Colin Farrell has opened up about how his life has changed since becoming a dad. The Dublin-born actor has two boys, 13-year-old James and 7-year-old Henry.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight ahead of the release of his latest film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Colin admitted that after the birth of his first son he thought that he’d be a “cool dad” and more of a friend to him. It wasn’t until a number of years later that he actually let fatherhood change the course of his life.
“When my first son was born, I said, ‘It’s not gonna change me.’ Like, that’s what a 3-month-old boy needs – a 21-year-old drunk friend – but I thought I was going to be that cool dad.
“(Fatherhood) changes you, but you have to decide to let it change you. James was about two or three by the time I went, ‘Why am I trying to not let this inform how my life is lived now? I should allow it to change me,'” he said.
Now the 40-year-old says that being a dad has enhanced his whole life. Although he’s developed anxiety from worrying about his sons, he understands that just being there for them is all that he can do.
“It changed what kind of actor I am. It’s just enriched my life and I assume it’s given me a greater degree of not only anxiety, but depth and compassion.
“It’s funny, I wanted a dad that would be open, who I could talk to about feelings and sh** and I didn’t have that.
“Now I’m like, ‘Talk to me about your feelings,’ and the kids are like, ‘Nah, I don’t want to talk.’” I think just (being) accessible is the best thing you can do for your kids,” he said.
Sounds like you’re doing a pretty great job to us Colin!
