Robin Wright has openly expressed a significant regret about her co-parenting approach with former husband Sean Penn, revealing that their polarized parenting styles lacked balance and negatively impacted their children. This admission came during a candid interview with The Times of London, where she reflected on her experiences as a mother and the challenges of raising children in the Hollywood spotlight.
In the interview published on August 30, 2025, Wright discussed her parenting journey with Penn, with whom she shares two children: Dylan, 34, and Hopper, 32. She confessed that she “wasn’t hard enough” on them, often softening the discipline when Penn, who was frequently absent due to his acting career, would return home and enforce strict rules. This dynamic created an unstable environment where the children missed out on a consistent, stern approach that Wright believes they needed.
Wright described their parenting as “extremes,” with her leniency contrasting sharply with Penn’s authoritarian style. She emphasized the absence of a “grey area” that could have provided stability and guidance. This reflection is part of a broader introspection into her life choices, including her decision to step back from her acting career at its peak to prioritize family, such as declining the role of Maid Marian in “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.”
The interview also touched on Wright’s personal growth, including her use of psychedelic therapy with psilocybin to address parenting anxieties and improve her relationships with her children. She shared that both Dylan and Hopper have faced their own struggles, including addiction issues, which added to her concerns as a mother. Despite these challenges, Wright expressed pride in their current well-being and stability.
Wright and Penn, who married in 1996 after meeting on the set of “State of Grace” and divorced in 2010, have since reconciled as friends. She acknowledged the difficulties of co-parenting with a high-profile ex-partner but highlighted their eventual ability to maintain a civil relationship for the sake of their children.
Beyond parenting, Wright discussed her recent move to the UK, where she has found a sense of peace and freedom away from the Hollywood hustle. She is currently in a relationship with British architect Henry Smith, whom she met in a pub, and she described him as a “sweetheart” and a “good, decent adult.” This new chapter in her life contrasts with past relationships, including her engagements to actor Ben Foster.
Wright’s candid remarks offer a glimpse into the complexities of celebrity parenting and the long-term effects of disciplinary imbalances. Her story underscores the importance of finding a middle ground in co-parenting and the ongoing journey of personal reconciliation and growth.