Nepo Babies Iris Apatow and Sam Nivola Are the Ultimate Mini-Mes of Their Famous Parents
Sam Nivola called her girlfriend Iris Apatow “so amazing” during the season 3 premiere party for HBO‘s hit series The White Lotus. The 21-year-old has caught the attention of pop culture fans as he lands high-profile roles and dates the daughter of comedy genius Judd Apatow. Learn more about these nepo babies in love and why they aren’t afraid to say it like it is concerning their industry privileges.
‘The White Lotus’ star Sam Nivola is a ‘nepo kid’ along with his girlfriend Iris Apatow
Nivola jokingly told British Vogue that he and Iris belong to a “secret cabal of nepo kids who hang out in black robes.” In reality, the pair met in a very common way — through a mutual friend at a London bar. Now, Iris and Sam live together with their cat, Kumo, in New York City’s East Village. Dating since at least April 2024, Nivola says he’s “so in love.”
He told Teen Vogue, “I think the thing about moving in with someone is that when you’re this young, it’s always like, ‘Oh my God, you’re going to get sick of them.’ . . . then it’s going to be routine, and you’re going to feel like you’ve been in a marriage for 30 years. I don’t think that would happen with her anyway, just because we’re so in love.”
As they entered their committed relationship, Iris visited Sam in Thailand, where he filmed The White Lotus for several months. He called her a “lifesaver” during production. “It was so great to have a taste of home because it was 10,000 miles away . . . it was so nice of her to sacrifice that time to come be with me. And I’m incredibly grateful to her.”
Iris Apatow comes from comedy royalty
If you’re familiar with Judd Apatow’s work, you’ve likely noticed a blonde, curly-haired little girl in the background of several of his comedies. Iris’s dad is the successful director, writer, and producer behind movies like The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Trainwreck. Judd wrote Iris and her older sister, Maude, into Knocked Up, Funny People, and This Is 40. They portrayed the daughters of Debbie, played by their real-life mom, Leslie Mann.
Mann, for her part, is a beloved actress known for her roles in George of the Jungle, The Other Woman, and many more. Iris got her natural blonde curls from her mom, who’s helped guide the 22-year-old’s acting career. From 2016 to 2018, Iris portrayed fan-favorite Arya Hopkins in the Netflix series Love, produced by Judd. She also appeared in The Bubble, a 2022 comedy directed by — you guessed it — her dad.
Along the way, Iris found time to attend the University of Southern California and build a social media following. She shares fashion, travel, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of her life, often with 27-year-old Maude and friends like Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, and Charli D’Amelio. Iris has previously been linked to another nepo baby, Ryder Robinson, the son of Kate Hudson and Chris Robinson. But Sam Nivola stole her heart.
Sam Nivola comes from a family of respected screen and stage actors
Sam Nivola may not have Iris’s broad acting résumé just yet. However, the 21-year-old is quickly establishing himself as an emerging actor in Hollywood. His dad, Alessandro Nivola, is a Tony Award-nominated stage and screen actor known for his roles in American Hustle, Selma, The Brutalist, and many more. The Boston native has been married to Sam’s mom, British actress and filmmaker Emily Mortimer, for 22 years. You might recognize Mortimer from Lars and the Real Girl, Shutter Island, or The Newsroom.
Sam grew up with his parents and younger sister in Brooklyn. He made his major film debut in 2022 comedy-drama White Noise before starring in psychological thriller Eileen and the critically acclaimed drama Maestro in 2023. His first major TV role involved the Netflix mystery drama miniseries The Perfect Couple, starring Nicole Kidman and Liev Schreiber. Add his starring role in The White Lotus season 3 to his roster, and we have a feeling you’ll be seeing a lot more of Sam — and his girlfriend Iris — in the future.
