Robbie Williams has shared a deeply personal and concerning text message from his teenage daughter, Teddy, revealing her intense anxieties about following in his famous footsteps.
A Father's Concern
The 51-year-old singer, appearing on Scott Mills' BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show on Friday, opened up about the pressures his 13-year-old daughter feels. He explained that Teddy, whom he shares with wife Ayda Field, is "desperate" for a career in the spotlight, but her highly sensitive nature is a source of worry for him.
Robbie recounted a poignant moment when Teddy sent him a text message in the early hours of the morning. "This was Thursday, six minutes past two in the morning," he recalled. The message read: "Dad, what if I'm not a singer? It's my biggest fear not to be a singer. What if I'm nothing?"
Reacting to the raw emotion in the message, host Scott Mills simply said, "Oh, Teddy." Robbie lightened the moment with a humorous retort, telling listeners he replied, "Babe, you're a nepo. You'll be fine."
Echoes of a Past Ambition
Williams drew parallels between his daughter's drive and his own youthful ambition growing up in Stoke-on-Trent. "I was also incredibly desperate for it," he admitted, remembering how he would watch Top of the Pops and dream of being on screen. However, he stated he had "never seen it so acute" as he does with Teddy.
His primary concern stems from her temperament. "She is incredibly sensitive. I am painfully, painfully sensitive... She is worse than me," Robbie confessed. "I'm worried about what words will do to her." He contrasted their starting points, noting that for him, fame was an escape from potentially "stacking shelves at ASDA," whereas Teddy has more options available to her.
Despite his worries, the Angels hitman emphasised the positives of a creative life, calling it a "wonderful, wonderful job" for which he feels very grateful.
Stepping into the Spotlight
Robbie's radio appearance follows a proud family moment last November. He and Ayda, 46, supported Teddy at the London premiere of the Christmas film Tinsel Town, marking her red carpet and acting debut.
In the movie, Teddy plays the daughter of Rebel Wilson's character, Jill, acting alongside Hollywood stars like Wilson and Kiefer Sutherland. The teenager stole attention on the red carpet in a glamorous green dress, beaming alongside her famous parents and co-stars.
Robbie and Ayda, who are also parents to Charlie, 10, Coco, seven, and Beau, five, have historically been protective of their children's privacy, often obscuring their faces on social media. A source previously indicated that Teddy's foray into acting is "driven by Teddy" herself, who has "wanted to be on stage since she was old enough to talk."
The film, directed by Chris Foggin, is a comedy about a typecast actor (Sutherland) who ends up performing in a small-town pantomime. Teddy's involvement, filmed earlier this year in Yorkshire, has been described as a "small part" but a "super-exciting" opportunity for the aspiring performer.
