Emma Roberts: Talk of Nepotism Is 'So Ridiculous'

By Nicki Gostin Posted Jun 16th 2011 10:00PM

In 'The Art of Getting By,' Emma Roberts plays a popular high school teen who begins a relationship with a lonely misfit played by an all-grown-up Freddie Highmore. The 20-year-old daughter of Eric (and niece of Julia) has been working since she was a kid and is whip smart in interviews. She spoke to PopEater about highs (school and heels), her love of thick eyebrows and the "ridiculous" chatter on the blogs that she has benefited from her famous kin.

"I think [talk of nepotism] is so ridiculous considering it's obviously not true ... I've auditioned for so many things and never gotten the part," she said, before challenging bloggers intent on bashing her to man up. "I would actually have more respect for them if they said it to my face, then I would probably not say anything back."

Did you go to school?
I went to school till seventh grade and then I was home schooled through high school.

'The Art of Getting By' Clip | Times and Reviews

Was it strange to play a high school student?
I mean, no because high school is such a big part of American culture, it's so prevalent in music and TV and movies, I think I get the gist!

Do you feel cheated that you didn't go?
No, I got to travel all over the world and work with really cool people so I think that was an education in itself.

Were you popular in school?
I was popular, I had a lot of friends but I wasn't like a mean girl. I was also always the shortest person in my class. I'm 5'2".

Do you wear big heels to compensate?
I wear heels 24/7. I can run faster in heels than I can in sneakers. I trip all the time but it's nothing to do with heels. I trip all the time but I haven't taken a bad spill, knock on wood.

In the beginning did everyone accuse you of nepotism because of your dad and aunt?
A lot of people think that and they talk about nepotism which I think is so ridiculous considering it's obviously not true, because I've auditioned for so many things and never gotten the part. Also it's like, you know, maybe someone can get you one part but they can't really get you ten parts.

I think she could probably get you a part playing her daughter, but that's about it.
Exactly.

Would you want to work with her?
Yes I would love to. I think it would be really fun for us.

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Emma Roberts Snapshots

Who you gonna call? Aunt Julia! Deh deh, deh deh, deh deh, deh deh, deh-deh deh-deh. Emma Roberts arrives at Los Angeles International Airport on June 14. More Pics of the Young and Beautiful Star >>

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Emma Roberts Snapshots

Â©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Emma Roberts makes a call as she arrives at LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) off a late night flight. NON-EXCLUSIVE June 14th 2011 Job: 110615NR1 Los Angeles, California www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

Emma Roberts Snapshots

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 13: Actress Emma Roberts attends the after party for the Cinema Society with Alice+Olivia screening of "The Art of Getting By" at Thompson Hotel LES on June 13, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Henry S. Dziekan III/WireImage)

Emma Roberts Snapshots

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 13: Actress Emma Roberts and actress Abigail Breslin attend the after party for the Cinema Society with Alice+Olivia screening of "The Art of Getting By" at Thompson Hotel LES on June 13, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Henry S. Dziekan III/WireImage)

Emma Roberts Snapshots

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 13: Actress Emma Roberts and actor Gabriel Basso attend the after party for the Cinema Society with Alice+Olivia screening of "The Art of Getting By" at Thompson Hotel LES on June 13, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

Emma Roberts Snapshots

You know you'll be accused of nepotism if it happens.
Oh well, if someone wants to say that to my face. If someone blogs about it I'll be annoyed. I think it's so funny people will blog stuff but they won't say it to your face. I would actually have more respect for them if they said it to my face, then I would probably not say anything back.

Are you immune to nasty comments online or do you still get upset?
I don't read them anymore but obviously you know that they're there. For me I can't let it bother me because for me anyone hiding behind a computer is kind of irrelevant.

Or a loser.
Uh uh. Also I can handle it, but there are some people with the whole bullying thing can't handle it and do horrible things to themselves.

I feel a kindred spirit with you. I have thick eyebrows too.
I had a total unibrow. Literally I had a total Frida Kahlo unibrow. When I was younger I got made fun of. I think I was 12, I was on a TV show and afterwards kids in school were like, 'You have a unibrow,' and I remember I was so embarrassed. It's funny because now I love thick eyebrows. I think they're so beautiful, not a unibrow. Now I just make sure to wax in the middle.

What's your favorite guilty pleasure?
I eat so much junk food. What I eat most is chocolate croissants. I'm eating one right now. I probably eat them more than I eat anything else. I'm obsessed and I love a midnight Milky Way.

How come there are no photos of you tripping outside a nightclub?
I love going to Europe because you're allowed to go out. I'm not trying to go out to be a mess but I love to go dancing and in Europe I'm old enough to be allowed to go out dancing with my friends. I love London, it's my favorite place.

Do you go to raves?
Oh no, no, I'm not a raver.

What do you do when you're not working?
I love to read and go to the movies. I love to go out and eat sushi. I could eat sushi every day.

So sushi and chocolate croissants are the way to win your heart.
Actually, yes!

