Likability has rarely been an issue for the actress , who rose to fame — and scored an Oscar nod — as the indelible Penny Lane in 2000 ’ s Almost Famous . She was a mainstay in a string of 2000s rom-coms and became the smiling , yoga-blissed face of her activewear line Fabletics , largely stepping back from acting in recent years . When creator Mindy Kaling came calling , however , Kate — who spoofed her boho fabulousness in 2022 ’ s Glass Onion : A Knives Out Mystery — knew she had to sign on . “ She ’ d never done a series before , let alone one on a streaming network ,” a source tells Star . “ That was daunting , but it was well worth the commitment .”

A fellow “ nepo baby ,” the actress could relate to her character . The daughter of musician Bill Hudson , she was brought up by Hollywood royalty , her mom , Goldie Hawn , and her longtime partner , Kurt Russell . Like her alter ego , she ’ s prickly about the implication her success is solely due to her parentage . “ Look , we live in a time where I think it started as a way to undermine people that I actually see as really talented artists ,” she insisted , adding that it ’ s only natural for kids of “ storytellers and artists ” to follow that path .

With four brothers , including the actor Oliver Hudson , her cohost on the Sibling Revelry podcast , Kate can also feel for Isla as she battles her less-than-supportive sibs , hilariously played by Justin Theroux , Drew Tarver and Scott MacArthur . As she told Forbes , “ Honestly , I feel like I ’ ve always had to prove myself to my brothers , and this has been a through line for me with this show . You want your brothers to see and value you , because boys go off and do things , and they don ’ t always invite their sisters .”

FAMILY FIRST She revels in her own “ patchwork ” family . Wed to Black Crowes frontman Chris Robinson from 2000 to 2007 , she shares 19-year-old Ryder — currently a student at a performing arts school — with him . Son Bingham , 13 , arrived three months after her engagement to Muse lead singer Matt Bellamy . ( They split in 2014 .) She and fiancé Danny Fujikawa , also a musician , are parents to Rani , 6 . She remains close to her exes , gushing about Chris , for example , “ He taught me everything about love . He was the best , even though it didn ’ t end up working out . He gave me so much knowledge of how to feel unconditionally loved .” Back then , she admitted , she wasn ’ t ready . By the time she and Danny — a high school classmate she calls “ soulful ” — reconnected , she ’ d done the work . “ I was , like , I have to figure out what the f ** k my problem is , or at least own whatever the problem is , and I have to just be alone for a while ,” she said of taking time off from dating . Learning to be happy by herself , she said , allowed her to let Danny in . “ It ’ s the most beautiful relationship . He ’ s just such a grounding force for me . He ’ s so pure . He ’ s such a good man .”

UNWEDDED BLISS That doesn ’ t mean they ’ re getting hitched anytime soon . Engaged to Danny since September 2021 , Kate has said she ’ s in no rush to make things legal . Indeed , she recently dropped by Drew Barrymore ’ s chat show and joked that , while she ’ d love to receive a gravy boat off a wedding registry , she ’ d prefer to remain “ engaged forever .” Noting her mom ’ s more than 40-year relationship , she told the host , “ The contractual thing is tough for me , because I was raised by Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell , who never signed the document .” ★

MARCH 24 , 2025 Star 35