Sir Anthony Hopkins opens up about his deep regrets regarding the estrangement from his daughter, Abigail. The legendary actor’s memoir, We Did OK, Kid, was released on November 4, 2025.
Now 87 years old, Hopkins shares painful memories surrounding his family and struggle with alcoholism. The two-time Oscar winner admits his “greatest regret” for the first time publicly.
Hopkins, born in Wales, left his first wife, Petronella Barker, and their baby daughter when his alcoholism became uncontrollable. Abigail was only 14 months old when he walked away.
“Abigail never seemed able to forgive me for leaving the family when she was a baby.”
He describes himself as “a cold fish” who relied on childhood defense mechanisms and accepts her pain was justified.
“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.”
Father and daughter briefly reconnected in the 1990s, with Abigail appearing in his films Shadowlands and The Remains of the Day. However, their connection eventually faded back into silence and distance.
This public acknowledgment of his past coldness highlights the actor’s willingness to confront difficult personal truths beyond his roles.
“Anthony Hopkins was never afraid to face difficult truths in his acting roles. Now he turns that honesty inward.”
Author's summary: Anthony Hopkins openly reflects on the painful estrangement from his daughter Abigail, expressing heartfelt regret and honesty in his new memoir.