The family force is strong with Esther McGregor.
As she follows in her dad Ewan McGregor’s acting footsteps, the We Were Liars actress she is making sure to take what she has learned from the Star Wars actor and bring it to set—and that includes creating a light-hearted atmosphere. So, she was more than thrilled that her Clean Hands costar Zach Braff was the same way.
“Me and my dad definitely poke at each other,” Esther told E! News in an exclusive joint interview with the Scrubs star. “When I was younger, we used to play crazy games, war games, all these things. I think that, yeah, there's definitely some similarities.”
Meanwhile, Zach and Esther—who play Kevin Simmers and his daughter Brooke Simmers, respectively, in the film—agreed that it wasn’t just their playfulness, but also their natural on-set banter that informed the performances of their real-life characters.
That style of communication was “one thing Esther and I really found together,” Zach explained, “and it was so helpful because that really was their relationship between Kevin and Brooke was just making each other crack up and that sort of easy, easy banter.”
That special bond between Zach and Esther was also important to build given the film details the real story of former cop Kevin and his daughter Brooke, who after a yearslong battle with addiction died following a 2015 overdose. And they didn’t take that responsibility lightly.
“They were friends,” Zach continued. “So, that's what makes it so extra tragic is that he was the ultimate girl dad. They were buddies. They played basketball together. They were best friends.”
And the story of Clean Hands—in select theaters and on-demand beginning Oct. 16—is one that Esther felt is “everywhere.”
“It is a story that a lot of people are very familiar with, unfortunately,” she shared. “So I hope this also gives and shines a new light on the hope that Kevin brings.”
As Esther sees it, “This story really is highlighting that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
Zach and Esther’s movie Clean Hands, also starring Holt McCallany, Abigail Spencer and Lucas Till, is in select theaters and on-demand beginning Oct. 16.
Read on for more stars who share special connections with their mini-me kids.
Teyana Taylor, Junie Shumpert & Rue Shumpert
Looking more like sisters, there's one resemblance after another between the Oscar nominee and her daughters Junie Shumpert and Rue Shumpert, who she shares with NBA alum Iman Shumpert.
Jesse McCartney & Archer McCartney
The "Beautiful Soul" singer and wife Katie Peterson's little boy is the spitting image of his father.
Jodie Sweetin & Zoie Herpin
Full House alum Jodie Sweetin's, uh, full house includes her lookalike eldest daughter Zoie (left) and her two years younger little sis Beatrix.
Tom Llamas & Tomas Llamas
A total touchdown moment. NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Llamas and his son Tomas celebrated the Miami Hurricanes' January 2026 win in an adorable selfie.
Alyson Hannigan & Keeva Denisof
The How I Met Your Mother alum and her youngest daughter's resemblance is legend—wait for it—dary.
Yolanda Hadid & Gigi Hadid
Like mother like daughter. After becoming a household name on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, former supermodel Yolanda Hadid's daughter Gigi Hadid broke into the fashion industry as a teen and has been rocking runways ever since.
Clint Eastwood & Scott Eastwood
Clint Eastwood's fifth child, son Scott Eastwood, has followed in his movie star footsteps by starring in films like Suicide Squad, Snowden, The Fate of the Furious and Pacific Rim.
Jon Bon Jovi & Jake Bongiovi
It's his life, but Jake Bongiovi bears a striking resemblance to his dad, Bon Jovi lead singer Jon Bon Jovi (with wife, Dorothea Bongiovi, and their youngest son Romeo Bongiovi at the Jefferson Awards Foundation's 2017 DC National Ceremony). Fortunately, he gives love a good name, married to Millie Bobby Brown since 2024.
Katie Holmes & Suri Cruise
Pieces of Katie: As a tween, actress' Katie Holmes' daughter Suri Cruise (at a 2016 performance of Finding Neverland in NYC) was her undeniable twin.
James Marsden & Jack Marsden
The jury is not out. Jack Marsden's resemblance to dad James Marsden was uncanny at the 2017 SAG Awards.
Sienna Miller & Marlowe Sturridge
Marlowe—Alfie star Sienna Miller’s daughter with ex Tom Sturridge—joined her mom for a rare public outing in London in April 2025.
Kim Zolciak & Brielle Biermann
Double take! Real Housewives of Atlanta alum Kim Zolciak's daughter Brielle Biermann could pass for her younger sis.
Cristiano Ronaldo & Cristiano Ronaldo Jr.
Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo had the cutest plus-one in son Christiano Jr. at the London premiere of Ronaldo in 2015.
Christie Brinkley & Sailor Brinkley-Cook
Sailor Brinkley-Cook has followed mom Christie Brinkley right down the runway.
Kate Moss & Lila Moss
Also taking a walk in her mom's proverbial stilettos: Kate Moss' daughter Lila Moss.
Reese Witherspoon & Ava Phillippe
Whoever said Reese Witherspoon's daughter Ava Phillippe doesn't look like her twin is as seriously disturbed as whoever said orange was the new pink.
Lisa Bonet & Zoë Kravitz
Like mother, like daughter. Lisa Bonet and Zoë Kravitz attended the Vanity Fair Oscars party in 2015.
Rumer Willis & Demi Moore
With their matching jumpsuits, sleek hair and glasses, Demi Moore and eldest daughter Rumer Willis looked like carbon copies. "That moment when you realize you actually are becoming your mother #twinning #imnotmad," Willis joked on Instagram in 2015.
Madonna & Lourdes Leon
Pictured here in 2010, pop icon Madonna's daughter Lourdes Leon is a fashionista just like her mama!
David Beckham & Brooklyn Beckham
You'll get a kick out of how much soccer star David Beckham and his oldest son Brooklyn Beckham look alike.
Kelly Ripa & Lola Consuelos
Kelly Ripa celebrated daughter Lola Consuelos' 14th birthday with this adorable 2015 pic.
Uma Thurman & Maya Hawke
Once upon a time in Hollywood...Kill Bill actress Uma Thurman twinned with her daughter Maya Hawke on the red carpet.
Jay Z & Blue Ivy Carter
Years before Blue Ivy Carter made her way up the Met Gala steps alongside mom Beyoncé, she suited up alongside her lookalike dad Jay Z at the 2017 Grammys.
Alison Sweeney & Megan Sanov
Days of Our Lives star Alison Sweeney and her daughter Megan got in the holiday spirit at 2015's Disney On Ice Presents Frozen at the Staples Center.
Lily-Rose Depp & Vanessa Paradis
In matching bobs, Lily-Rose Depp and mom Vanessa Paradis appeared cut from the same cloth at the 2015 Chanel fall-winter Haute Couture show in Paris.
Julianne Moore & Liv Freundlich
Caught red-handed: Oscar winner Julianne Moore twinning with then-tween Liv at a 2013 New York Fashion Week event.
Robin Wright & Dylan Penn
The genetics are strong between Robin Wright and daughter Dylan Penn (in 2022), but the pull toward all-black garb is even stronger.
Lori Loughlin & Olivia Giannulli
Everywhere you look, everywhere you go, there's another photo proving how closely Olivia Jade resembles her mom, Fuller House star Lori Loughlin.
Daniel Day-Lewis & Gabriel-Kane Day-Lewis
Lincoln star Daniel Day-Lewis' son Gabriel-Kane, whose mother is French actress Isabelle Adjani, made his big runway debut at 2015 Paris Fashion Week
Gillian Anderson & Piper Maru Klotz
The truth is, in fact, out there. Gillian Anderson stunned with daughter Piper on a 2015 red carpet.