By Raquel Wildes

Sometimes, working alongside family can create stress and unnecessary glances of nepotism from co-workers. But these auntie-niece teams look to each other for inspiration, encouragement, and reliability.
 
For Emma Roberts, starring alongside her aunt Julia Roberts in Valentines Day nearly two years ago, was a dream come true.  From the time she was a young girl, Emma was influenced by her aunt's profession.

"If anyone was to blame for Emma's early ambition, it was Aunt Julia, with whom she spent weeks on set as a child - Emma even has Polaroid pictures from the Erin Brockovich era of herself trying on Julia's padded bras - and to whom she is still close," according to a Daily Mail article published this past September.
 
Yet, this auntie-niece team makes it their mission not to talk shop when they are together. “I don't talk to her about the business," said Emma. "I was at her house a few weeks ago hanging out with her and the twins [Julia's six-year-olds, Hazel and Phinnaeus]. To me, she's just Aunt Julia."
 
Emma and Julia Roberts are not the only successful auntie-niece professional team. Green artists Nicole Thurman and her Auntie Deb Prater create functional and fun artwork and furniture from reclaimed and recycled materials together for Tangerinas. According to their website, each is capable of doing “all aspects of the design, paint and build by themselves, but it really is a team effort. Rarely is a piece contemplated that does not have both sets of hands and creativeness involved in some way."
 
Mary Ann Shafer, Annie Barrows' Auntie, was also lucky to be able to work with her niece. When Mary Ann’s health began to decline prior to the completion of her novel, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Annie helped her complete the work. Unfortunately, Mary Ann did not live to see her book published.

And sadly, just this week, Aretha Franklin lost her goddaughter, Whitney Houston. The two shared the spotlight with some of the biggest and most celebrated voices of all time.
 
 
Published: February 12, 2012
Photo: Zimbio