A24’s steamy thriller has finally hit UK cinemas, with Nicole Kidman leading an impressive cast. Directed by Halina Reijn, known for her 2022 dark comedy Bodies Bodies Bodies, Babygirl premiered on January 10.
The story follows a married CEO (Kidman), who falls into a passionate affair with her much younger intern (played by Harris Dickinson). While the duo command much of the film’s runtime, their co-stars equally shine.
Among of the supporting actors is Esther-Rose McGregor, who portrays Nicole Kidman’s on-screen daughter Isabel. As film fans tune into the hotly-anticipated drama, here is everything you need to know about Esther-Rose, including who her famous dad is.
Born November 7, 2001, in London, Esther-Rose’s family moved to Los Angeles when she was just 11 years old, thrusting her into a new environment that she struggled to adjust to.
“It was a very drastic change; going to a new school and being alienated just because of the way that I spoke. I did everything I could to fit in, which is something I never really had to do in the past,” she told British Vogue in 2023.
Although she struggled to assimilate, the now 23-year-old was certain of her career path from a young age. Speaking to Present Space in 2024, she reflected on her journey into the industry.
“Acting is actually something that has been my main goal in life and my main love since I can’t even remember. I did a lot of theatre growing up. I was in a conservatory school. I did a lot of summer programmes in New York and London. I didn’t really want to go to school for acting, though. That was just kind of how I did it. I started auditioning when I was in about 11th grade,” Esther shared.
Although acting takes priority in her life, the movie star is also a licensed tattoo artist and opened a tattoo shop in New York with a friend, alongside running an Instagram page called @mcgregortattoo, dedicated to the art.
Famous family
Esther-Rose is the child of actor Ewan McGregor and art director Eva Mavrakis. The young actress has never shied away from the “privilege” of being raised by her Emmy Award-winning father.
“Of course, my dad is an actor in the industry and I’ve been so privileged to have been able to grow up on sets and find my love for acting at such a young age — I don’t think I would have if I wasn’t around it,” she told Variety in 2024.
However, she does not pay attention to people who brand her a ‘Nepo Baby,’ a term often used to disparage the children of celebrities who follow their parents’ footsteps.
“I don’t think I’d ever take being called a Nepo Baby negatively. If you want to, you can, but I won’t let it diminish the f****g hard work that I’ve put into this. If I wanted to sit on my a**, I would not be working right now,” she added.
Where you’ve seen her before
Although many fans will recognise her for appearing in an episode of the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi, which stars her father, Esther-Rose has spent the majority of her career making films.
Most recently, she featured in the Spanish drama The Room Next Door, opposite Hollywood A-listers Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton.
Before that, the Babygirl star played an unnamed teenage girl in the 2023 road trip drama Bleeding Love, which starred her dad and older sister, Clara.
Esther-Rose also took centre-stage in a the 2022 coming-of-age series, High School, based on musicians Tegan and Sara Quin’s memoir of the same name.
Music career
Esther-Rose has built a blooming music career with fellow musician Leo Major. The band, named French Thyme, produces electronic pop music.
The actress, who is the band’s lead singer, recently revealed the name is partially inspired by her upbringing.
“My mother is French. I grew up with only French in the house. It was very important that we kept the language with us, and with that came listening to a lot of French music,” she divulged to Present Space.
“Some of my favourite movies are also from France, so I can thank my mom for that, because she’s got great taste in music and showed me some people that really inspired me.”
Babygirl is out in cinemas now.