Hollywood sisters: six couples who proved that talent cannot be copied (29 photos)

They grew up in the same house, but chose different paths to fame.





Some became blockbuster queens, others became style icons or art house rulers. They are often compared, but each found her own unique path in a world where family ties can both help and become a heavy burden. These are the stories of six pairs of Hollywood sisters who rewrote the rules of the game, about how to remain yourself, even when everyone expects you to be like your famous sister.

1. The Fanning Sisters: How Childhood Rivalry Turned into Creative Support



They are often compared, but Dakota (31) and Elle Fanning (27) are completely different. The older one began acting at the age of 6 in the series "ER", and at 7 she received a nomination for a Screen Actors Guild Award for her role in "I Am Sam", becoming the youngest actress in history to receive such recognition.





Dakota quickly established herself in Hollywood, as evidenced by such projects with her participation as "War of the Worlds" (2005), "Twilight" (2009) and "Ripley" (2024).



Dakota in I Am Sam (2001)

Critics have dubbed her "the kid with the old lady look" because her acting has always had a mature depth to it.



Elle Fanning in Maleficent (2014)

The younger Fanning started out with bit parts. For example, in I Am Sam, she played a younger version of Dakota's character. But her breakthrough was Aurora in Maleficent (2014).



"Ripley" (2024)

Now Elle chooses bold roles in projects such as "The Great" (2020-2023), where her Catherine II was sharp, ironic and charismatic, "The Neon Demon" (2016), "Bob Dylan: Unknown" (2024).

Elle admits that Dakota is like a second mother to her, and Dakota admires her sister's courage.



"The Great"

2. The Mara Sisters: Parallel Universes of One Talent



"The Martian"

In Hollywood, where family ties often determine careers, Kate (42) and Rooney (40) Mara have chosen diametrically opposed paths to success. Their stories serve as proof that talent can be a family treasure, but its implementation is always unique.



"House of Cards"

For Kate, the beginning was a cameo role in "Law & Order" (2005), and her breakthrough was "House of Cards" (2013–2018) and an Emmy nomination for her role as journalist Zoe Barnes.



"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"

The older sister starred with Matt Damon in "The Martian" (2015), and a year later experimented with the genre again in "Morgan".

Kate is called the "queen of political dramas" - her heroines always personify the struggle for influence in a man's world.



"Mary Magdalene"

Rooney started with the remake of "A Nightmare on Elm Street" (2010), and the breakthrough for the actress was the film "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" (2011). For her role as Teresa in the film "Carol" (2015), she received the Cannes Film Festival Prize. After that, she starred in the chamber drama "Lion" (2016) and the biblical epic "Mary Magdalene" (2018).

Rooney chooses challenging roles, where the appearance and character of the heroines change radically from project to project.



In the spring of 2025, it became known that Kate and Rooney Mara will play the leading roles in Werner Herzog's film "Bucking Fastard".

The sisters lived together at the beginning of their careers, shared experiences, and now support each other. Their careers are like two different films: one about power, the other about transformation. And both are worthy of an Oscar.

3. Mamie and Grace Gummer: How Meryl Streep's Daughters Found Themselves in the Shadow of a Legend



When the daughters of the 21-time Oscar nominee chose the acting path, many expected them to become pale copies of their mother. But Mamie (41) and Grace Gummer (39) proved that you can inherit talent, but you can't copy the path to success.

In 1986, three-year-old Mamie first appeared on screen with her mother in the drama Heart Heat. Thirty years later, they played together again in Ricki and the Flash, this time as conflicting mother and daughter.



Mamie Gummer with her mother in Ricki and the Flash

"We communicated on the set without words - a look was enough," Mamie admitted in an interview with The New York Times.

Unlike her mother, Streep's eldest daughter chose the theater: her role as Sonya in Uncle Vanya (2018) was called by critics "a quiet earthquake of emotions."



Grace in the TV series "American Horror Story"

The younger sister went a different way. This is proven by roles in such films and TV series as "Mr. Robot" (2019), "American Horror Story" (2021), "Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities" (2022).

They support each other. Mamie advises her sister on work in the theater, and Grace inspires the older one to experiment. The Gummers prove that you can be the children of a legend and still remain yourself.

4. The Deschanel Sisters: Two Stars, Two Styles, One Success



"500 Days of Summer"

Zooey Deschanel (45) turned the idea of ​​female roles in Hollywood upside down, creating a new type of heroine - simultaneously romantic and ironic.



"New Girl"

The actress's key roles are "500 Days of Summer" (2009), where her Summer broke the mold of the rom-com, "New Girl" (2011-2018) - the iconic Jessica Day with 7 Emmy nominations, and "Everybody Hates Chris" - an early role where her signature style emerged.



"Bones"

While Zoe shone in comedies, Emily (48) conquered television with her serious approach. In the series "Bones" (2005-2017) for 12 seasons, she played the role of forensic scientist Temperance Brennan. An unexpected turn in her career was producing the series. Emily's heroine proved that intelligence can be sexier than dresses.



In 2009, fans got a treat: Zoe appeared as Temperance's cousin in Bones, and the sisters' scenes together became the highest-rated of the season.



5. The Arquette Sisters: A Hollywood Dynasty Where Each Found Her Own Path



The children of actor Lewis Arquette (son of legendary comedian Cliff Arquette) not only entered the film industry, but also rethought it. Of all the heirs of this creative dynasty, it was Patricia (57) and Rosanna (65) who achieved the most brilliant successes, proving that talent can manifest itself in completely different ways.



"Stigmata"

Patricia started out with eccentric, almost grotesque characters in the films "True Romance" (1993), "Ed Wood" (1994), "Stigmata" (1999). But her real triumph was the drama "Boyhood" (2014), for which she received an Oscar and a Golden Globe for her role as a single mother.



"Boyhood"

Roseanne became famous in the 1980s, becoming the face of the era. She has "Desperately Seeking Susan" (1985), "Pulp Fiction" (1994), "The Whole Nine Yards" (2000) - a comedy duet with Bruce Willis.



"Desperately Seeking Susan"

Her heroines are always sharp, ironic, with a touch of rebellion. They are not at all like Patricia's characters.



"The Whole Nine Yards"

Their rare joint projects (for example, "Sleep with Me", 1996) show how different they are, but equally talented.

Patricia is a master of deep drama, Roseanne is an icon of independent cinema. And both made Hollywood history on their own terms.

6. The Olsen Sisters: How Three Actresses Created Three Different Empires



This is not just a story of sisters, but a whole trio – twins and their younger sister.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (39) became a phenomenon of the 1990s. 6 months is not only the age of the first tooth, but also the age of their debut in the series “Full House”. The twins had 30 films to their credit by the age of 18, including "It Takes Two: Me and My Shadow." But the transition to "adult" cinema did not go well. Mary-Kate tried herself in dramas ("The Party's Wild," 2004), but eventually went into fashion. Ashley starred in several independent projects, but also focused on design.



"Me and My Shadow"

In 2006, they founded The Row, a luxury brand that has gained recognition in the world of high fashion.



"Avengers: Age of Ultron"

While her older sisters were building a fashion empire, Elizabeth (36) chose a different path. In 2011, she had a breakthrough in the psychological thriller Martha Marcy May Marlene, in 2014 she landed her first superhero role (Avengers: Age of Ultron), and in 2021, WandaVision earned her an Emmy nomination.



After their failures in big cinema, Mary-Kate and Ashley retrained as businesswomen who turned the fashion industry upside down, and Elizabeth became an actress who proved she could be more than just an "Olsen sister." Their story is about how you can grow up in the same shadow, but create three different suns.