Kathryn Newton's Parents Opened up the World of Golf and Acting to Her

Kathryn Newton’s parents influenced both of the actress’s greatest passions— acting and golf. Her mother was by the young actress’s side when she landed her first acting role, and her dad used golf for the father/daughter duo to maintain a close bond.

Born on February 8 in Orlando, Florida, Kathryn came from an ordinary family background when she kickstarted her acting career. The rising actress has since starred alongside Hollywood heavyweights and received widespread recognition for her talent.

However, behind the scenes, Kathryn also has a deep-rooted love for golf, which all started with her father, David Newton. The “Big Little Lies” actress often shares throwbacks of her and her father on the golf course, with Kathryn so young, she barely came up to his knees.

Kathryn Newton at Marvel Studios’ “Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania” on February 06, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images

“I don’t know whether to call myself a golfer who acts or an actor who plays golf,” Kathryn said, who was only four when she landed her first acting gig, thanks to her mother, Robin Newton.

David Newton

Kathryn’s love for golf stems from her father, who played the sport for two years at Platte Junior College in Nebraska. David’s skills landed him a spot in the National Junior College Championship; however, due to a lack of funds, he could not attend.

After he graduated from the University of Colorado, David’s index was a plus-2, and he briefly tried his hand at golfing in Florida pro-ams. David shared:

“I would win tournaments, and the most you could win (as an amateur) was $200 in prizes (from the pro shop.)”

He had Kathryn out on the course with him before she could speak, and by the time she was eight, Kathryn loved the game as much as her father. In 2008— the same year Kathryn won a People’s Choice Award for her role in “Gary Unmarried,” David’s daughter was only 11 when she broke 80.

In 2011, Kathryn starred as a freshman on the varsity team at Notre Dame High in Sherman Oaks, California, and led her team to a regional title. She scored a 79 at the individual sectional finals and played her final five holes in one under par, which landed her in the state qualifier.

However, unlike her usual stellar record, Kathryn scored a disappointing 95 at The Golf Club at Rancho, California, and did not make the cut to reach the finals. Despite the result, Kathryn was motivated to improve her game. However, she had already exceeded her father’s expectations, who said:

“She has grown to like golf the right way.”

According to David, Kathryn was almost good enough to beat him, who quipped, “He thinks he’s a good player.” She regularly shares pictures of her father on Instagram, and in honor of Father’s Day in 2021, David’s daughter shared a throwback picture of her and him lounging on a gold course.

“Grateful to be doing what we’ve always loved,” she wrote, in part, in her caption, and revealed that David and Kathryn not only shared a father/daughter relationship but that he also served as her coach and caddy.

Robin Newton

While Robin did not care for golf as much as her husband and daughter did, Kathryn revealed that her mother’s main concern was that her daughter always wore sunscreen and was ready for any last-minute auditions.

“My mom didn’t understand what golf was,” Kathryn said. When her daughter was first scouted, Robin, Kathryn, and David were on vacation in New York City. After Robin took Kathryn to an agency, she landed a three-year part on the daytime soap “All My Children.”

Over the years, Kathryn featured in several projects, including “Bad Teacher” with Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake. However, Kathryn shared:

“Golf is such a big commitment, and so is acting. Sometimes you have to give up something to do something else. Although when I’m working on location, I always take my clubs.”

Kathryn Newton on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on February 2, 2023. | Source: Getty Images

Kathryn was around 13 years old while filming “Bad Teacher,” and she recalled challenging Justin to a game of gold after hearing he played the sport as well. “I didn’t know how to say, ‘Um, I could really beat you,'” she humorously revealed.

Over the years, Kathryn has starred alongside Ryan Reynolds and Justice Smith in “Pokemon: Detective Pikachu,” and appeared in Netflix’s “The Society” and Universal’s “Blockers,” which was the highest-earning R-rated comedy of 2018.

She landed roles in Martin McDonagh’s “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri,” Peter Hedges’s “Ben is Back,” and Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird.”

Kathryn Newton at the The BAFTA Tea Party on January 14, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images

After graduating from Notre Dame High School in Southern California, Kathryn revealed that she would take time away from school to focus on acting after being cast on the TV show “Supernatural.” While acting came first, Kathryn shared:

“It’s a lot. I want to see if I can really do the acting thing, but that’s not to say I won’t get in touch with her (Andrea Gaston, the University of Southern California’s women’s golf coach) next year and say, ‘Can you look at my scores again, and can we talk?'”

Kathryn Speaks Out about Her Tv-Mom Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon and Kathryn Newton at the 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on January 19, 2020, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images

Robin does not appear on her daughter’s social media like David does; however, Kathryn has made her stand clear about the inspiration she draws from her “second mother,” Reese Witherspoon, who doubles as her on-camera-mother.

“You don’t want to be lame and say your mom,” she humorously replied when she was asked who was the most inspiring female figure in her life. After that she revealed that she looked up to Reese as an artist and came to realize that she is “incredible” on and off the acting set.

The two actresses played mother and daughter in HBO’s hit series “Little Big Lies,” In 2020, they posed for a picture at the SAG Awards. While Reese opted for a chic and classic black dress, Kathryn wowed in a bold orange gown.