United Kingdom, Aug. 29 -- Robert De Niro thinks his kids should have to earn their stripes in Hollywood.

The 83-year-old actor - who has Drena, 54, Raphael, 49, Julian, 30, Airyn, 30, Elliot, 28, Helen, 14, and Gia, three - wouldn't discourage his children from following in his footsteps, but he's warned them that they'll need to earn their own success.

The movie icon - who plays Adam Scott's on-screen dad in The Whisper Man - told People: "It's a commitment. And you have to show, especially if you're a kid in a situation like mine or Adam, people, no matter what [the kids] say, how they behave, what they do, they're saying, 'Show me'.

"And if you don't look like you're really sincere about it and busting your ass and working hard, it...