LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Honor Swinton Byrne has openly acknowledged her privilege as a "nepo baby" and expressed gratitude for the opportunities she has been offered. The 25-year-old actress, who is the daughter of playwright John Byrne and Academy Award-winning actress Tilda Swinton, emphasized the importance of acknowledging the support she has received from her parents.
Honor admitted that her connections played a role in her being considered for her debut role in 'The Souvenir' alongside her mother. She shared the story of how she was cast in the film by director Joanna Hogg, who happens to be a friend of her mother's. At the time, Honor was working as a florist's assistant in Inverness. "I met Joanna in Caffe Nero in Berwick-upon-Tweed," Honor told The Times. "I didn’t have a clue that she was sussing me out for the part. From what I understand she had auditioned so many people and hadn’t quite seen what she wanted. She saw the self-consciousness of 18-year-old me and, yeah, I got it."
'It’s very important to own it'
However, she also claimed to have secured subsequent acting opportunities based on her own talent. She said, "I feel like it’s very important to own it [nepotism]. I completely admit and am grateful for the fact that I was considered for 'The Souvenir' because of my connections. But at the same time I continue to act and get jobs because I have skill. I’m still doing it."
Honor delivered a compelling performance as Julie in the film 'The Souvenir'. Julie is portrayed as a young film student who embarks on a romantic relationship with a complex and untrustworthy man, with Tilda Swinton playing her mother. Honor expressed her delight in starring alongside her renowned mother, finding the experience "really fun" rather than daunting.
She praised Tilda's natural sense of style, describing her as effortlessly chic, even when she's casually dressed in her pyjamas. Honor humorously shared that she has access to Tilda's entire wardrobe, as "nothing is off limits." In a playful remark, she mentioned that she even managed to will her own feet to be the same size as her mother's, allowing them to share shoes.
Who is Honor Swinton Byrne?
Honor is the daughter of actress Tilda Swinton and playwright John Byrne. She recently earned a four-year psychology degree from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, in addition to her pursuits in acting and modeling. Her twin brother, Xavier, is also involved in the film industry, working in the props department.
Honor shared that gaining admission to university was challenging for her because of her educational background at Drumduan, a Rudolf Steiner school. At Drumduan, the emphasis is placed on teaching through imagination and creativity, and there are no traditional exams. She explained, "When we were 18 we all did a TED-style talk instead. I did mine on the neurology, psychology and physiology of dance. I applied to four Scottish universities and was rejected from every single one apart from Heriot-Watt. They took a gamble and it paid off because I got a 2:1."
