As she prepares for the highly anticipated premiere of the upcoming Netflix miniseries East of Eden—a project she not only wrote but also serves as co-showrunner for—actor and multihyphenate Zoe Kazan is taking a reflective look back at the places that have shaped her life. Best known for her standout performances in films like The Big Sick, Kazan boasts a deep-rooted Hollywood heritage that extends across generations. Ahead of the show’s debut, the writer and producer recently shared rare insights with the Wall Street Journal detailing the distinctive residences she has called home, tracing her path from her formative childhood years in Southern California to her current life as a mother and homeowner in New York.
Growing up surrounded by towering figures in the cinematic arts made working in the entertainment industry feel entirely natural to Kazan from a very young age. Her mother, Robin Swicord, is an accomplished screenwriter and director whose stellar resume features major motion pictures such as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the acclaimed 1994 cinematic adaptation of Little Women, and Memoirs of a Geisha. Meanwhile, her father, Nicholas Kazan, has carved out an equally impressive career as a screenwriter, producer, and director, with notable film credits including Reversal of Fortune, Bicentennial Man, and the beloved family classic Matilda.
Kazan’s familial ties to Hollywood extend even further back through her paternal grandfather, the legendary Broadway and Hollywood director Elia Kazan. Her grandfather directed the iconic 1955 film adaptation of East of Eden, which famously starred James Dean. Reflecting on her upbringing within this creative dynasty, Kazan noted that while she recognized her grandfather’s monumental status in the wider cultural landscape by the time she reached her teens, to her, he was simply a familiar and cherished family member. Elia Kazan passed away in 2003, and his granddaughter revealed that she frequently thought of him—and even dreamed about him—while she was hard at work writing the new television adaptation, making a deliberate choice not to rewatch the 1955 classic until she had completely finished writing her own version.
While both adaptations draw from the same literary source material, they approach the narrative differently and feature distinct creative visions. The upcoming 2026 Netflix miniseries boasts a star-studded cast featuring acclaimed actors such as Florence Pugh, Mike Faist, and Christopher Abbott. Discussing her approach to the material in a recent interview with People magazine, Kazan explained that the 1955 film chose to focus on only a small fraction of the sprawling novel, representing a fairly loose adaptation of the text. She added that what she loves most about the overarching story is its powerful intergenerational aspect—a fitting perspective given her own deeply rooted family history in the arts.
With such strong, generational ties to the entertainment industry, Kazan’s domestic upbringing was uniquely colorful. She vividly recalled the charm of the historic California property where she spent her formative years. She grew up in an old gray-blue house situated in Santa Monica, California, a structure whose origins dated all the way back to the late 1800s. From the exterior view along the street, the residence appeared to be a modest Craftsman-style home, but stepping inside revealed a space that felt remarkably expansive and full of character. Her parents originally purchased the property back in 1983 while her mother was pregnant with her, and over the ensuing years, she watched them carefully and lovingly restore and improve the house.
California, however, was not the only backdrop to Kazan’s childhood memories. Seeking to provide a broader worldview for their children, her parents also made it a tradition to spend summers away in Washington state. The goal, as Kazan recalled, was to ensure that she and her younger sister, Maya Kazan—who has also pursued a career as an actor and writer—experienced a lifestyle that extended far beyond the traditional confines and fast pace of living in Los Angeles.
These days, Kazan’s residential chapter has shifted clear across the country to the historic neighborhoods of New York. She currently resides in Brooklyn alongside her partner, acclaimed actor and director Paul Dano, whose widely recognized film credits include Little Miss Sunshine and The Batman. The couple, who share two young children, orchestrated a major life milestone right in the middle of a bustling family transition. They moved into their current New York abode just 10 days before welcoming their second baby in 2022.
Much like her childhood home in Santa Monica, Kazan’s current residence shares a connection to the past, featuring an aged aesthetic that she deeply appreciates. Embracing the historic nature of the property, she noted that she views herself and her partner not as permanent owners of the space, but rather as temporary stewards. Demonstrating their commitment to the home, the couple recently invested in custom upgrades, splurging on two built-in bookshelves thoughtfully added into architectural recesses on either side of their bed—additions that Kazan is confident they will have no trouble filling with literature.
Despite making deliberate improvements to their living space, Kazan’s favorite items around the house are not defined by high price tags. She shared with the Wall Street Journal that one of the coolest things in her entire home is an inexpensive, $2 painting depicting a leopard dangling gracefully from a tree branch, which is currently displayed prominently near their front door. Perhaps even simpler is her favorite spot to unwind within the house: the living room floor, where she occasionally stretches out to enjoy moments of absolute quiet when rare opportunities for solitude come her way.
