Anthony Hopkins says he 'can't waste time' worrying about his relationship with his daughter Abigail

The 'Silence of the Lambs' actor talks about his relationship with his daughter Abigail and says he is ready to move past it
UPDATED FEB 24, 2020
Anthony Hopkins (Source:Getty Images)
Anthony Hopkins (Source:Getty Images)

Sir Anthony Hopkins made a shocking comment last week when he said that he didn’t know or “care” if his estranged daughter Abigail has made him a grandfather.

Abigail is Anthony's daughter from his first marriage to Petronella Barker. He reportedly walked out of the relationship when she was a little girl. In an interview with Radio Times, Anthony claimed that he had no contact with his daughter and had no clue of his daughter had any kids, according to The Telegraph

However, now the actor has come forward to clarify his comments and to make it clear that he wasn't being "cold" when he said those words. 

“No, I wasn’t cold. I’m not cold. Her choice is her choice,” he said in an interview with The Times. “You know, I did the best I could, but you know, okay, I think if somebody doesn’t want to be part of my life, fine. Go and do whatever you want."

Even though Anthony does not talk to her anymore, he only has his good wishes for her. “I wish her well and all that, but I don’t want to talk about my daughter. Those things are over," he added. 

 The actor explained how things of the past do not bother him anymore and he is ready to move past them. “I’ve got no blame. People do what they do. And I don’t understand it and it doesn’t bother me. I can’t waste my time worrying about it. And I’m not cold, I’m just thinking, ‘Oh well, that’s the way it is,’” he said. 


“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,” he said in the interview.

When he was told that his response sounded cold, he said, "Well, it is cold. Because life is cold.” Meanwhile, in a 2006 interview with The Telegraph, Abigail spoke about her relationship with Anthony.  “I would see him, but maybe once a year,” she said at that time. 

“There is a little bit of sadness, but I have to get on with my life. It has always been like that. See him, and then not.” She also opened up about dealing with depression. 

“I came very close to killing myself. It was the worst time I can remember. I totally abused my mind and body," she said. "The root cause was the fact that my father and I had an intermittent relationship when I was young. I was angry and there was a lot of grieving going on."

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