Naomi Watts is feeling the back to school blues.
The King Kong actress couldn’t help but shed a few tears while moving her and exLiev Schreiber’s son Sasha to the University of Southern California, where the 18-year-old will be enrolled in the School of Dramatic Arts.
“Step #1,” Naomi wrote on her Instagram Story Aug. 18. “Already balling!”
The 56-year-old—who also shares daughter Kai, 16, with Liev— added a photo of herself clutching Sasha as she lay her head on his shoulder. The duo were surrounded by scores of luggage—as well as their puppy—as they prepped for the big move.
In a second photo, Sasha could be seen giving Kai a hug, with his younger sister holding onto him tightly.
And Naomi isn’t the only one feeling emotional about Sasha’s new adventure, as Liev also shared a sweet message for his son.
“Starting to feel the pull,” he wrote on Instagram Aug. 17 alongside a photo of him with his mini-me. “Gonna miss my ride or die.”
The Spotlight actor added, “Having said that, USC is gonna get one of the deepest, kindest, bravest and most beautiful boys I have ever known.”
Sasha first shared he would be attending the California university in April, posting a get to know me carousel on the class of 2029’s Instagram account.
“Hey I’m Sasha and I’m from New York City,” he wrote. “I’m [100 percent] committed to the BFA in Acting at USC and so excited. I love acting, soccer, surfing, skating, cooking, and partying. Im looking to meet new friends and find a roommate so if we have any similar interests or not reach out!”
While Sasha will be focused on acting, sister Kai has already left her mark on the modeling world, making her runway debut at Alessandro Michele‘s Valentino fall 2025 fashion show in March.
And Liev—who is also dad to daughter Hazel, 23 months, with wife Taylor Neisen—was quick to push back on anyone who labelled his and Naomi’s children as nepotism babies because of their chosen career paths.
“I don’t have many thoughts for the haters,” the 57-year-old told TMZ in March. “I’m gonna put it to you like this: What if you were a professional actor and your child decided they wanted to do something in this world. Do they have the choice of what you did?”
For a look at more stars who are getting ready for back to school, keep reading.
Khloe Kardashian
Time truly flies when you’re a parent—just ask the Kardashians star after she and ex Tristan Thompson sent their daughter True off to second grade in early September.
Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi
Prepare for a new GTL: Gym, teachers, learning. The Jersey Shore star and husband Jionni LaValle‘s three little meatballs Lorenzo, Giovanna and Angelo started seventh grade, fifth grade and kindergarten, respectively.
As Snook wrote on Instagram Sept. 4, “Go crush it this year, my perfect offspring.”
Pink
Cover the singer in sunshine—because her and husband Carey Hart‘s teenage daughter Willow started high school.
“My lil girl is growing up,” Pink wrote on Instagram Sept. 4, “and taking the 1st major step in chasing her dream.”
Coco
On Sept. 4, the model and Ice-T‘s daughter Chanel headed off to the fourth grade.
“First days of school are always sweet and bitter for me,” Coco wrote on Instagram. “I hate to see her go but love to see her excited about school and to see her friends.”
Chrissy Teigen
The Cravings cookbook author and John Legend‘s two oldest kids Luna and Miles went back to school in September, with siblings Este and Wren seeing them off.
Hoda Kotb
On Sept. 2, the Today alum’s daughters Haley and Hope started third and first grade, respectively.
Gabrielle Union
Bring on the first day of school! The Bring It On alum and her husband Dwyane Wade‘s daughter Kaavia started first grade in August, with Gabrielle writing on Instagram, “Proof that time doesn’t walk—it sprints.”
Jennie Garth
With the Beverly Hills, 90210 alum and ex-husband Peter Facinelli‘s daughter Fiona embarking on her freshman year of college, Jennie helped decorate her new room.
“I can’t believe this moment is finally here,” Jennie reflected in an Aug. 28 TikTok video. “I just couldn’t stop hugging her. Her first college dorm room. It definitely needed a little love.”
Malika Haqq
The Dash Dolls alum dropped off son Ace—who she shares with ex O.T. Genasis—at his first day of kindergarten on Aug. 27, calling it a “major milestone.”
Naomi Watts & Liev Schreiber
The exes reunited to send their son Sasha off to the University of Southern California to study at the School of Dramatic Arts. In fact, they even helped him move into his Los Angeles dorm room.
“We packed and unpacked, stacked and color coded,” the King Kong actress wrote on Instagram Aug. 21. “We laughed, we cried, I had a few extra secret cries and maybe some not so private ones. We hugged a lot.”
She added, “But then remembered: he’s got this!! He did it!! He dreamed big and worked really hard for something wonderful.”
Mia Talerico
Good luck to the Good Luck Charlie alum, who started her junior year of high school on Aug. 20.
Mario Lopez
Classes were in session for the Saved by the Bell alum’s sons Nico and Santino on Aug. 20. “My boys are back to school on a Tuesday,” Mario quipped on Instagram. “Catholic school really said let’s ease into holiness.”
