Tessa Gourin continues to talk about her upbringing and what she claims it was like growing up as the estranged daughter of Jack Nicholson.

In a recent interview with The Daily Beast, the New York-based actress, who is now 28 years old, discussed her life and the lessons she has learned from it. She said that ever since she was a child, her mother, Jennine Gourin, has instructed her “not to tell people that I have this famous dad.”

She said, “I knew he was strong, and his wealth was on par with that of Daddy Warbucks, so I sort of linked my existence to being like Orphan Annie’s.”

Gourin said to the journal that Nicholson “wasn’t interested” in establishing a connection with her when she was a youngster.

The article referred to Gourin as the “spitting image” of Nicholson. Gourin chose not to elaborate on the intricacies of the situation, although she did mention that her father had paid for her early schooling.

“When you’re a child, you don’t have a choice where you’re going,” Gourin said, “so if your mom is pushing you on someone who’s technically your father and he agrees to see you for anywhere between one hour and a couple of days, that’s where you’re going to go. Let’s just say that my familiarity with this individual is limited at best.”

Nicholson, who is also the father of five other children, has not recognized Gourin in front of the public as his daughter.

Gourin disclosed to The Daily Beast that she has always had an interest in acting and that she used to want to be videotaped when she was a child in addition to performing at sleepovers. She said, “When I was younger, my mother wouldn’t let me act, and although I can appreciate that, I’m like, ‘F—-, I would have nailed it.'”

Gourin penned an article for Newsweek that was published one month ago, in which she said that she “sat on the sidelines and watched in anger as other celebrity offspring have smoothly gotten gigs or been signed to large agencies.”

During her conversation with The Daily Beast, she spoke on some further comments about the “nepo baby” debate as well as other actors who have denied that they have benefited from nepotism.

Gourin said, “It’s such a double-edged sword because I can also appreciate the aggravation of getting in the door, and then once you’re there it’s like, ‘Okay, now show us what you can do.  On the other hand, as an actor, it is the aspect that excites me the most.

The need to demonstrate one’s worth is a powerful motivator. This sense of shame that you have at finally having a talent is something that you should simply work through on your own and incorporate into your job.”

She had a lifetime fascination for performing, but Gourin said that in her mid-20s she quit acting out of fear of being blacklisted due of her relationship to Jack Nicholson. This fear prevented her from pursuing a career in acting.

“I was scared that people would think that I was tacky or that I was riding on his coattails,” she added, “however, this individual does not want me to be a part of his life; thus, how can you utilize it to your advantage?”

Gourin said that she had respect for Nicholson in her capacity as an actress.

She said, “I really want this to come across: If I were to discredit anything about his acting, then that wouldn’t make me an artist, because making art and being the best dad in the world are not the same thing.”