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Eric Roberts says he was “not to be depended on emotionally whatsoever” when daughter Emma Roberts was born
The actor calls himself a “car wreck,” adding he takes “full responsibility” for that period
Eric previously admitted he “couldn’t handle” the realities of parenting
Eric Roberts admits he was in an emotionally unstable place when his daughter Emma Roberts was born.
While appearing on the podcast Really Famous with Kara Mayer Robinson, the actor, 69, reflected on the birth of Emma in 1991 and how he was struggling deeply at the time.
“I was emotionally … a wash rag,” he said. “I was not to be depended on emotionally whatsoever, because I was a car wreck.”
Eric added that he takes “full responsibility” for that period in his life, pointing to a mix of personal struggles, addiction and depression. “I was a car wreck because of many things,” he said, explaining that part of it stemmed from “understanding the horrible negative things” about his father and realizing that what had been instilled in him “as loyalty was absolute recklessness.”
The admission stands in contrast to how Eric describes Emma’s birth itself, a moment he still calls unforgettable. When Emma, now 35, was born, the moment unfolded in a way he says he’ll always cherish, as he detailed her “screaming her head off” while he sang “Happy Birthday” to her.
Eric Roberts pictured on March 15, 2026
Credit: Olivia Wong/Getty
“And she stopped screaming and tried to find my face with her little blind eyes,” he recalled.
For Eric, the connection felt immediate. “It was the most complete moment maybe I have ever had in my life — that something I did was recognized by a brand-new creature who had my DNA,” he said. “And there she was. And she already knew me. … It was magic. And I’ll always have that.”
Still, as he later acknowledged, that emotional high didn’t translate into readiness for fatherhood.
In his 2024 memoir Runaway Train: Or the Story of My Life So Far, Eric admitted that despite falling “madly in love” with his daughter, he struggled with the realities of parenting.
“The pregnancy was very exciting,” he wrote. “I fell madly in love with Emma the first minute I saw her. We’d even tried to bring on labor so it could happen exactly on the due date. It was a natural birth. I sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to her belly a lot. When Emma finally made her appearance, she wasn’t quite quiet and mellow, but when I started singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to her, she must have recognized my voice because she calmed right down.”
“I loved my little daughter with the strength of Hercules, despite my own weaknesses,” he wrote. “However, I couldn’t handle the realities of an infant coming into my life, and I couldn’t handle being a parent! I’m still not a father figure.”
Eric also reflected on his relationship with Emma’s mother, Kelly Cunningham, and the aftermath of their split. “I had abandoned Kelly when Emma was just 7 months old,” he wrote. “We went through a lot, and [Kelly] saw me at my absolute worst — yet she stayed, for a time, though I’m sure she questioned whether or not she should.”
On the podcast, Eric pushed back on outside perceptions of his relationship with his daughter, suggesting much of the narrative has been shaped by speculation. “It’s only complicated through outside eyes because they don’t get any of it,” he said. “So they have their own take … but it’s not a real relationship with the subjects.”
Despite everything, Eric said his pride in Emma has never wavered. “I’m so proud of my daughter,” he said. “Bring her up all day.”
“Life is very complicated,” he added. “But what’s great about life as you get older is you realize that nobody gets away with it. So be as nice as you can … so you can have a pleasant situation.”
Emma Roberts pictured in 2012 with aunt Julia Roberts
Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Now a grandfather, Eric says he sees a shift in how families navigate parenting today, noting that modern dynamics feel more open and accepting than when he was raising Emma, who shares her son Rhodes, 5, with ex Garrett Hedlund. “It’s nice that we’re in a different place now,” he said. “I think it’s a much better place.”
Over the years, Eric has been vocal about his pride in his daughter, even if he admits he’s been told to keep quiet.
“I’m not supposed to talk about either of them,” he said on a 2024 episode of the Still Here Hollywood podcast, referencing both Emma and his sister Julia Roberts. “But I do.”
“I’m in love with my daughter’s work these days,” he said at the time. “I can’t believe how great she’s become.”
“I’m so proud of her I can’t see straight,” he added. “I’m just so happy to be her dad, because she’s kicking ass. And I’m so proud.”
Looking back on his life, Eric has been open about personal growth. “The hardest person to protect yourself from is yourself,” he told Vanity Fair in 2018, reflecting on how his past behavior impacted his relationship with his sisters, including Julia.
Today, though, it’s moments like Emma’s birth that stand out most — memories he describes as nothing short of life-defining. “We recognized each other in her first moments of life,” he said on the Really Famous podcast. “It was the most incredible thing I’ve ever been through.”
Read the original article on People