In his new memoir We Did OK, Kid, Anthony Hopkins opens up about his estranged relationship with his daughter, Abigail Hopkins. The actor expresses deep remorse for leaving the family but explains he felt he had no other choice.
“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.”
Hopkins, known for roles in The Remains of the Day and The Silence of the Lambs, hopes for reconciliation and sends Abigail a message of openness.
“I hope my daughter knows that my door is always open to her. I want her to be well and happy.”
He fondly recalls moments from Abigail's early life, such as her laughter in the crib and peacefully sleeping the night he left.
“Until the day I die, I will never forget the sight of her in that crib, laughing up at me when I walked in the room the first year of her life, sleeping soundly the night I left.”
Anthony Hopkins and Petronella Barker, his first wife, were married from 1966 to 1972. Abigail is their only child. After ending his relationship with Barker, Hopkins lost contact with Abigail except for providing financial support.
“Aside from sending financial support, I didn't have contact with Petronella and Abigail for a few years.”
Hopkins candidly reflects on painful family separation, expressing enduring regret and hope for future connection with his daughter.