Anthony Hopkins reveals deep regret over 'cold' estrangement from daughter Abigail in new memoir

Anthony Hopkins Reveals Regret Over Estrangement from Daughter Abigail

Sir Anthony Hopkins has opened up about the deep sorrow he feels regarding his strained relationship with his daughter, Abigail, in his new memoir We Did OK, Kid, released on November 4, 2025. At 87, the acclaimed Welsh-born actor reflects on family, alcoholism, and emotional distance with striking honesty.

Family and Addiction

Hopkins recounts leaving his first wife, Petronella Barker, and their infant daughter when his drinking spiraled out of control. Abigail was only fourteen months old at the time he walked away. In the memoir, he refuses to offer excuses and instead examines his past behavior with candor.

“Abigail never seemed able to forgive me for leaving the family when she was a baby.”

He admits to using emotional defenses from childhood, describing himself as “a cold fish” while acknowledging that his daughter’s pain was justified and that he has no right to blame her for it.

“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.”

A Brief Reconnection

The two reconnected briefly during the 1990s, when Abigail appeared in his films Shadowlands and The Remains of the Day. However, their renewed relationship eventually faded again into silence and distance. Hopkins’ memoir marks the first public recognition of the enduring regret he carries.

Author’s Summary

Hopkins confronts painful truths about regret and alienation, revealing how time cannot fully heal wounds left by emotional absence.

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Red94 Red94 — 2025-11-07

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