Eva Amurri: born to movie royalty, an actress has her debut

Interview, Sept, 2002 by Patrick Giles

Barrymores and Bernhardts reportedly brought their offspring onstage while still in diapers. Eva Amurri, 17, being the child of actress Susan Sarandon and writer-director Franco Amurri, also grew up in a theatrical world. This month, mother and daughter play mother and daughter in Bob Dolman's The Banger Sisters, where the fledgling actress scores plenty of laughs as an awesomely overprivileged teen.

Amurri spent much of her childhood on film sets where "the actors and crew took turns babysitting each other's kids," she recalls. "Sometimes directors"--one was Amurri's stepfather, Tim Robbins--"said, 'Let's give her something to do.'" Following a brief appearance in Robbins' Bob Roberts (1992), Amurri won a bigger role in his Dead Man Walking (1995). "Tim said, 'You can play Mom younger.' But the movie was so violent, I wasn't allowed to see it when it was released." Now growing into leads (as in the upcoming indie Made-Up) Amurri is refreshingly level-headed about access and celebrity: "No matter who your parents are, you have to prove yourself--to others and yourself."

Patrick Giles is Interview's Associate Editor. Above: Eva Amurri wears her own T-shirt. Hair and makeup: SCOTT McMAHAN/Marek & Associates. Fashion details page 247. Photographer: TODD OLDHAM.