Anthony Hopkins Expresses Deep Regret Over Estrangement from Daughter Abigail
Sir Anthony Hopkins opens his heart about the painful estrangement from his daughter Abigail in his new memoir, We Did OK, Kid, released on November 4, 2025. The acclaimed actor, now 87, reflects candidly on family struggles and his battle with alcoholism.
Personal Admission and Regret
The two-time Oscar winner shares what he calls his "greatest regret" — leaving his first wife, Petronella Barker, and their infant daughter when Abigail was just 14 months old. Hopkins admits to being “a cold fish,” shaped by defense mechanisms formed in childhood, and takes full responsibility without excuses.
“Abigail never seemed able to forgive me for leaving the family when she was a baby.”
“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.”
Strained Relationship and Attempts at Reconnection
The father and daughter briefly reconnected in the 1990s. Abigail collaborated professionally, appearing in Hopkins’ films Shadowlands and The Remains of the Day. Despite these moments, their relationship eventually faded back into silence and distance.
Hopkins’ Public Acknowledgment
This memoir marks a significant point as Hopkins openly admits his emotional coldness and the lasting impact it had on his relationship with Abigail.
Summary: In his memoir, Anthony Hopkins confronts his painful estrangement from his daughter Abigail with uncommon honesty, expressing profound regret and acknowledging the lasting scars caused by his past actions.