It’s time for a hilarious rollercoaster ride through the world of celebrity parents, where Maggie Baird, the superhero mom of pop royalty Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, is here to clear the air about those pesky “nepo baby” rumors. Spoiler alert: they’re not what you think!
In a recent chat with Glamour that had more twists than a pretzel factory, Maggie clapped back at the idea that her kids are just riding the coattails of her and dad Patrick O’Connell’s acting careers. Apparently, a clip of Maggie’s epic cameo on Friends sparked this whole nepo baby debate. She quipped, “That came out, and it was like, ‘Oh, Billie is a nepo baby.’ And I’m like, ‘Did you know that I got that episode of Friends because I was about to lose my health insurance?’” Talk about a plot twist worthy of a sitcom!
Maggie, who describes herself and her husband—who casually appeared in Iron Man and The West Wing—as “working-class actors,” paints a picture of a life far removed from glitz and glamour. “We eked out a meager living,” she said, “and it afforded us a lot of time with our kids, which was awesome.” So, next time you see Billie or Finneas dazzling the crowd, just remember: their parents were more like the overworked stars of a family sitcom than Hollywood royalty.
But wait, there’s more! Maggie pointed out that while her kids are rocking it on the big stage, she and Patrick never tasted that same level of fame. “People don’t really understand there’s a whole industry of creative guys who are working their butts off and still managing to live happy lives,” she explained. “But that’s a very different life than stepping into a different arena where you’re suddenly the main act. You know, like the kid who gets picked first in dodgeball. Spoiler: it’s not us!”
In the midst of the chaos that comes with fame, Maggie is super thankful for her family’s close-knit vibe. “You step onstage in front of 100,000 people, and that’s an hour and a half of magic,” she mused. “Then you’re back at the dinner table, and your brother is giving you grief like it’s a sport!” Now that’s the kind of family dynamic we can get behind!
And let’s not forget her heartfelt reminder that Billie and Finneas are, shocker, actually human! “You get a bad review in a local paper—you know what I mean?—that’s a bummer,” Maggie added. “But you don’t have millions of people commenting on you. And it is kind of an experimental generation that we are parenting.” So, next time you think of Billie and Finneas as untouchable stars, just remember: they still have to deal with sibling roast sessions over dinner!
Maggie is here to remind us that while Billie and Finneas are living the dream, they’re also just a couple of normal humans trying to navigate the wild world of fame, family, and the occasional roast at the dinner table. So, grab some popcorn and enjoy the show!
@glamourmag Recently, the internet claimed that #BillieEilish and #FINNEAS were #NepoBabies. Here, her actress mother, #MaggieBaird, sets the record straight. Watch the full video at the link in bio. #Friends #Motherhood #GlamourWOTY ♬ original sound – Glamour