Anthony Hopkins Reveals Regret Over Estrangement from Daughter Abigail
Sir Anthony Hopkins opens up about his deep remorse over estrangement from his daughter Abigail in his new memoir, We Did OK, Kid, released on November 4, 2025. Now 87 years old, the acclaimed actor reflects poignantly on family struggles and his battle with alcoholism.
Hopkins Reflects on Family and His Past
The two-time Oscar winner shares his "greatest regret" for the first time, confronting painful personal truths he once avoided. Hopkins describes himself as emotionally distant, calling himself “a cold fish” shaped by defense mechanisms developed in childhood.
“Abigail never seemed able to forgive me for leaving the family when she was a baby.”
The Welsh-born star left his first wife, Petronella Barker, and their daughter when Abigail was only 14 months old, at a time when his alcoholism was out of control. Hopkins accepts full responsibility without excuse, acknowledging Abigail's justified pain.
“I will always be sorry for hurting her when I left the family, even as I believe to this day that I had no choice.”
Attempts at Reconnection
The father and daughter briefly reunited in the 1990s, with Abigail even appearing in his films Shadowlands and The Remains of the Day. However, their relationship eventually slipped back into silence over the years.
Significance of the Memoir
Hopkins’ public admission of his past coldness marks a significant moment of self-awareness and vulnerability, shedding light on the complexities behind their estrangement.
Summary
Anthony Hopkins’ memoir candidly reveals his lifelong regret over leaving his daughter, highlighting the lasting impact of addiction and emotional distance on family bonds.