In his latest film, The Father, Anthony Hopkins delivers a performance that's likely to earn him a sixth Oscar nomination. In this deeply moving role, he portrays a man suffering from dementia, cared for by his adult daughter. When asked about the part, Anthony reveals, "It felt very second nature to me." But the story on screen is far from his personal reality.
Life, as it turns out, isn't as scripted as movies. For over two decades, the 83-year-old actor has been estranged from his only child, Abigail Hopkins, who is now 52. Abigail's mother is Anthony's first wife, Petronella Barker. Despite the distance, Anthony remains unapologetic about the separation. "People break up. Families split. People make choices," he says with his characteristic gruffness.
A Complicated Past
Following his 1972 divorce, Anthony, who battled alcoholism before becoming sober in 1975, saw Abigail only once a year. "He doesn’t blame her. He takes full responsibility," a close friend explains. The early 1990s marked a turning point when Anthony won the Oscar for The Silence of the Lambs. Around this time, his daughter reached out, seeking to mend their fractured relationship.
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Anthony made sincere efforts to reconnect. He brought Abigail to film premieres and secured her small roles in The Remains of the Day and Shadowlands. There are even reports that he helped her purchase an apartment. However, these gestures came too late for Abigail, who couldn't bring herself to forgive her father.
The Emotional Struggles
In 2006, Abigail opened up about the emotional scars left by her childhood. "I came very close to killing myself," she confessed, speaking about her teenage years. "The root cause was the fact that my father and I had an intermittent relationship when I was young. I was angry, and there was a lot of grieving," she explained, painting a picture of a daughter grappling with abandonment and loss.
Adding to the complexity, Anthony and Abigail share a striking resemblance in personality. "They are both very stubborn," a mutual friend reveals. This shared trait has only deepened the rift, leaving Anthony feeling rejected. "Children don’t like their fathers," he muses. "You don’t have to love each other," he adds, trying to rationalize the estrangement.
A Chance for Redemption
But is it ever truly too late to heal old wounds? "It’s a tough situation for both," says Glenn Harte, a longtime friend of Anthony's. "He can be very blunt, but he is also one of the kindest, most generous people I’ve ever met," Glenn adds, offering a glimpse into the duality of Anthony's character.
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