Academy Award-winning actor Anthony Hopkins is reflecting on one of the most personal and painful aspects of his life — his estranged relationship with his only daughter, Abigail Hopkins. In a candid new interview with The New York Times, the 87-year-old Silence of the Lambs star spoke openly about the distance between them, his outlook on forgiveness, and the lessons he’s learned through decades of fame, family, and regret.
Hopkins, who is preparing to release his upcoming memoir We Did OK, Kid on November 4, revealed that his wife, Stella Hopkins, had recently reached out to Abigail with an invitation to reconnect. However, the gesture went unanswered.
“My wife, Stella, sent an invitation [to Abigail] to come and see us,” Hopkins said. “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.”
A Painful Family History
Hopkins shares Abigail with his first wife, Petronella Barker, from whom he separated in 1972 when Abigail was still a young child. For many years, father and daughter had little to no contact. They briefly reconnected in the 1990s, when Abigail appeared in two of her father’s films — Shadowlands and The Remains of the Day — but eventually fell out of touch again.
Reflecting on their fractured bond, Hopkins said, “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 do the best we can.”
He continued, “Life is painful. Sometimes people get hurt. But you can’t live like that. You have to say, ‘Get over it.’ And if you can’t get over it, fine. Good luck to you. I have no judgment. But I did what I could. So that’s it. That’s all I want to say.”
When asked whether he hoped Abigail might read his upcoming memoir, the two-time Oscar winner was direct: “I’m not going to answer that. No. I don’t care.”
Abigail’s Journey of Independence
Now in her 50s, Abigail Hopkins has built a life of her own as a musician, filmmaker, and acting coach. After battling stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2020, she earned a master’s degree in film studies from the University of East London and later released a documentary short, Under This Sky, chronicling her health journey. Her most recent album, Stardust, debuted earlier this year.
In a 2006 interview with The Telegraph, Abigail said she would “possibly” be open to reconciling with her father, but admitted their relationship had always been “sporadic.” Still, she expressed love and respect for him, adding, “I really wish him well. But I have found a certain independence through my music.”
A Life of Reflection
Hopkins, who has been sober for nearly five decades and remains one of Hollywood’s most respected actors, seems to have made peace with the estrangement. “You can’t live your life in bitterness,” he told The Times. “You just have to let it go.”
As he prepares for the release of We Did OK, Kid, Hopkins continues to reflect on family, fame, and the art of forgiveness — themes that have defined both his work and his remarkable life.
