When it comes to poorly kept secrets in Hollywood, the paternity of Tessa Gourin is high on the list, according to the 28-year-old. She claims that Jack Nicholson is her father, even though he's never publicly acknowledged her. Now Tessa is ready to dish about her famous dad and why she's kept quiet all these years.
Tessa talked to The Daily Beast about her nonexistent relationship with her dad.
In a candid interview, the aspiring actress revealed that her father was never "interested" in having anything to do with her.
"From a very young age, my mother told me not to tell anyone that I have this famous dad," she shared on Wednesday. "I knew he was powerful and Daddy Warbucks-level rich, so I kind of equated my life to being like Orphan Annie's."
Jack paid for his daughter's schooling, but that was the only influence he had in her life.
Tessa's mother, a waitress he allegedly had an affair with nearly three decades ago, raised her daughter on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
"I was raised by a single mother in a really intense, nuanced situation," she continued. "I was dealt a really s—-y random card, but I'm not gonna let that destroy me. In fact, I'm gonna use it to fuel me."
Well, you go girl!
Apparently, the non-relationship wasn't for a lack of trying.
Sadly, Tessa says her mother tried to get her father involved in her life but nothing ever came of her attempts. "My mom wanted me to have a relationship with him, but he said he wasn't interested," Tessa revealed.
As for the reason why, Tessa told the publication, "I don’t think anyone's ever given me a concrete answer."
Tessa's childhood was a tumultuous one because of the secret.
"I formed my own opinion," she said of her father's reasons for acknowledging his other children but leaving her in the dark. "He's a complicated person, and I think my mom fights her own demons, and with the combination of the two, I was simply collateral damage."
When it comes to whether she thinks she inherited anything from Jack, she says they do share some personality quirks. "I'm f—ing crazy. I'm not the poster child for sanity, and I do think that's a little similar to my dad, from what I've read."
With all this interest in her lineage, Tessa says she's ready to take advantage of the situation.
Tessa plans to follow in her half-sibling's footsteps and join her father on the silver screen. "I was afraid people would think I was tacky or that I was riding off his coattails," she explained. "But this person doesn't want me in his life, so how would you use that to your benefit?"
We can't be sure, but Tessa may be our favorite nepo baby yet. Hopefully all this attention can help her make peace with her lack of a relationship with her father.
