If you’ve spent any time scrolling through Instagram or watching red carpet clips from the 2025 Critics Choice Awards, you’ve probably done a double-take. It happens all the time. Two women stand side-by-side, sharing the same sunny blonde energy, the same crinkle around the eyes when they laugh, and a facial structure that feels like it was pulled from the exact same DNA pool.
But here is the thing: Kate Hudson and Meredith Hagner aren't actually related by blood.
They aren't sisters. They aren't cousins. They didn't grow up in the same household in Colorado or Los Angeles. Yet, the internet is perpetually convinced they were separated at birth. Honestly, when they presented the Best Acting Ensemble award together in February 2025, the "twin" comments reached a fever pitch. It’s a strange quirk of Hollywood fate that Wyatt Russell—Kate’s half-brother—happened to marry a woman who looks more like a member of the Hawn-Russell clan than some people born into it.
The Sister-in-Law Connection (No, Really)
The math on this family tree is actually pretty simple once you strip away the tabloid noise. Kate Hudson is the daughter of Goldie Hawn and Bill Hudson. Wyatt Russell is the son of Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. That makes Kate and Wyatt half-siblings who grew up in one of the most famous blended families in history.
Enter Meredith Hagner.
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She met Wyatt on the set of the indie film Folk Hero & Funny Guy back in 2016. By 2019, they were getting married at Goldie’s house in Aspen. Since then, Meredith hasn’t just joined the family; she’s basically become Kate’s partner-in-prime-time. You’ve probably seen the photos. They go on "date nights" to awards shows. They lean on each other during family crises.
Just this past year, when the California wildfires forced evacuations in January 2025, Meredith and her kids actually moved into Kate’s house. Living together under one roof during a disaster has a way of turning "in-laws" into "ride-or-dies." Kate even mentioned in an interview that watching sports with Meredith became her "happy place" while they were waiting for the smoke to clear.
Why Everyone Thinks They Are Twins
It’s not just the hair. Plenty of people in Hollywood are blonde. It’s the vibe. Both women have this specific brand of "California Cool" that feels effortless, even though we all know it probably takes a village to look that relaxed.
The Aesthetic Similarities
- The "Goldie" Smile: They both inherited (or adopted) that wide, infectious grin that Goldie Hawn made famous in the '70s.
- The Comedic Timing: Meredith is a powerhouse in the cult-hit Search Party and the recent You’re Cordially Invited. She has that same "sharp but silly" energy Kate brought to How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.
- The Fashion Sense: At the 2025 Critics Choice, Kate was in sleek black silk and Meredith was in crisp white. They looked like a matching set without being cheesy about it.
It’s actually kinda funny because people often search to see if Meredith is Goldie Hawn's secret daughter. She isn't. But she has spoken openly about how much she admires her mother-in-law. In a chat with The Hollywood Reporter, Meredith called Goldie "sharp in a way that makes her comedically gifted." It’s clear the bond isn't just for the cameras.
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Working Together and Supporting the Brand
While they haven't shared a major movie screen as co-stars yet (we’re all waiting, honestly), their professional lives overlap constantly. They both navigate that tricky space of being "serious actors" who are also incredibly good at making people laugh.
Meredith has been busy. She’s currently starring in Bad Monkey on Apple TV+ and just finished a run with Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon. Meanwhile, Kate has been leaning into her music career lately, taking big risks that she’s admitted were terrifying.
Having a sister-in-law who "gets it" seems to be the secret sauce. When Meredith was pregnant with her first son, Buddy Prine, back in 2020, it was Kate who was the first to post the "over the moon" photos. Fast forward to 2024, and they were back at it with baby number two. They aren't just celebrities who see each other at Christmas; they are a support system.
The "Lookalike" Phenomenon
There is a psychological reason we’re obsessed with this. It’s called assortative mating—the idea that people often choose partners who remind them of their own family members. Wyatt Russell marrying someone who looks like his sister (and his mom) is a classic Hollywood trope, but Meredith brings a New York grit to the family that keeps it interesting. She’s originally from NYC and studied at the Boston Conservatory. She wasn't born into "royalty," which might be why she and Kate get along so well. They both seem to value hard work over just showing up.
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What You Should Actually Know
If you're trying to keep track of who is who, here’s the breakdown:
- Kate Hudson is the veteran, the entrepreneur (Fabletics, anyone?), and now the burgeoning singer.
- Meredith Hagner is the indie darling turned mainstream comedy queen.
- They are linked by Wyatt Russell, but their friendship stands on its own.
Honestly, the most relatable thing about them isn't the red carpet glamour. It's the fact that they deal with the same family chaos as everyone else—just with better lighting. When they talk about "date nights" together, they aren't talking about fancy dinners; they're talking about escaping the kids for a few hours to grab a drink and breathe.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into their work or follow their journey, here's how to stay updated:
- Watch Search Party: If you want to see why Meredith is a comedic genius, watch her play Portia. It’s a masterclass in "likable narcissism."
- Follow their "Real" Moments: Both Kate and Meredith are surprisingly candid on social media about the "messy" parts of parenting and family life. Skip the staged photos and look at the Stories.
- Check out You're Cordially Invited: It's the closest you'll get to seeing the Hawn-Russell brand of comedy in a modern setting.
The obsession with their resemblance likely won't stop anytime soon. As long as they keep appearing on stage together looking like mirror images, the "are they sisters?" queries will keep trending. But the real story isn't that they look alike—it's that they actually seem to like each other. In a town like Hollywood, that's a lot rarer than a good highlighter.
Next time you see a photo of them, remember: the hair might be the same, but they are two very different powerhouses who just happen to share a last name (sorta) and a very famous mother-in-law.