Robert De Niro gets real about what one must to do make it in Hollywood

Robert De Niro believes that success in Hollywood should never be assumed, even for children of successful actors.

The 83-year-old actor shared in a recent interview that while he wouldn't discourage his seven children from pursuing careers in entertainment, he has made it clear to them that success will have to be earned. 

"It’s a commitment. And you have to show, especially if you’re a kid in a situation like mine or Adam [his costar in The Whisper Man], people, no matter what [the kids] say, how they behave, what they do, they’re saying, ‘Show me,'" he told People about his children: Drena, 54, Raphael, 49, Julian, 30, Airyn, 30, Elliot, 28, Helen, 14, and Gia, three.

He reaffirmed the need for sincere efforts, saying, "And if you don’t look like you’re really sincere about it and busting your a** and working hard, it’ll have a negative impact. If you really can, over time, cumulatively impress people that you really are sincere about it and will go the distance, then it’ll work the other way ten times."

De Niro insisted that no one is guaranteed success in Hollywood, regardless of family background.

He explained, "The most important thing is to work hard because you really want to do it. And you really are committed. It’s not easy. It’s hard, and you have to work hard to get somewhere. And even then, there’s no guarantee."