Mia Hewitt, the 20-year-old daughter of tennis icon Lleyton Hewitt and former Home and Away actress Bec Hewitt, has opened up about her decision to forge a path in music rather than follow her father onto the professional tennis circuit.
Choosing the Bohemian Folk Over Centre Court
Appearing on the Today show on Friday, Mia explained to hosts Jayne Azzopardi and Joel Dry that a career in tennis was never a viable option. "I have absolutely zero hand-eye coordination, so it was never going to be tennis," she confessed. Instead of Wimbledon, her focus is on the stage as one half of the bohemian folk duo Father's Favourite, which she performs in alongside Chèrise Combrink.
She described music as a lifelong passion, stating, "I always wanted to go down the music route and I finally got a bit more confident as I got older and then I decided to pursue it." The band played its first gig in August last year and, according to Mia, "it's been going really well."
Family Guidance and a Musical Pedigree
Mia's mother, Bec Hewitt, is reportedly keen to steer her daughter's budding career wisely. Despite her fame as Summer Bay's Hayley Smith Lawson, Bec also had a brief pop career, releasing a self-titled album in 2002. Her debut single, "All Seats Taken," reached number 10 on the ARIA charts.
An insider revealed that Bec is using her own industry experiences to help Mia avoid common pitfalls. "Bec knows how to deal with bad people, dodgy managers, and doesn't want Mia making some of the mistakes she made," the source told New Idea. They added that while music is Mia's primary focus, she hasn't ruled out following her mother into acting or presenting.
Life Beyond the Band
Mia is currently in a relationship with fellow musician Vanda Erich, who plays in the Sydney indie rock band Liquid Zoo. The couple were first pictured together during a day out at North Bondi in January 2024.
Her parents, Lleyton and Bec, first met during a charity tennis match at the Starlight Cup in 1999. They reconnected years later, embarking on a whirlwind six-week romance before getting engaged in 2005. The couple are also parents to daughter Ava, 12, and son Cruz, 15.
With her family's support and her mother's unique insight into the entertainment world, Mia Hewitt is confidently composing her own future, far from the tennis baseline.
