Robert De Niro’s Daughter Airyn De Niro Details Coming Out as a Trans Woman
Airyn De Niro is sharing a glimpse into her world.
Robert De Niro and Toukie Smith’s 29-year-old daughter reflected on her experience being a “late bloomer” when it came to coming out as a transgender woman.
“I think a big part of [my transition] is the influence Black women have had on me,” Airyn told Them Magazine in an interview published April 29. “I think stepping into this new identity, while also being more proud of my Blackness, makes me feel closer to them in some way.”
Although Airyn, who began hormone therapy in November 2024, felt closer to her identity, she admitted that she worried about her close relationships. She added, “I think part of me is concerned that [my family] will maybe still think of me as the person I was before the transition.”
For the actress, it was representation in media like Laverne Cox, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez and Jools Lebron that inspired her to begin her own journey.
It isn’t just trans women whom she felt inspired by, however. Indeed, her ultimate role model is her mom, who was in a relationship with the Goodfellas star from 1988 to 1996.
“Whenever I’m at a family gathering on my dad’s side, people would always talk about how much they love my mom and how memorable she was and how happy my dad was when he was with her,” she shared. “I want to be like that… I want to be remembered the way that people remember her.”
Despite being the daughter of a movie star and model, Airyn began paving her own way in the industry.
“I wasn’t brought up having a side part in one of dad’s movies or going to business meetings or attending premieres,” she explained. “My dad was very big on us finding our own sort of path. I would want [success] to happen on my own merit.”
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In fact, Touki and the Oscar winner—who also shares kids Drena, 57, and Raphael, 48, with ex Diahnne Abbott, as well as son Elliot, 27, and daughter Helen, 12, with ex Grace Hightower and Gia, 2, with girlfriend Tiffany Chen—opted to keep their kids out of the spotlight until they were older.
“Obviously, no parent is perfect, but I am grateful that both my parents agreed to keep me out of the limelight,” Airyn reflected. “They wanted it very private. They have told me they wanted me to have as much of a normal childhood as possible.”