Anthony Hopkins Reveals Regret Over Estrangement from Daughter Abigail
Sir Anthony Hopkins shares his deep regrets about being estranged from his daughter Abigail in his new memoir, We Did OK, Kid, released on November 4, 2025. Now 87 years old, the acclaimed actor reflects on his struggles with alcoholism and its impact on his family.
Hopkins’ Painful Family Truths
The two-time Oscar winner openly discusses what he calls his “greatest regret”: leaving his wife, Petronella Barker, and their baby daughter when his alcoholism worsened. Abigail was just 14 months old when he walked away.
Hopkins describes himself as “a cold fish” and admits he used defense mechanisms developed in childhood. He confesses,
“Abigail never seemed able to forgive me for leaving the family when she was a baby.”
He acknowledges her pain is justified and refuses to blame her, stating,
“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.”
Brief Reconnection and Lasting Distance
The father and daughter reconnected briefly in the 1990s; Abigail even appeared in his films Shadowlands and The Remains of the Day. However, over time their relationship cooled again and became distant.
Significance of Hopkins’ Public Admission
This memoir marks a rare public acknowledgment by Hopkins of his past coldness and its lasting effect on his family.
Summary: Anthony Hopkins candidly confronts his painful past estrangement from his daughter Abigail, expressing regret and acknowledging the lasting impact of his alcoholism on their relationship.