the public. Now, standing in his early twenties with an already impressive career, Sam Nivola has made it clear that his path is his own—even if the world likes to call him a “nepo baby.”
In the end, Sam’s story is not just about acting. It’s about independence, perseverance, and the belief that you should be judged by what you’ve done, not by who your parents are. And if the past few years are any indication, his career is only just beginning.
