Anthony Hopkins On Family Ties: A Tale Of Heartbreak And Acceptance

Hollywood Legend Opens Up About Family Ties

In a recent heart-to-heart, Anthony Hopkins peeled back the layers on his strained relationship with his only child, Abigail. The revered actor, who is poised to release his memoir "We Did OK, Kid," spoke candidly about his daughter and whether he harbors any hopes of her reading the book. At 87, the Oscar winner is still a force in Hollywood, but it's clear that personal matters weigh heavily on his mind.

A Daughter’s Legacy

Abigail Hopkins, who has carved out her own niche as a singer, has occasionally touched on the connection with her father. An interview with The New York Times reveals a chasm between them, as Hopkins shared, "My wife, Stella, sent an invitation [to Abigail] to come and see us. Not a word of response. So I think, okay, fine. I wish her well, but I'm not going to waste blood over that. If you want to waste your life being in resentment, fine, go ahead."

Hopkins shared his perspective on moving forward, "I could carry resentment over the past, but that's death. You're not living. You have to acknowledge one thing: that we are imperfect. We're not saints. We're all sinners and saints or whatever we are. We do the best we can."

Reflecting on the Past

The father-daughter duo's history is like a long walk on Malibu's rocky beaches – sometimes smooth, sometimes turbulent. Hopkins and his first wife, Petronella Baker, welcomed Abigail into the world in 1968. Their marriage dissolved in 1972, leading to an on-again, off-again relationship between father and daughter. Abigail even appeared in some of Hopkins' films, including his renowned 1993 piece "Remains of the Day."

As the conversation turned to whether he hopes Abigail will read his memoir, Hopkins seemed eager to steer clear of the topic, "I'm not going to answer that. No. I don't care." This reluctance might speak volumes about the emotional distance that still exists.

Moving Forward

Over the years, Hopkins has been refreshingly candid about family dynamics, shedding light on his pragmatic outlook. In a 2018 Radio Times piece, when asked about the potential of having grandchildren, Hopkins remarked, "I don’t have any idea. People break up. Families split and, you know, ‘Get on with your life.’ People make choices. I don’t care one way or the other."

Hopkins, who later found love with Jennifer Lynton and then Stella Arroyave, seems to have embraced the wisdom that comes with age, understanding that life’s script doesn’t always follow a Hollywood ending.