Anthony Hopkins Reflects on Estrangement from Daughter Abigail
In his new memoir We Did OK, Kid, Anthony Hopkins shares emotional details about his long-lasting estrangement from his daughter Abigail Hopkins, born from his first marriage with British actress Petronella Barker. He admits that the separation from his only child "broke my heart" but emphasizes that his door remains open to her.
A Marriage Marked by Conflict
Hopkins, now 87, recalls his turbulent relationship with Barker, 83, whom he married in 1967. At the time, he struggled with alcohol abuse, a factor that played a decisive role in their marital discord.
“Our opposing personalities and my alcoholism doomed the relationship from the start.”
The actor describes realizing their incompatibility only after Barker became pregnant with Abigail. Despite efforts to hold the marriage together, their relationship deteriorated rapidly.
“By the time we realized how awful a match we were, Barker was pregnant. We tried to rally for the sake of the child we were about to have, but it was no use. The marriage was a disaster.”
Struggles and Resentment
Hopkins recalls frequent arguments that stemmed from his drinking and Barker’s frustration with his growing career. He recounts one memorable confrontation after returning from a filming trip in Scotland when his wife greeted him with icy sarcasm.
She called me “Mr. Lord High and Mighty.”
Despite the bitterness of those years, Hopkins expresses deep regret for the emotional distance that formed between him and his daughter. Sober for nearly fifty years, he notes that time and reflection have softened some of the pain, though the wound remains part of his life story.
Author’s Summary
Anthony Hopkins recounts the emotional fractures of his first marriage and his ongoing hope for reconciliation with his daughter amid decades of sobriety and reflection.