A New Chapter On and Off Screen
Veteran actress Robin Wright is embracing a new era, both professionally with her gripping new Prime Video series, “The Girlfriend,” and personally, having found tranquility and love in the English countryside. At 59, the House of Cards star is not only leading the six-part psychological thriller but also stepping behind the camera to direct three of its episodes, showcasing her enduring talent and creative control.
In “The Girlfriend,” adapted from Michelle Frances’ novel, Wright plays Laura Sanderson, a wealthy and fiercely protective mother whose perfectly curated life is disrupted by her son Daniel’s new flame, Cherry (Olivia Cooke). The series masterfully explores themes of class, manipulation, and jealousy, using a unique narrative structure that presents events from the dueling perspectives of the two women, leaving viewers to question who the real villain is.
Reflections on Motherhood and a Hollywood Past
In a series of candid interviews, Wright has opened up about her own experiences with motherhood, revealing a significant personal reflection on raising her two children, Dylan, 34, and Hopper, 32, with her ex-husband, Sean Penn. Wright expressed what she called a “huge regret,” admitting she feels she wasn’t strict enough with them during their formative years.
“I wasn’t hard enough on them,” Wright stated, describing a parenting dynamic where she and Penn, 65, were “both extremes.” According to reports from digitaltrendstoday.com, she explained that Penn, who was often away for work, would return and act as the disciplinarian. “He’d come back and be the policeman and then he’d leave me with the residue,” she recalled. “Then I would soften the blow.” Wright believes their children needed a more balanced approach, a “grey area in the middle.”
She spoke frankly about the anxiety of parenting children in the spotlight, particularly through their rebellious phases and her son Hopper’s past battle with addiction. “Every day if the phone rings you’re, like, ‘Is he alive? Is she alive?’” she said. Fortunately, she added that both of her children are now “in a really good place.” Wright and Penn, who were married from 1996 to 2010, have since become friends, maintaining a family bond for their children.
Finding Peace and a New Partner in England
After decades in the Hollywood spotlight, Wright has traded the frenetic pace of Los Angeles for the quiet of the English Chilterns. She has been working primarily in the U.K. for the past few years and speaks glowingly of her new home. “I love being in this country. There’s a freedom of self here,” she said, contrasting it with the “rush, competition and speed” of America.
This new chapter also brought unexpected love. Wright has found a new partner in Henry Smith, a 52-year-old British-born architect. Their meeting was a classic English meet-cute: in a country pub. She described him as “a sweetheart and just a good, decent adult. He’s a man.” The relationship was fast-tracked when they both contracted COVID-19 shortly after meeting, an experience she said allowed them to get to know each other deeply while recovering. Now, at nearly 60, Wright feels a sense of liberation. “I’m seen and loved for who I am,” she shared. “It’s so relaxing.”
From her iconic roles in The Princess Bride and Forrest Gump to her commanding presence as Claire Underwood—a role for which she famously fought for equal pay—Robin Wright has consistently proven her resilience and talent. With a compelling new series on the air and a fulfilling personal life, she continues to craft a narrative that is entirely her own.
