Heiress Nicola Peltz Beckham, 29, is hit by backlash for making a film about poverty-stricken 19-year-old

As the daughter of a billionaire who married into one of the world’s most famous families, Nicola Peltz Beckham lives a life of almost unimaginable privilege.

But now the actress has been lambasted for casting herself as a struggling, drug-addicted teenage stripper in a new film.

The wife of Brooklyn Beckham has also been criticised for unfairly using her elite background to get her pet project, Lola, made.

Ms Peltz, 29, wrote and directed the movie as well as taking the title role of a 19-year-old struggling to make ends meet while pregnant.

A trailer was released online last week, triggering a fierce backlash.

Ms Peltz has written and directed a film that sees her play the role of a 19-year-old struggling to make ends meet while pregnant

One user posted on Instagram: ‘I wish rich people like yourself would stay away from trying to tell stories like this… You have no idea what this character’s reality is like.

‘I find it offensive to the working-class women who are truly living this reality that have to see a billionaire indulge themselves into a dream acting role.’

Another wrote: ‘This project was funded through privilege.’

And a third said: ‘Omg a billionaire cosplaying a poor girl.’

People on X, formerly Twitter, were just as scathing, with one calling it ‘poverty porn… just an escalating series of the worst cliches imaginable’.

And on YouTube, one viewer said: ‘What does someone like Nicola, the daughter of a billionaire, privileged since birth, know about a life like that?’ Ms Peltz – the daughter of 81-year-old US billionaire Nelson Peltz – has previously had small parts in blockbusters such as Transformers and The Last Airbender.

There has been criticism online of Ms Peltz’s self-casting for the role, with some users saying that she had no experiences similar to the character she was portraying

For Lola, her directorial debut, she managed to secure the services of 28-time Grammy-winning producer Quincy Jones, the man behind Michael Jackson’s Thriller album, to help with the soundtrack.

Mr Jones’s daughter, Kenya Kinski-Jones, 30, just happens to be dating Ms Peltz’s brother Will, 37.

The movie has been five years in the making, and will finally be out in the US on February 9, but no UK release has yet been announced.

Writing on Instagram, Ms Peltz called the film ‘a heartfelt story of generational trauma, perseverance and unconditional love’, adding: ‘I have such respect and gratitude for the incredible cast and crew who I had the pleasure of being on this journey with. It takes a village and I love our village.’

Set in 2002, the film shows Lola struggling to raise enough money to get her little brother, Arlo, out of their toxic home. Their abusive mother is played by Dune actress Virginia Madsen, 62.

Despite the criticism, the film has got at least one fan.

Ms Peltz’s husband of two years, Brooklyn, 24, wrote on Instagram: ‘I am so proud of you, I can’t wait for everyone to see Lola. Love you, baby girl.’