Meadow Walker honors late dad Paul Walker with a cameo in 'Fast X': 'I get to be up there too'

Meadow Walker is now a proud "Fast and Furious" family member. The 24-year-old will honor her late dad, Paul Walker, in the most heartfelt tribute by making a cameo in the upcoming "Fast X" movie, set to hit the theatres on May 19, 2023, reports Entertainment Tonight.

The budding actress took to Instagram on May 11 and shared a sneak peek into the film with a picture of her in an airplane. "A preview of my cameo in Fast X," Walker wrote in her caption, "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."

Walker also thanked Louis Leterrier, the director, for his "kindness, patience, and support." She added, "It feels like you've been part of the family since we started. I am happy it is just the beginning. I am so blessed to be able to honor my father's legacy and share this with him forever. I love you all so much."

She is making her acting debut in the most highly anticipated films with a star-studded cast, including Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges and Jason Statham. Walker is also an acclaimed model who signed with a modeling agency in 2017.

She was only a year old when her father starred in the first installment of the "Fast & Furious" film series, with the franchise ending with the final installment. Walker shared the significance of the cameo and how the movie cast has become her family: "I've always thought about honoring my dad in a Fast film just because it's such a big part of his life and my life. But I was waiting for the right moment. I wanted it to be something super small and simple that was almost like an Easter egg. Like, if you didn't know who I was, you wouldn't even notice it. I know that's what my dad would want. My dad was always humble, very simple. I left my little mark and I can always share that with him."

Walker expressed her desire to honor her father in a "Fast" film, and this aspiration became a reality after conversations with Paul's best friend, Brandon Birtell and later with Vin Diesel. "I was like, 'I want to do it in a very tasteful way,'" she says. "I think Brandon and Vin collaborated with Universal and we got that perfect role for me."

Today, the model-turned-actress has her own screen time in the movie and "Fast" fans cannot wait to see her in the hit film. "I heard Louis, the director, gave me some comment of like seeing an actress be born in a day and all these things," Walker added. "And I was like, 'I don't know if I did that well.' But I was very grateful to be in the scene with John Cena because he was so patient and kind, and I was extremely nervous."

The 24-year-old said that she feels blessed to be a part of this movie, even if it is in a small way because that is how her dad would have wanted it. She added that at the height of the pandemic, she moved from New York to Los Angeles to live with "Fast" star Jordana Brewster. "I lived with Jordana when COVID first broke out. I flew from New York and I was living with her in L.A. for part of lockdown. And Vin and Jordana were at my wedding, so, absolutely, I think the family thing is very real and they did see me grow up."