At the time of the Reminiscence premiere, Thandiwe Newton’s daughter, Nico Parker—then 16 and now a rising star known for The Last of Us—bore a striking resemblance to her mother.
While they share the same elegant features, Nico has since grown taller than Thandiwe’s petite 5′3½″ (161.3 cm) frame.
Thandiwe Newton and look-alike daughter Nico Parker at the Reminiscence Los Angeles premiere on August 17, 2021 (Credit: Nicky Nelson / WENN)
In August 2021, the mother-daughter tandem had us doing double takes at the premiere of their new movie, Reminiscence, at the TCL Chinese Theatre.
Thandiwe Newton poses with her daughter, Nico Parker, at the Los Angeles premiere of Reminiscence, where their shared poise and elegance shine despite their striking height difference — Nico towering over her mother’s petite frame in towering platform heels (Credit: Mega / WENN)
The neo-noir sci-fi thriller follows Hugh Jackman’s character, Nick Bannister, a private investigator of the mind who uses his reminiscence machine to help people relive specific memories.
Thandiwe Newton plays Nick’s business partner, Emily Watts, while her daughter, Nico, has a small role as Zoe.
Reclaiming Identity: Thandiwe Newton’s Name Restoration
In her three-decade-long career as an actress, we’ve come to know her as Thandiwe Newton. But just recently, she reverted to the original Zimbabwean spelling of her first name, Thandiwe (pronounced tan-DEE-way), which she revealed was misspelled in the credits to her 1991 debut film, Flirting.
She told British Vogue: “That’s my name. It’s always been my name. I’m taking back what’s mine.”
Thandiwe Newton radiates elegance at the Los Angeles premiere of Reminiscence, wearing a shimmering silver-and-yellow one-shoulder gown paired with crystal-embellished heels (Credit: Mega / WENN)
Glamorous Premiere Fashion: Thandiwe Newton’s Versace Dress
The then-48-year-old actress wore a shimmery silver-and-gold metallic mini dress from the Atelier Versace Fall 2020 collection for the premiere.
The fringe number has metallic filigree accents and a long yellow sash attached to the one-shoulder strap.
Thandiwe Newton dazzles in a shimmering Atelier Versace fringe dress, her stature elegantly accentuated by her choice in fashion (Credit: Mega / WENN)
Thandiwe Newton’s Glamorous Beauty and Styling Details
Styled by Erin Walsh, Thandiwe accessorized with multiple diamond earrings and a ring.
Looking perfectly put together, she pulled her tresses back into a sleek high ponytail, courtesy of hairstylist Neeko Abriol. Makeup artist Georgie Eisdell accentuated her features with mascara, eyeliner, and dark purple lipstick.
Thandiwe Newton stuns at the Los Angeles premiere of Reminiscence, wearing a one-shoulder silver and yellow gown adorned with intricate embroidery and fringe detailing, complemented by a sleek ponytail and deep plum lipstick (Credit: Mega / WENN)
Thandiwe Newton Shines in Alevi Milano’s Crystal-Embellished “Penelope” Heels
She then continued the sparkly theme of her look, displaying her feet in Alevi Milano’s “Penelope” heels. From the caged toes to the ankle straps, the heels feature satin straps embellished with hundreds of Preciosa crystal baguettes.
A closer look at Thandiwe Newton’s sparkling crystal-embellished stiletto sandals, which perfectly accentuated her shimmering gown and added a touch of vintage Hollywood glamour to her red-carpet look (Credit: Nicky Nelson / WENN)
Her Alevi Milano heels feature sand-colored satin uppers set on approximately 4-inch stiletto heels, adding both height and refinement to her red-carpet look.
Founded by Italian designers Valentina Micchetti and Perla Alessandri, Alevi Milano is a luxury footwear label celebrated for its fusion of Italian craftsmanship and sensual modernity. Entirely made in Italy, the brand debuted its first collection in 2019 and quickly gained recognition for its daringly feminine silhouettes, intricate detailing, and signature transparent band design.
👠 Explore Alevi Milano in Celebrity Fashion Moments on Your Next Shoes
- 📌 Kylie Cantrall Paints the Town Red in Nana Jacqueline Dress and Alevi Milano Heels — highlights the brand’s glamorous holiday-ready aesthetic.
- ✨ Shay Mitchell Embraces the Pant-Less Trend with Alevi Milano “Piper” Chain-Anklet Pumps — spotlights the label’s modern, transparent-strap and gold-chain details.
- 🌿 Sofía Vergara’s 4 Chic Spring Outfits: Including Alevi Milano Velvet Heels — shows how Alevi Milano’s feminine silhouettes elevate everyday sophistication.
Inspired by their shared vision of empowering women through elegance and comfort, Micchetti leads the brand as CEO while Alessandri oversees production as Chief Production Officer — together embodying Alevi Milano’s philosophy of strength, sophistication, and timeless glamour.
The Penelope sandal by Alevi Milano is embellished with hundreds of crystal baguettes
Rising Star Nico Parker Inherits Her Mother’s Timeless Sense of Style
Meanwhile, her daughter, Nico, who had her breakthrough role as Milly Farrier in the 2019 Disney film Dumbo, was hard to ignore in her blue patterned outfit, also from Versace.
The young actress, styled by Erin Walsh, wore a sleeveless tunic with matching tights featuring red, white, and yellow swirls. Her accessories were kept simple, with just a statement ring.
Nico Parker dazzles in a vibrant, form-fitting, patterned mini dress with matching tights and metallic silver platform heels, showcasing her bold and youthful red-carpet style (Credit: Mega / WENN)
Hairstylist Michael David coiffed her natural curls in a half-up, half-down style while makeup artist Georgie Eisdell glammed her up with emerald green eyeshadow.
Nico Parker glams up with emerald eyeshadow and half-up natural curls (Credit: Nicky Nelson / WENN)
Towering over her mom, Nico rounded out her look with a pair of silver sandals with chunky heels and platforms. While Thandiwe Newton measures 5ft 3 ½ (161.3 cm), her daughter’s height seems significantly taller.
Nico Parker completed her look with retro-inspired metallic silver platform heels, adding a playful disco edge that perfectly complemented her glittering patterned tights (Credit: Nicky Nelson / WENN)
Known for her timeless poise and fearless approach to red-carpet fashion, Thandiwe Newton has long championed bold designers and statement heels. From architectural pumps to classic sandals, her footwear choices perfectly mirror her sophisticated yet daring style.
👠 Explore Thandiwe Newton’s Most Memorable Shoe & Fashion Moments
- 📏 How Thandiwe Newton Uses Heels to Elevate Her 5’3” Frame on the Red Carpet — explores her height, shoe size, and go-to designer heel silhouettes.
- ✨ Thandiwe Newton Shows Off Her Sexy Feet in Luxury Designer Shoes — highlights her 2018 Emmy Awards look and Gianvito Rossi sandals.
- 🎀 Thandiwe Newton Wears Clashing Florals and Charlotte Olympia ‘Pomeline’ Sandals — a standout moment pairing bold florals with playful platforms.
- 🇬🇧 Thandiwe Newton Shows British Pride in Erdem and Alexander McQueen Sandals — celebrates her love of British design with polished, edgy details.