Keke Palmer Says Her Parents Advised Her to Turn Down Teen 'Drug Dealer' Role in Ryan Gosling'sHalf Nelson

Mar. 15, 2025

Keke Palmer and her mother Sharon Palmer; Ryan Gosling in 2006’s Half Nelson.Photo:Michael Bezjian/WireImage; Journeyman/Kobal/Shutterstock

Michael Bezjian/WireImage; Journeyman/Kobal/Shutterstock

Keke Palmer’s parents had a say in what types of roles she took on as a child actress.In Palmer’s recent interview withThe Cutsurrounding the release of her new comedyOne of Them Days, the actress, 31, recalled auditioning for a number of movie parts after she initially broke out as the 12-year-old star of 2005’sAkeelah and the Bee. One of those roles included that of a middle school student in the 2006 award-winning filmHalf Nelson, which starredRyan Goslingas a teacher struggling with addiction.“AfterAkeelah and the Bee, they didn’t think it was good for me to play a drug dealer,” Palmer told the outlet of how her parents,Sharon and Larry Palmer, approached that opportunity. The actress was around 13 years old whenHalf Nelsonreleased. “They were very cautious about the roles I played as a young Black child.”The role ultimately went to Shareeka Epps, who won a Gotham Award for her performance.Rather than star inHalf Nelson— for which Gosling, now 44, received his fist career Oscar nomination — Palmer starred in the Disney Channel original movieJump In!and the filmCleanerin the following years, before she landed her leading role on Nickelodeon’sTrue Jackson, VPin 2008.Keke Palmer and her parents Sharon and Larry Palmer.Keke Palmer InstagramPalmer’s parents first met in drama school and spent time as amateur actors before starting a family. Keke is their second-oldest child. They welcomed their oldest Loreal Palmer in 1989 and welcomed their twins Lawrenne and Lawrence in 2000. Sharon has operated as Keke’s manager since she began acting; Keke told The Cut that Larry more often stayed home with her siblings.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“My parents were very gender-nonconforming in their relationship,” she said. “My dad always washed our clothes and sewed and put relaxers in our hair. He was more than the leader of our family — he was our hero.”Ryan Gosling in ‘Half Nelson’.Journeyman/Kobal/ShutterstockPalmer also noted in the interview that as a teen, she was highly aware that her work as an actor grew into her family’s main source of income. “I hated my parents for a long time,” she said. “There was so much pressure to rise to the occasion for my community, for my parents, for my siblings, for their sacrifices. They weren’t saying it, but that was the reality. Because I’m the one that we all came here for.”One of Them Daysis in theaters Jan. 17.

Keke Palmer’s parents had a say in what types of roles she took on as a child actress.

In Palmer’s recent interview withThe Cutsurrounding the release of her new comedyOne of Them Days, the actress, 31, recalled auditioning for a number of movie parts after she initially broke out as the 12-year-old star of 2005’sAkeelah and the Bee. One of those roles included that of a middle school student in the 2006 award-winning filmHalf Nelson, which starredRyan Goslingas a teacher struggling with addiction.

“AfterAkeelah and the Bee, they didn’t think it was good for me to play a drug dealer,” Palmer told the outlet of how her parents,Sharon and Larry Palmer, approached that opportunity. The actress was around 13 years old whenHalf Nelsonreleased. “They were very cautious about the roles I played as a young Black child.”

The role ultimately went to Shareeka Epps, who won a Gotham Award for her performance.

Rather than star inHalf Nelson— for which Gosling, now 44, received his fist career Oscar nomination — Palmer starred in the Disney Channel original movieJump In!and the filmCleanerin the following years, before she landed her leading role on Nickelodeon’sTrue Jackson, VPin 2008.

Keke Palmer and her parents Sharon and Larry Palmer.Keke Palmer Instagram

Keke Palmer Instagram

Palmer’s parents first met in drama school and spent time as amateur actors before starting a family. Keke is their second-oldest child. They welcomed their oldest Loreal Palmer in 1989 and welcomed their twins Lawrenne and Lawrence in 2000. Sharon has operated as Keke’s manager since she began acting; Keke told The Cut that Larry more often stayed home with her siblings.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“My parents were very gender-nonconforming in their relationship,” she said. “My dad always washed our clothes and sewed and put relaxers in our hair. He was more than the leader of our family — he was our hero.”

Ryan Gosling in ‘Half Nelson’.Journeyman/Kobal/Shutterstock

Journeyman/Kobal/Shutterstock

Palmer also noted in the interview that as a teen, she was highly aware that her work as an actor grew into her family’s main source of income. “I hated my parents for a long time,” she said. “There was so much pressure to rise to the occasion for my community, for my parents, for my siblings, for their sacrifices. They weren’t saying it, but that was the reality. Because I’m the one that we all came here for.”

One of Them Daysis in theaters Jan. 17.

source: people.com