Tom Hanks calls Hollywood a ‘family business’ after nepotism claims

Tom Hanks is the latest celebrity to defend nepotism in the film industry.

The Forrest Gump actor’s children, including son Colin and daughter Elizabeth Ann, have become Hollywood actors.

His youngest son, Truman, appears in Hanks’ latest film A Man Called Otto.

His son Colin has received critical acclaim for his roles in TV series such as Fargo, Mad Men and has featured in big films including King Kong and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.

His previously incarcerated son Chet, meanwhile, has appeared in films such as Fantastic Four and the Tom Hanks-directed Larry Crowne, and recently had a role in the acclaimed TV series Atlanta.

Speaking to Reuters, Hanks hit back at criticism that children of top actors unfairly get to break into the industry because of their surnames.

“Look, this is a family business,” Hanks insisted. “This is what we’ve been doing forever. It’s what all of our kids grew up in.

"If we were a plumbing supply business or if we ran the florist shop down the street, the whole family would be putting in time at some point, even if it was just inventory at the end of the year.”

The star did not acknowledge that the other careers he mentioned were not nearly as tough to get into or anywhere near as well paid as Hollywood.

He continued: “The thing that doesn’t change no matter what happens, no matter what your last name is, is whether it works or not.

"That’s the issue anytime any of us go off and try to tell a fresh story or create something that has a beginning and a middle and an end.

“Doesn’t matter what our last names are. We have to do the work in order to make that a true and authentic experience for the audience.”

Hanks also did not address the criticism that it is the actual lack of opportunities for unknown actors to just get a foot into the industry and show that can "do the work" that is the issue.

In recent years, Hollywood nepotism has come under increasing scrutiny, with many actors coming from famous parents being branded “nepo babies”.

Gwyneth Paltrow, who is the daughter of actress Blythe Danner and TV director, Bruce Paltrow, also recently addressed the practice, which she admitted was unfair, but like Hanks, claimed her surname not guaranteeing success was the issue.

"As the child of ‘somebody’, you get access that other people don’t have," she said on Hailey Bieber’s YouTube series Who’s in My Bathroom?

Bieber, a model, comes from the Baldwin family of actors (Stephen Baldwin is her father, Alec Baldwin, her uncle).

Paltrow added: "The playing field is not level in that way. However, I really do feel that once your foot is in the door, which you unfairly got in, then you have to work almost twice as hard and be twice as good...

“Because people are ready to pull you down and say ‘You don’t belong there’ or ‘You are only there because of your dad or your mom.’"