Alfred Molina was born in a working-class immigrant family to his Spanish father, Esteban, and Italian mother, Giovanna.
Key Takeaways
- Since his parents were from the working class, they couldn’t grasp the concept of acting as a job.
- They passed away before they could watch their son shining on the silver screen.
Dad Esteban was from Madrid and worked as a waiter and chauffeur, while mom Giovanna was an Italian housekeeper and cook.
Before working minimum-wage jobs, the actor’s father was a war veteran who fought in the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War.
When the star was 12, his parents divorced, forcing him to stay with his mom while his younger brother, Roberto, lived with his dad.
An Incomplete Dream
The British actor reached the heights of the entertainment industry, but his parents didn’t live long enough to see him thriving.
In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Alfred talked about how his father doubted his career choice but was always supporting behind-his-back.
didn't realize how overdue for a good cry i was until i saw this clip of alfred molina talking about his dad pic.twitter.com/l37uJ6ZDjY
— patrick. (@imPatrickT) April 30, 2024
While discussing his relationship with his dad, Alfred said, “My relationship with my dad was cordial but not very close.”
The Spiderman 2 actor mentioned that he never quite reconciled with his father before he passed away in 1999, which he still regrets to this day.
After his death, Alfred went to Spain for the funeral, and his step-mom dragged out a suitcase full of clippings, photos, and bits from magazines and letters related to his acting gigs.
Although his father didn’t offer much support, deep down, he was a parent who loved his child and cherished whatever he did.
Alfred Molina – UK's Famous Character Actor, tells us the advice he would give to his younger self, "Don't sweat the small stuff!". With such relentless work ethic derived from his parents, Alfred has appeared in more than 50 film, television and stage productions. @PhilKeoghan pic.twitter.com/MLoqTB0bQY
— BUCKiT (@buckit) June 17, 2020
On the other hand, Molina described his mother as generous, loving, caring, and fun. However, he exclaims that she may have been depressive as she had a complex personality.
Sadly, Giovanna passed away at the age of 56 from a massive blood clot in her brain.
Regardless, she moved to Itay before she passed away and found love in her childhood sweetheart.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Alfred Molina was raised in Notting Hill, London, alongside many other immigrant families.
- His first wife, Jill Gascoine, was 16 years older than him, and his current wife, Jennifer Lee, is 18 years younger.
- He credits his southern European background, which has allowed him to play roles of many ethnicities.
