Who is Nico Parker? All about Thandiwe Newton’s daughter photographed alongside Gerard Butler at CinemaCon

Nico Parker was recently pictured alongside Gerard Butler at Day 3 of CinemaCon 2025, where the duo’s upcoming film, live-action How to Train Your Dragon, premiered.

Parker, who looked resplendent in a white dress and beaded jacket, is a 20-year-old actress who is already making her mark.

Nico Parker is the daughter of popular British actress Thandiwe Newton and director Ol Parker. Newton has had a successful career in Hollywood, with films such as Mission: Impossible 2, Pursuit of Happyness under her belt. The Emmy and BAFTA award-winning actress has also featured on the dystopian television series, Westworld.

Parker’s father, Ol Parker, is a prominent writer and director, who has worked on Imagine Me and You, Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried's starrer Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and Ticket to Paradise, which feature Julia Roberts and George Clooney.

Nico Parker’s career explored

Nico Parker got her big break in Hollywood when she was cast as Millie Farrier alongside Colin Farrell in director Tim Burton’s Dumbo in 2019. As per a conversation with USA Today at the time of the film’s release, Parker revealed that her director father had helped her shoot her audition tape for Dumbo by placing a stuffed polar bear on her kitchen floor. She said,

“I don't remember whose idea that was, his or mine, but it was great.”

Before Dumbo’s release, Parker’s mom, Thandiwe Newton spoke on This Morning about her daughter’s experience on film sets as a result of having parents that work in the industry. As per People Magazine, Newton, while speaking about Parker, said,

“She’s been on endless sets. It’s not that she takes it for granted, but it’s not a world that she feels she’s not entitled to be in.”

According to Variety, Parker also appeared as Naomi Harris’ character’s daughter in HBO’s The Third Day. While speaking to the news outlet at the time of the series’ release, Parker told Variety that she draws inspiration from icons like Zendaya. Parker said,

“I can look up to someone like Zendaya who kind of has a similar background to me. It’s really heartwarming, but there were so many people that didn’t get to experience that because they only saw people who were so different to them. The beauty standard was so far from what they looked like, look like. It’s so wonderful that young girls and boys can now grow up with all different kinds of representation.”

According to Pop Sugar, some of Parker’s other prominent roles were in 2021’s Reminiscence and in HBO’s The Last of Us.

Parker starred in Suncoast, which was released last year on Hulu to favorable reviews. The film, in which Parker starred alongside Woody Harrelson and Laura Linney, was extra special for the young actress who won the Sundance Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Performance at the film’s premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.

While speaking to Glamour in the aftermath of receiving the award, Parker spoke about the kind of advice her parents share with her. She recalled,

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“Both he and my mom always taught me to remember you are not the most important person on set…I think sometimes you can get wrapped up in the flashy aspect of being an actor, but when it actually comes down to it, you are on the exact same plane as everyone that you’re working with. You’re all coworkers.”

Parker’s acting prowess will be on display as How to Train Your Dragon is all set to release in the U.S. on June 13.

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