Francesca Nora Bateman Is Jason Bateman's Oldest Daughter – Facts about Her

Francesca Nora Bateman's dad enjoys being a father to her and her younger sister. The granddaughter of famous singer-songwriter Paul Anka once cornered her dad to tell her the truth about all the famous holiday mascots.

Francesca Nora Bateman was the first daughter welcomed into Jason Bateman and Amanda Anka's union. Shortly after her birth, she started gracing the spotlight alongside her father. Jason enjoyed tagging Francesca Nora along on errands and outings or to prestigious events.

In December 2014, Francesca Nora accompanied her dad to Target in Los Angeles for some shopping. She wore a simple black-and-white striped t-shirt with a long floral skirt, red sandals, a silver necklace, and a colorful knitted jersey wrapped around her waist.

Earlier that year, Jason carried Francesca on his shoulders as they headed for the farmer's market in the same city. The youngster sported a brown furry cardigan with gray leggings and red boots while her dad donned a black jacket, dark gray jeans, and a navy blue LA cap.

After Francesca Nora was born, the "Ozark" star and director felt inclined to portray more "domesticated roles." He loved being a dad and often credited his wife for how "effortless" she made it for him to stay grounded in his fatherhood and as a husband.

However, as much as he enjoyed spending time with his kids, even he was sometimes unprepared for their curiosity. Francesca Nora once grilled the actor with questions about whether the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and Santa Clause were real.

Francesca's Birth

Francesca Nora took her first breath in October 2006 in Los Angeles. Not much else is known about her birth, as her parents confirmed it through her dad's representative at the time. Yet, despite keeping most details about Francesca Nora's arrival private, the paparazzi still caught glimpses of her traveling with her dad as an infant.

When she was six months old, she was spotted in the "Identity Thief" star's arms as they headed for a hotel in New York City. In 2008, Francesca Nora appeared all smiles at 17 months when she and Jason went to the farmer's market in Studio City.

During a family outing in 2010 in Los Angeles, she and Jason enjoyed riding bouncy slides together. The father of two said he always had fun whenever he went out with his daughters. He often endearingly referred to Francesca Nora as "Frannie."

Francesca's Father Was the One Who Told Her Santa Doesn't Exist

It was during a ride to the airport in 2018. Francesca Nora and her dad embarked on a camping trip across the country. She prefaced her dilemma with a confirmation from Jason that bunnies didn't lay eggs, which was contrary to the trademark of Easter bunnies.

Francesca Nora then said her classmates told her the Easter Bunny wasn't real, but she wanted to confirm with her father because she didn't want to be "an idiot." Per Jason, right before he responded, Francesca Nora expressed her doubts and warned:

"I don’t think it's real, and I don't want you to lie to me right now because there's a few kids in my class who say that it's not real, and I don't want to be an idiot … Pinky promise with me right now that the Easter-egg Bunny is real."

Jason reassured his daughter that the Easter Bunny was real, but now she needed to know if the Tooth Fairy and Santa Clause also existed. At this point, the actor was "in a blackout and sweating" because Francesca Nora had cornered him. And so, in defeat, he confessed that they were, indeed, holiday fairytales.

Francesca Is No Stranger to the Red Carpet

She has been pictured with her parents at some prestigious events over the years. The couple met as teenagers in 1987 and started as friends. Ten years into a solid friendship, they started dating and married in July 2001.

However, they had a bit of a rough start in married life due to Jason's former drinking addiction. Thankfully, they worked through that rough patch and soon expanded their family. After Francesca Nora turned one, Jason and Amanda were more comfortable with public outings.

In June 2008, they took Francesca Nora to the Second Annual Kidstock Music and Art Festival at the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills. A few months earlier, they had all been spotted enjoying lunch and window shopping in Beverly Hills.

Francesca Is an Older Child in the Family

Her younger sister, Maple Sylvie Bateman, was born in February 2012. Maple Sylvie's charismatic personality started showing from a young age. In 2020, she made an impromptu appearance during her dad's virtual interview on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"