Jessica Biel has stated that she will not allow her son Silas, 11, to benefit from nepotism, even though he recently appeared in her new film, "Matchbox: The Movie." Biel, who has two sons with husband Justin Timberlake, emphasized the importance of earning opportunities in the acting industry.
During an appearance on the "Great Chat Show" podcast, Biel explained her approach to Silas's budding interest in acting. "I told him there are kids who work really hard and they go to acting class and they're in theatre class and they're doing all the work. You can't just take a part from that person just because you're my son," she said. "That's not cool. We're not doing that."
Biel and Timberlake have reportedly attempted to shield their children from the entertainment industry but did not want to discourage their children's dreams. The opportunity for Silas to appear in "Matchbox: The Movie" arose when producer Jules Daly offered him a small part.
Biel explained that the decision was made easier because the role was not substantial. "What made Justin and I feel OK about it was that it was not a big speaking part," she stated. "So this is a special opportunity because it's really teeny tiny. And, if you had a big monologue, I wouldn't let him do it. You would have to earn that part because we're not starting that, 'Oh, you just get handed a bunch of opportunities because you're part of this family.' We're not doing that."
In "Matchbox: The Movie," Biel stars as Emmy alongside actors such as John Cena and Sam Richardson. The film, which centers on the popular toy car brand, follows a group of childhood friends who reunite and become entangled in a dangerous international plot. The movie, directed by Sam Hargrave, is currently available on Apple TV.
Biel's recent role comes as she is set to portray Crystal Harris in an upcoming film about the Playboy Mansion. This casting has reportedly drawn mixed reactions from former Playmates, though Biel has not yet publicly commented on these responses.