Jamie Lynn Spears
Britney Spears‘ niece is all grown up, with Jamie Lynn sending off her daughter Maddie—who she shares with ex Casey Aldridge—off to her senior year of high school on Aug. 19.
Heidi Klum
The Project Runway host said auf wiedersehen to her and Seal‘s son Johan when she dropped him off at college in New York. She captioned an Aug. 19 elevator selfie with the freshman and her older kids Henry and Leni, “College move in day.”
Christina Haack & Tarek El Moussa
On Aug. 18, the former couple reunited to see son Brayden off on his first day of fourth grade at a new school. Also joining the Flip or Flop alums? Tarek’s wife Heather El Moussa and their youngest son Tristan.
Usher
There goes his babies! The “OMG” singer’s kids Usher “Cinco” Raymond V and Naviyd Ely (with ex Tameka Foster) as well asSovereign Bo and Sire Castrello (with Jenn Goicoechea) went back to school on Aug. 15.
Cinoc embarked on his senior year of high school, while Naviyd began his junior year. Meanwhile, Sovereign and Sire started pre-kindergarten.
Jodie Sweetin
The Fuller House star’s home wasn’t quite as full on Aug. 14, when she dropped off her and ex-husband Morty Coyle‘s daughter Beatrix at school for her first day of sophmore year.
According to Jodie, her oldest daughter Zoie, who she shares with her first husband Cody Herpin, will start her senior year of high school later in August.
Amanda Kloots
The former The Talk host said her and late husband Nick Cordero‘s son Elvis wanted to look “handsome” when he went back to school, so he opted for a three-piece suit.
“The walk down to school, never easy,” Amanda wrote on Instagram Aug. 14. “Lots of tears. Will we ever not cry the first day of school?”
Trista Sutter
Want to feel old? The first-everBachelorette’s kids are now in high school.
As Trista—who shares her two children with season one’s Ryan Sutter— wrote on Instagram Aug. 14, “Junior year for Blakesley Grace and the last, first day for our senior (what?!!!) Maxwell Alston.”
Shawn Johnson
The Olympian and her husband Andrew East sent their son Jett off to pre-kindergarten on Aug. 14. Meanwhile, their daughter oldest daughter Drew started kindergarten.
Tristan Thompson
The Cleveland Cavaliers player drove his son Prince—who he shares with ex Jordan Craig—to his first day of third grade on Aug. 13.
Jessie James Decker
Back to school? Game on for the singer and her husband Eric Decker, whose three oldest kids Vivianne, Eric Jr. and Forrest had their first day of class on Aug. 13.
“And just like that my babies are back to school,” Jessie, who also shares son Denver with the NFL star, shared on Instagram. “Can’t believe we have a 6th grader, 4th grader and 2nd grader.”
Kai Trump
President Donald Trump‘s granddaughter started her senior year on Aug. 13, writing on Instagram, “I cannot believe it’s my last first day of high school.”
Maci Bookout McKinney
The Teen Mom star’s teen son Bentley, who she shares with ex Ryan Edwards, towered over his younger siblings Jayde and Maverick—Maci’s two kids with husband Taylor McKinney—the the trio went back to school on Aug. 12.
“Boston” Rob Mariano
On Aug. 11, the Traitors alum proved to be faithful to family traditions when he snapped this back-to-school photo with daughters Lucia and Carina, who started their freshman and junior year of high school, respectively.
One day later, Rob sent his younger daughters Isabetta and and Adelina off to middle school. As he put it on Instagram, “It’s gonna be a Great Year!”
Nick Carter
Backstreet’s back to school alright! The “Everybody” singer and his wife Lauren Kitt Carter sent their kids Odin, Saoirse and Pearl off to classes on Aug. 11.
“Summers done,” Nick wrote on Instagram, “and first day of school is here.”
Jamie Lynn Spears
The Zoey 101 alum sent off her youngest daughter Ivey to second grade on Aug. 8. Joining the sweet family moment? Jamie Lynn’s oldest daughter Maddie, who attended the same elementary school when she was younger.
Jana Kramer
The “I Got the Boy” singer’s two oldest kids Jolie and Jace—who she shares with ex-husband Mike Caussin—started fourth and first grade, respectively, on Aug. 4.
Lauren Sánchez Bezos
Nearly two months after her wedding to Jeff Bezos, the journalist dropped off her and ex Patrick Whitesell‘s son Evan at college in August 2024.
“18 years of early mornings, late night snacks and family dinners … and then there he was building his own dorm cabinet,” she wrote on her Instagram Story. “A small thing but in that moment I saw the start of his next chapter.”
Melissa Joan Hart
On Aug. 6, the Sabrina the Teenage Witch alum’s teenage sons Braydon and Tucker—who she shares with husband Mark Wilkerson—respectively started 11th and sixth grade.