More Q&As From Nicki Gostin: Tatum O'Neal, Flavor Flav, Kelly Clarkson and Keira Knightley

Tags: Emma Roberts, Julia Roberts, The Art of Getting By

Comments

(35)

Thursday 16 June

By TheOtisCurry

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Until Nicholas Cage has answered for his crimes, giving Emma Roberts a hard time is like delaying Sadaam Hussein's trial because somebody else J walked.

By PoppyZ

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Emma and Julia would both be irrelvent waitress's if it werent for the A list EXCELLENT ERIC ROBERTS!
They rode his coattails baby!

By turbogtrmstr

I think you are confused, Julia put them all on the map.

Friday 17 June

By cathy

I SO AGREE! Eric Roberts is the TRUE talent in that family! He is one terrific actor!

Emma, serious, you may audition, you may be good, but you know darn well your last name and Aunt have something to do with it. I'm so tired of famous people not owning up to the fact that a family name helps, it does even in and office it is time for you to own up to it. You got many chances that other people with the last name Smith or Johnson don't get. Tori Spelling, Emma Robets, Even Jennifer Aniston, Dad was in the business. I don't care how you spin it, it helps.

By h4t

Obviously some of the posters on here aren't old enough to remember that Eric was actually a pretty successful and well-known actor years before "Julia" (whose name is really Julie, btw) was ever heard of.

I don't care for her auntie and I don't think Emma is especially beautiful or talented, either.

I have a lot more respect for Hollywood offspring like Jeff and Beau Bridges who willingly admit that they have nepotism to thank for their careers. Fortunately they have the talent to stay relevant.

By monic

PoppyZ is correct. Julia Roberts got her first movie role thanks to Eric Roberts. Again, do your research. Eric is responsible for Emma and Julia's careers. Eric is a very talented actor, and I too watch everything he is in. Julia is boring. Emma - who knows yet, but let's give her a chance.

By Lafong

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Emma needs to be less defensive and find a new answer for the nepotism question. Does she really think that having Eric Roberts for a dad and Aunt Julia in her corner doesn't help her get an agent? A manager? Meet producers? Friends of the family that are producing and directing don't consider her because they know her or are friends with her family? Absurd. And there's nothing wrong with it. If she can't act she won't be able to land parts over the long haul. Just say you're lucky to be in an acting family and there are opportunities other people don't get. I have confidence I can deliver with chance presents itself.

By Frank

Why are they singling out Emma Roberts? Nepotism is an everyday occurrence throughout Hollywood, Media etc. Sure she is naive regarding the fact, but why was it even asked when it's an everyday occurrence in the entertainment field, but lets not forget it's everywhere else too.

By Melisa

I am so sick of these little twits riding on the coat tails of famous siblings: Jamie Lynn Spears, Ashlee Simpson, Emma Roberts and the list goes on. Little twits with no talent. Go to college get an education.

By Kathryn

Hey, all of you haters! She wants you to say it to her face! Just give her a call (I'm sure she'll take it), or see if she'll meet you for coffee.

By mickey

The kid lives in a dream world, if she wants to "believe" she got where she is without nepotism.

Saturday 18 June

By courtney

Don't crucify Emma for saying a few stupid things when she's young all young stars do for example after Joanne Woodward won the best actress oscar in 1958 she said "it's fun for about 5 minutes until you get back to your seat and realize it's a statue". of course there's nepotism in hollywood particularly when you're related to a multiple oscar nominee/winner like Nancy Sinatra got in the door because her dad was Frank who by the time she was starting in music & Film had won an honorary oscar and Best Supporting actor & been nominated for best actor for a film he didn't like called The Man With The Golden Arm same Goes for Ethan & Patrick Wayne their late father John was nominated for best actor twice winning in 1970 for the original True Grit and also the first actor to be nominated as a producer for best Picture for the Alamo in 1961 he also accepted oscars on behlaf of iconic director John Ford and actor Gary Cooper & also prior to winning himself he presented the best actress oscar to Ms Woodward March 26th 1958 the hug he grave her as she walked up to the podieum to accept the award was quite tender as he was a dear and concerned friend of hers. she had sadly miscaried her & Paul Newman's first child together 6 weeks before the ceremony and he knew the oscar meant little to her in the shadow of that and him being a father of 5 children himself at the time with that being the first time he'd ever witnessed someone close to him be forced to endure that kind of loss one that never truly heals

Sunday 19 June

By Claud Pipkin

Emma Roberts says.....Duh....Yes, I eat at least one nepotism a day..................

By Kristen

I feel like all the actors & actresses who are virtual no names- Hailee Stienfeld, Dianna Agron, and other people who auditioned and got the part are the best. Look at "The Office". All of the people on that show had NEVER been heard of and look where they are today. If you look at the big Hollywood names, many of their movies these days aren't so great. If you look at Emma Roberts' page on Rotten Tomatoes you'll see that she's never had a fresh (good) movie in her career. Maybe she isn't that great of an actress herself. I feel like all the real talent just gets ignored these days.

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