Anthony Hopkins opens up about estrangement with his daughter and letting go of resentment: ‘You’re not l
During a candid discussion, celebrated star Anthony Hopkins shared his experiences with family rifts, recounting a heartfelt but unsuccessful effort to reconnect with his daughter. He highlighted the necessity of releasing grudges to maintain inner peace, stating, ‘I won’t drain my spirit over that. Veteran actor Anthony Hopkins has spoken openly about family estrangement and the limits of reconciliation, reflecting on his distant relationship with his daughter during a recent podcast appearance. Hopkins said he tried to reopen the door, got no reply, and decided not to let anger run his life. He avoided finger-pointing and instead stressed what grudges take from a person, pushing a hard-edged message about acceptance, owning your choices, and guarding your peace.
Anthony Hopkins on family estrangement and resentment
Hopkins made the remarks on The Interview, a podcast produced by The New York Times. Early in the conversation, the host acknowledged the sensitivity of the topic and said he did not want to press Hopkins for details, even though parts of the story appear in Hopkins’s memoir, ‘We Did OK, Kid.’ The host revealed that the book’s section on estrangement resonated deeply with him, as he has seen his father only twice in the past 20 years and has spoken to him only once voluntarily.Hopkins signaled discomfort with public discussion of his private life, saying, “I know what you’re gonna talk about my domestic life.” When asked more broadly about reconciliation between estranged parents and children, he offered a brief account of one attempt to reconnect. “My wife, Stella, sent an invitation to come and see us,” he said. “Not a word of response.”Hopkins then explained his response. “So I think, okay, fine. I wish her well. But I’m not gonna waste blood over that,” he said.
Podcast reveals Hopkins’s views on reconciliation
Hopkins spoke forcefully about the damage caused by lingering resentment. “If you wanna waste your life being in resentment, oh, 50 years later, 58 years later, fine, go ahead,” he said. “It’s not in my can.” He added that revisiting old wounds robs people of peace. “See, I could carry resentment over the past, this and the other. But that’s death. You’re not living,” he said.Hopkins framed his outlook as a realistic view of human limits. “You have to acknowledge one thing, that we are imperfect. We’re not saints,” he said. “We’re all sinners and saints, or whatever we are. We do the best we can. Life is painful.”Hopkins said he had reached an emotional stopping point. “But you can’t live like that,” he said. “You have to say, get over it. And if you can’t get over it, fine. Good luck to you. But I have no judgment. I did what I could.”When asked whether he hoped his daughter would read the book, Hopkins refused to engage. “I’m not gonna answer that, no. I don’t care,” he said, before adding, “Because I don’t wanna hurt her.”Anthony Hopkins is a Welsh actor who built a six-decade career across film, TV, and stage, winning two Academy Awards, including one for ‘The Silence of the Lambs.’ He is known for roles in ‘The Remains of the Day,’ ‘Nixon,’ and ‘The Father,’ plus recent streaming projects. His latest screen credits include the 2025 thriller ‘Locked’ and the 2024 Netflix film ‘Mary.’
