Who is Paul Walker’s daughter Meadow Walker and does she appear in Fast X?

The Fast family came out in the masses as Fast X hit the big screen this month. The film saw the return of Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his family as well as some new additions including Brie Larson, Jason Mamoa and Rita Moreno,

As fans gathered to watch Fast X many wondered whether or not the character would return. Walker had been one of the leading roles in the franchise before he died in 2013, changing the Fast and Furious franchise forever.

The actor died before Furious 7 was officially finished. Though he had filmed most of his scenes, his brothers Caleb and Cody stepped in to help and CGI was used to create a touching tribute to the actor. As for the films, instead of killing off the character, the creator decided to write in a retirement arc for Brian in the 2015 film Furious 7.

Since retiring the character, there has only appeared in touching references that leave fans in tears, most notably in F9 in which they make a nod to Brian turning up to the classic family barbeque in his blue Nissan Skyline. This led many fans to believe the franchise was signalling a return. Spoilers ahead…

Brian O’Connor does in fact return in the tenth instalment, however, it’s through flashbacks from Fast Five, a film which saw the franchise kick into a higher gear. However, the film did feature a touching tribute to the actor through his daughter Meadow, who makes her debut in The Fast Saga with a cameo as an air hostess opposite John Cena.

After the death of Paul Walker, Meadow has famously stayed close with the cast. Vin Diesel is her godfather, and even walked her down the aisle in October 2021 when she married Louis Thornton-Allen. Meadow also spent some of the coronavirus quarantine staying with Jordana Brewster, who plays her father’s onscreen partner Mia Toretto.

Around the release of F9 almost every cast member was asked about whether or not Meadow would appear in the film, and now it has finally happened. Walker made the reveal via her Instagram with the caption: “A preview of my cameo in Fast X. The first fast was released when I was one year old! I grew up on set watching my father, Vin, Jordana, Michelle, Chris and more on the monitors.

“Thanks to my dad, I was born into the fast family. I can’t believe now I get to be up there too. With those who have been around to see me grow up. Thank you @louisleterrierpro for your kindness, patience and support. It feels like you’ve been part of the family since we started, I’m happy it’s just the beginning. Special shoutout to my dad’s best friend who is now my best friend @bbirtell, this wouldn’t have been possible without you. I am so blessed to be able to honor my father’s legacy and share this with him forever x I love you all so much”

Vin Diesel said: "It did something to my soul, to see her want to honor her father and to contribute in her own way to his life’s work... It meant everything."

Michelle Rodriguez, who plays Letty in the franchise, added: "It’s everything to us because [Paul’s] memory is never going to die within the franchise, so as long as we’re doing it, we have to maintain that, keeping his energy alive.”

Brewster said that Meadow is now "woven into the fabric forever," stating, "To have her be on set and work her butt off was really, really inspiring."

Who is Meadow Walker?

Meadow Walker has paved her own career as a model, and was signed to DNA Models in 2017.  She has worked with Proenza Schouler and Givenchy, which she wore at her wedding. She opened Givenchy’s Fall Winter 2021 ready-to-wear show. Outside of modelling, she continues her father’s charitable work through the conservation organisation The Paul Walker Foundation, which she founded in 2015.