Maya Rudolph is taking a reflective look at her upbringing within the entertainment industry, particularly how her mother’s identity shaped her experience.
During her appearance on the Armchair Expert podcast with Dax Shepard on April 22, the 51-year-old Bridesmaids actress shared her family background.
Discussing her father, American songwriter and musician Richard Rudolph, 77, and her late mother, singer-songwriter Minnie Riperton, renowned for her 1974 hit single “Lovin’ You.”
Rudolph acknowledged that having famous parents didn’t necessarily confer the advantages one might assume. “They were musicians,” she clarified, “They weren’t actors.”
Despite her lineage, Rudolph’s aspiration was clear: she aimed to carve her own path in the entertainment world, particularly on Saturday Night Live.
Reflecting on her mother’s fame, Rudolph noted that while her mother’s talent was evident, it wasn’t widely recognized among her peers during her upbringing.
“Growing up, I didn’t feel like she was a household name,”
Rudolph remarked, though she acknowledged her mother’s uniqueness.
However, the connection became more apparent over time, especially after Riperton’s untimely death from breast cancer at the age of 31 in 1979, when Rudolph was just six years old.
The actress also shared the challenge of not sharing her mother’s last name, which sometimes obscured their relationship.
Despite her mother’s significant influence, Rudolph initially hesitated to discuss it openly, particularly after her passing.
However, as she entered the public eye, people inevitably discovered the connection, leading to conversations Rudolph wasn’t always eager to engage in.
Over time, though, Rudolph found it easier to embrace her mother’s legacy. “My mom was music,” she expressed in a 2012 NPR interview.
“Music poured out of my mother, and I’m sure I heard it before I even got here when I was in her belly. Music sounds and feels very normal to me.”
