Chet Hanks, son of Hollywood royalty Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, has opened up about the challenges he faced growing up with famous parents. On his new reality show Surreal Life: Villa of Secrets, Chet shared that he didn’t have an easy time dealing with the public’s perception of him as a child of a superstar.
Despite his parents’ fame, Chet felt awkward and struggled with feelings of inadequacy. He explained, “I’ll tell you something about my childhood. People think that being Tom Hanks’ son, like, I would grow up feeling like I was the best. But I actually grew up feeling completely worthless.”
Chet attributed his struggles to strangers who had preconceived notions about him, rather than his parents. He said, “People treated me like, ‘You must think you’re better than me’ when I didn’t. I just wanted to be friends with everybody and be treated like everybody else.”
Chet Hanks did not have an easy time growing up with very famous parents, he said on his new show Surreal Life: Villa Of Secrets
His father is Oscar-winner Tom Hanks – best known for Forrest Gump and Sleepless In Seattle – and his mother is actress and singer Rita Wilson. Seen in February
Chet’s struggles with self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy continued into adulthood, but he has found a sense of purpose and confidence through his sobriety. He said, “Life has become extremely easy since I achieved sobriety. It’s not difficult at all. What’s difficult is when you’re trying to manage your life and you’re not sober, that’s what’s difficult.”
Chet is looking forward to making a return to acting, starring opposite Kate Hudson in the Netflix drama Running Point, and releasing new music in the near future. He said, “I have a new big role on a Netflix show with Kate Hudson, that will be out around January. I have a great character in it, a great role. It’s a comedy, so it’s funny and I get to be comedic.”
Chet’s experience on Surreal Life: Villa of Secrets has been a positive one, and he credits his parents for their support. He said, “It’s more about personal growth and relationships with people and vulnerability. It’s a completely different type of reality TV. I had full support in doing it.”
Chet has shared on his new show Surreal Life: Villa of Secrets that he felt awkward with the public’s reaction to him being a kid of a superstar
Surreal Life: Villa of Secrets airs Tuesday nights on MTV at 9 p.m. ET.