Lea Thompson's daughters, Zoey Deutch and Madelyn Deutch, have followed in their family's Hollywood footsteps.
"I've accomplished a lot, and to follow in your parents' footsteps, it's a little daunting," the Back to the Future star told ABC News in 2017. "I'm honored that I didn't make it seem like a bad job or like I had to be the only actor in the family. It does make for very boring dinner conversation, though."
Thompson shares Zoey and Madelyn with her husband, Pretty in Pink director Howard Deutch. In 2022, the mom of two told E! News that she was "impressed" by how her girls have managed to "navigate this business."
Zoey and Madelyn have both worked with their mom. The sisters starred in Mayor Cupcake in 2011 and The Year of Spectacular Men in 2017, the latter of which marked Thompson's directorial debut. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter about directing her daughters, the actress said, "Through this process, I learned more about them as people and as artists. I'm sure they learned a lot about me! I was surprised by how sharp their comedy skills are, and what mensches they are to their fellow crew members."
Madelyn also wrote the screenplay for and scored The Year of Spectacular Men. Thompson interviewed her daughters about the film for Entertainment Tonight and told them, "I love that we all lifted each other up, we gave each other jobs no one else would give us ... and you guys really inspired me."
During that interview, Zoey jokingly asked her mother who her favorite child was. "There really isn't an answer," Thompson said. "You're both so different and you're both so amazing and at different times, I have to say. I love one of you more for maybe a week and then the other one for a week. It trades off but maybe it adds up."
Here is everything to know about Lea Thompson's two daughters, Zoey Deutch and Madelyn Deutch.
Thompson and her husband, who wed in 1989, welcomed their first child, Madelyn Deutch, on March 23, 1991.
Madelyn grew up in Los Angeles and studied music at both the L.A. County High School for the Arts and The New School in New York City, according to Issue magazine.
In addition to music, Madelyn is also an actor and writer. She starred in 2011's Mayor Cupcake with her mom and played Dakota on the TV series Outcast.
Madelyn not only had a role in The Year of Spectacular Men, but she also wrote the script and composed the score. "I inspired Maddie to write the script and, you know, independent features are so difficult to make, so we all rolled up our sleeves," Thompson said in 2017. "There was no glamour involved at all and we made this movie, so it's a really fun project."
Madelyn told Wonderland magazine that the film was inspired by her first year out of college. "A lot of people say that you have one movie in the script, one movie while you're shooting, and one movie in the edit, and I think that that is really true," she said. "A few drafts in it was starting to look a lot less autobiographical and a lot more inspired by."
Thompson's firstborn also told Issue magazine that she felt "good" about her career path. "I'm three generations deep in people working in the entertainment business, on both sides of my family," she shared. "So did I have a choice? We're not sur -
e."
Madelyn is also talented behind the camera. In 2021, she photographed her mother and sister for InStyle and shot the opening title stills of the How I Met Your Father cast, including Hilary Duff.
Though she surely looks up to her mom, Madelyn also admires Emma Stone. "She's able to make literally anything work," she told Issue.
In November 2022, Madelyn announced her engagement to Zach Carlisle, who works as a TV literary agent according to Deadline. Her proud mom celebrated the engagement on Instagram.
"It's with great joy that Howie and I announce the engagement of our amazing daughter Maddie Deutch to the exceptional Zach Carlisle," she wrote. "Our hearts couldn't be fuller. Zach welcome to the family!!!"
At their wedding in June 2023, Thompson shared a sweet photo of the pair, which she captioned: "I am overjoyed to announce the marriage of my amazing daughter #MaddieDeutch and the wonderful #ZachCarlisle it was a beautiful wedding and we couldn't be happier. #GoodNews #Love."
Thompson and her husband welcomed their second daughter, Zoey Deutch, on Nov. 10, 1994.
In 2021, Thompson told InStyle that she knew Zoey would be an "amazing actress" from the get-go. "When she would play Barbies with her friends, she produced real tears," Thompson recalled. "She'd be like, 'Ken has left. I am so sad.' Tears would come down, and I'd say, 'What's going on here?' "
Like her big sister, Zoey appeared in 2011's Mayor Cupcake with their mom. Among Zoey's other credits are The Suite Life on Deck, The Politician, Zombieland: Double Tap, The Outfit, Something from Tiffany's and Set It Up. In 2022, she was nominated for a British Independent Film Award for her performance in The Outfit.
The Politician star, whom Thompson has called her "style icon," attended her first Met Gala in 2016. "My sister and I have always really loved looking at the photos the next day and picking our favorite looks out," she told Teen Vogue at the time. "So getting to see all the gowns in person is something I'm very excited about."
In 2022, Zoey told PEOPLE that Reese Witherspoon was her "idol" and someone she looks up to "so much" in her career.
While Witherspoon is an idol of hers, Zoey's "role model" is her mom. "She's inspired me in so many ways more than just the obvious thing of following in her footsteps as an actress," she told DuJour magazine. "She's a really, really remarkable woman. She just goes about her day and I don't think she realizes the gravity of the show not tell attitude."
Zoey also credited her mother for her habit of cursing. "People think my mom is a goody-two-shoes because she's so sweet and Midwestern," she told the outlet. "But I got my terrible habit of cursing from someone and it happened to be her."
In 2022, Thompson praised her daughter in a tribute for Zoey's 28th birthday. "Zoey you inspire me every day with your wit, your deep kindness your fierce loyalty and your ability to work hard and still find time to enjoy the beauty of this world," she wrote alongside pictures of the birthday girl.
Thompson added, "I thank god every day for putting us all together in one family. Oh and thank you for letting me share your pup maybelle."
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