The eldest daughter of Barack and Michelle Obama, Malia Ann Obama, has attracted attention by choosing to stop using her father’s last name in her projects as a filmmaker. Since her early ventures in the industry, Malia Ann has decided to present herself only with her first name and middle name.
This is due to her need to seek a professional path in which she can be recognized for her own merit. The decision was made public in January 2024, when her first short film, "The Hearth", was presented at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in Utah.
Barack Obama's eldest daughter premieres her first short film at Sundance without using her father's last name
In the introductory video of the festival, the young creator introduced herself only as "Malia Ann," a fact that did not go unnoticed in the film industry. The 26-year-old has shown interest in cinema for years, doing internships in renowned productions and working as an assistant on series and films.
However, it was her participation in the series "Swarm," created by Donald Glover, where she first appeared credited as a writer under the name Malia Ann, leaving aside the Obama surname. This gesture, although subtle, represents a conscious effort to build her own career, separate from the influence of her famous family.
In an interview, Malia explained that her work on "The Hearth" addresses deep themes such as regret, forgiveness, and loneliness. In the short film, she explores the story of a man facing the death of his mother, receiving from her a final and peculiar request.
Malia Ann Obama begins her career as a filmmaker and seeks to break into Hollywood
The filmmaker has described her short film as a "fable about lost objects", emphasizing her interest in narratives rich in symbolism and emotional complexity. Barack Obama himself commented on the decision his daughter made about whether to use his last name in a talk for "The Pivot Podcast".
The former president shared that, although he suggested to Malia that people would continue to associate her with her last name, she insisted on wanting her audience to know her work without the influence of her family legacy. Obama admitted to feeling proud of his daughters' independence, stating that he and Michelle always sought to support them without pressuring them with public expectations.