Music icon Robbie Williams has given a candid and emotional insight into the pressures of growing up in the spotlight, after revealing a heartbreaking late-night text from his teenage daughter.
A Father's Concern: The 2am Text Message
Speaking to Scott Mills on the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show on Friday, the 51-year-old singer opened up about fatherhood and the intense ambitions of his 13-year-old daughter, Teddy. Williams, who shares Teddy and three other children with his wife, actress Ayda Field, 46, described his daughter as "so desperate" for a career in the limelight.
He revealed the poignant moment he received a text from Teddy in the early hours of a Thursday morning. "It says - this was Thursday, six minutes past two in the morning, 'Dad, what if I'm not a singer? It's my biggest fear not to be a singer.' Biggest capital letters. 'What if I'm nothing?'" Robbie recounted, reading the message verbatim.
Navigating Fame and Sensitivity
Robbie drew parallels between his daughter's drive and his own childhood dreams growing up in Stoke-on-Trent, watching Top of the Pops. However, he admitted, "I've never seen it so acute as I do with Ted." His primary worry stems not from her ambition, but from her sensitive nature, which he fears is even more pronounced than his own.
"The only thing that worries me about it is, she's incredibly sensitive," he told Mills. "I am painfully, painfully sensitive. In some quarters it would be deemed as being oversensitive. She is worse than me. And I'm worried about what words will do to her." He joked that his initial response to her text was to reassure her, "babe, you're a nepo. You'll be fine," referencing her status as a child of famous parents.
Williams contrasted their different starting points, noting that for him, fame was an escape from potentially "stacking shelves at ASDA," whereas Teddy has more options. He expressed confidence in being able to guide her professionally but remains apprehensive about the criticism and negativity that accompanies public life.
Following in Famous Footsteps
This intimate radio confession follows Teddy's own steps into the entertainment industry. Last November, she made her red carpet and acting debut at the London premiere of the Christmas film Tinsel Town, supported proudly by both parents.
In the movie, she plays the daughter of Rebel Wilson's character, acting alongside Hollywood stars like Wilson and Kiefer Sutherland. A source close to the production previously told The Sun, "Teddy was born to be a star - after all, her parents are both the ultimate performers." They added that the role was driven by Teddy's own long-standing desire to perform.
Despite his worries, Robbie Williams concluded on a positive note, acknowledging the creative and wonderful life a career in entertainment can offer. His appearance on Radio 2 provided a rare glimpse into the challenges and hopes of a father navigating fame's complex legacy for the next generation.
