Zoe Kazan

Though initially reluctant to be a part of show business, actress and writer Zoe Kazan - daughter of screenwriters Nicholas Kazan and Robin Swicord, and granddaughter of director Elia Kazan - nonetheless entered the family business, finding success both in front of and behind the cameras. After making her film debut in 2003, Kazan began her professional career in earnest with small roles in "Fracture" (2007) and "In the Valley of Elah" (2007), while marking her Broadway debut in a revival of "Come Back, Little Sheba" (2008). As a noted playwright, her drama "Absalom" premiered to positive reviews in 2009, though she created major buzz with her screenplay for "Ruby Sparks" (2012), a romantic comedy that starred real-life beau Paul Dano and earned her substantial critical acclaim. Though she came from a long line of show business players, Kazan blazed her own path as an actress and screenwriter, possessing the critical talent to be a success in her own right.