Robert De Niro: Success in Hollywood is never guaranteed

Robert De Niro thinks his kids should have to earn their stripes in Hollywood.

The 83-year-old actor - who has Drena, 54, Raphael, 49, Julian, 30, Airyn, 30, Elliot, 28, Helen, 14, and Gia, three - wouldn't discourage his children from following in his footsteps, but he's warned them that they'll need to earn their own success.

The movie icon - who plays Adam Scott's on-screen dad in The Whisper Man - told People: "It’s a commitment. And you have to show, especially if you’re a kid in a situation like mine or Adam, people, no matter what [the kids] say, how they behave, what they do, they’re saying, ‘Show me'.

"And if you don’t look like you’re really sincere about it and busting your ass and working hard, it’ll have a negative impact. If you really can, over time, cumulatively impress people that you really are sincere about it and will go the distance, then it’ll work the other way ten times."

He explained: "The most important thing is to work hard because you really want to do it. And you really are committed. It’s not easy. ... It’s hard, and you have to work hard to get somewhere. And even then, there’s no guarantee."

Earlier this month, meanwhile, De Niro opened up about his decision to launch the Tribeca Film Festival.

The actor co-founded the world-famous film festival in 2002, and De Niro explained that he hoped to help revitalise New York in the aftermath of 9/11.

In the Netflix documentary Tribeca 25, De Niro shared: "The festival was kind of an act of defiance.

"We had 120 days, 1,300 volunteers, no money, no blueprint, just an idea and a neighbourhood that needed people back in it.

"This wasn’t just about movies; it was about whether downtown was coming back."

Tribeca 25 is directed by Matt Tyrnauer and he explained his ambition for the project.

"It traces how Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal’s grit and determination to bring people back downtown after 9/11 evolved into one of the most influential cultural festivals in the world.

"I wanted to make a film about a city and a moment. Through archival footage, interviews, and scenes from downtown, the film explores the relationship between art and civic life — how storytelling can help restore a sense of community after profound tragedy."