Hollywood Nanny Says She’s ‘Never’ Been Starstruck, Once Told Matt Damon She ‘Didn’t Know a Damn Thing’ About His Movies (Exclusive)

Tereza Shkurtaj, Zoey LyttleSun, August 23, 2026 at 7:59 PM UTC

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Connie Simpson; Matt DamonCredit: Noam Galai/Getty; Christopher Polk/Deadline via Getty -

Connie Simpson is a longtime childcare expert known as Nanny Connie, who has spent decades caring for high-profile Hollywood families

The 67-year-old has worked with stars like George Clooney, Justin Timberlake and Matt Damon

In a conversation with PEOPLE, she recalled telling the Bourne actor she knew little about his career the day she met him

For over 35 years, Connie Simpson has built a career caring for some of Hollywood’s most recognizable families, but she has never approached her work through the lens of fame.

Known as Nanny Connie, the childcare expert has spent decades supporting high-profile parents — such as George Clooney, Emily Blunt, Justin Timberlake and more — with the same patience, honesty and personal connection she brings to every family.

And while many people might be overwhelmed walking into a celebrity home — let alone caring for a celebrity child — Simpson tells PEOPLE exclusively she has “never, ever, ever,” been starstruck and has always focused on seeing the person behind the public image.

It’s that mindset that led to a memorable interaction with Matt Damon, when she openly admitted to the actor she knew little about his film career.

Connie Simpson with her bookCredit: Courtesy of Connie Simpson

When Simpson first began working with Damon and his wife, Luciana Barroso, around 2008, she quickly realized everyone around her was a big fan of the actor.

“I was being educated by my friends and family about who he was and what he had done,” she recalls, adding that at the time, Damon was working on the action film franchise Bourne. While friends and family were excited for her, Simpson admits she barely knew his work — aside from one film.

“I went and looked him up, and I can only remember TheTalented Mr. Ripleybecause I thought it was a fascinating movie and had me in to the bitter end,” she says. “And I was like, ‘Damn, he was the one?’ ”

Simpson, however, was not walking into the situation as a longtime fan; she was there to support a growing family in need of guidance.

When she finally met Damon in person, Simpson tells PEOPLE she did not pretend to know every movie he had made. Instead, she approached him with the same straightforward personality that has shaped her relationships with the families she works with.

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“When I walked into his house, I said, ‘Son, listen, don’t ask me nothing about your movies because I don’t know a damn thing about any of them, but I’m going to tell you, you killed that Talented Mr. Ripley. You was all of it, man,’” she recalls telling Damon.

Connie Simpson with a childCredit: Courtesy of Connie Simpson

For Simpson, the connection she builds with families has nothing to do with their level of fame. After decades of working in their homes, she has learned to approach every relationship with the same understanding — recognizing the person beyond the career.

“I’ve never been [starstruck] because...everyone in this industry, 1% or even in the entertainment industry, it’s their calling,” she explains. “They were someone else and they really want to still be that someone else, but it’s their profession that they have to show up and be professional.”

For Simpson, part of her role is helping those parents reconnect with a sense of normalcy away from the expectations that come with being well-known. She believes fame does not erase someone’s past, personality or everyday experiences, and those personal connections are often what make her work meaningful.

“They were human beings who swung from the chandeliers at their mom’s house, who got in trouble because they wrecked the car, did all of those things. That’s a blessing. That’s a real blessing,” she shares. “And not to step on their toes, that helps them even be more comfortable.”

Connie Simpson greeting children.Credit: Courtesy of Connie Simpson

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Whether she is caring for a newborn, helping parents adjust to family life or simply sharing conversations that remind them of who they are outside of Hollywood, Simpson says those moments are what create lasting bonds.

She often finds that shared memories can bridge any gap between her and the families she works with, even something as simple as music from another time in their lives.

“I sit down and shared my playlist with some of them and they was like, ‘Oh, I remember being a DJ during that time.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, boy, that was some good old days,’” Simpson tells PEOPLE. “So it’s just amazing to bring them back to their center. And that’s why I have a love for them and they all have a love for me.”

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”