Nico Parker is the rare "nepo baby" who actually clears the bar. The daughter of Thandiwe Newton and director Ol Parker, she’s spent the last few years jumping from massive Disney remakes to HBO’s prestige apocalypse and back again. By now, your kids likely know her as the face of Astrid in the live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake, but her filmography is a mix of "family movie night" and "strictly for when the kids are in bed."
Nico Parker is currently one of the biggest names in family media, primarily known for playing Astrid in the live-action How to Train Your Dragon and her breakout in Disney's Dumbo. While those are safe for all ages, her more recent work in The Last of Us and the film Suncoast deals with heavy themes like grief and terminal illness. If your kid is following her career, stick to the dragons and the flying elephants for now, and save the HBO dramas for the teen years.
The big conversation right now is obviously the live-action How to Train Your Dragon. When the casting was first announced, the internet did what it does (complained), but Parker’s performance as Astrid has largely silenced the noise. She brings a grounded, athletic energy to the role that honors the original animation without feeling like a cheap imitation.
If your kids are fans of the original animated trilogy, this remake is the logical next step. It hits the same emotional beats, but with a visual scale that makes the dragons feel significantly more "real"—which might be a bit much for very young toddlers who are sensitive to creature designs. For everyone else, it’s a high-WISE pick that earns its place on our best movies for kids list.
If you’re looking at Parker’s work on the small screen, the vibe shifts dramatically. In HBO’s The Last of Us, she plays Sarah, the daughter of the protagonist, Joel. Her time on screen is short but arguably the most emotionally violent part of the entire first season. It’s a masterclass in acting, but it is also a brutal depiction of the start of a societal collapse.
Then there’s Suncoast, a semi-autobiographical film where she plays a teenager dealing with a brother in hospice care. It’s funny, it’s smart, and it’s a total tear-jerker.
The distinction for parents:
- The Dragon/Dumbo Era: These are your "all ages" picks. They are adventurous, visually stunning, and follow the standard hero's journey.
- The Last of Us/Suncoast Era: These are for your 14+ crowd. They deal with death, the ethics of survival, and the messy reality of losing a family member.
If you want to see where she started, Dumbo (the 2019 Tim Burton version) is the entry point. She plays Milly Farrier, the girl who discovers Dumbo can fly. It’s a classic Burton production—beautiful, slightly weird, and very earnest. While the movie itself got mixed reviews from critics, Parker was widely cited as the best part of it. It’s a safe, "nothing to worry about" watch for a rainy afternoon, even if it doesn't quite reach the heights of the 1941 original.
Because Nico Parker often plays characters dealing with high-stakes responsibility (saving a dragon, caring for a brother, surviving a pandemic), she’s a great bridge for conversations with older kids.
If your teen watched Suncoast, ask them why they think her character sought out a friendship with an older activist (played by Woody Harrelson) instead of sticking with her peers. It’s a great way to talk about how grief can make a kid feel "older" than their friends and the isolation that comes with it.
If you’re watching the dragon remake, focus on the physical training. Parker did a lot of her own stunts for the role of Astrid. It’s a good opening to talk about the work that goes into making something look effortless on screen.
Q: Is Nico Parker related to Thandiwe Newton? Yes, she is Thandiwe Newton’s daughter. You’ll see a striking resemblance, but Nico is very much carving out her own path in blockbusters and indie films rather than following her mother’s specific footsteps in sci-fi and action.
Q: What age is Suncoast appropriate for? It's rated R for some language and teen drug use, but the real "rating" comes from the emotional weight. It deals heavily with hospice, death, and the "long goodbye" of a terminal illness. It’s best for ages 14 and up, ideally watched with a parent.
Q: Is Nico Parker in the animated Dragon movies? No, she only appears in the live-action remake. The original Astrid was voiced by America Ferrera. If your kid loves the world of Berk, you can find the full breakdown in our best shows for kids list, which includes the various animated spinoff series.
Q: What should my kid watch after the live-action Dragon movie? If they loved the fantasy-adventure vibe, the natural next step is The Legend of Zelda series or games like Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Both hit that same "boy and his companion in a big world" note perfectly.
Nico Parker is an actress who chooses projects with soul. Whether she’s riding a CGI dragon or navigating the end of the world, she brings a level of maturity to her roles that resonates with kids and parents alike. Just be sure to check the rating before you hit play—the jump from Berk to the apocalypse is a steep one.
- Check out our best movies for kids list for more fantasy adventures.
- If your teen is into heavy dramas, see our digital guide for high schoolers.
- Find more live-action remakes worth watching
