Welsh actor Taron Egerton has opened up about his estranged relationship with his dad. Egerton, who made his big-screen debut in the popular Kingsman franchise in 2014, said he decided to "push the ejector seat" on their relationship and he has not "seen him since". The 36-year-old was born in Birkenhead but moved to Wales with his mother Christine after his parents divorced when he was two.
He was then raised in Anglesey and Aberystwyth, Ceredigion. Speaking on the Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard podcast, the actor said his relationship with his dad became "more difficult" as an adult. He said: "My father and I, when I was growing up, were able to maintain a fairly kind of functional relationship.
As I got older, that became more difficult and I haven't spoken to him for a number of years now". The Welsh star said he was initially "reluctant" to talk in "too much detail" about his dad as he's "living his own life", but added he will "always love him". Egerton said: "I do love him.
I just don't think we work very well in terms of our relationship. So, there was a point where I pushed the ejector seat and haven't seen him since." During the interview, Egerton said he was "happier and more functional" when he tried to "view everyone else as just trying their best" and believed that his father was "a guy who wanted to be a good dad". He added: "In hindsight, I think being raised by a single mom who was pursuing a degree and trying to make ends meet… looking back, I think I was possibly a little more anxious than I was aware of until quite recently.
"But she was a great mum; I never felt that I wanted anything or missed anything." Speaking about his life in Wales, Egerton said he lived in the famous village of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch on Anglesey from the age of two until he was 12 years old. His mum Christine worked in social services and his dad David ran a bed-and-breakfast near Liverpool. Egerton said he found the first year of secondary school tough, and was fresh meat for two bullies before moving to Aberystwyth for his formative years, where he later found his "tribe" of friends.
He added that he didn't want to come across as a victim, and that his "upbringing was amazing" and full of love. On the comedy podcast, Egerton went on to describe his Kingsman: The Secret Service and Kingsman: The Golden Circle co-star Colin Firth as a "fatherly figure". The films – released in 2014 and 2017 – saw Egerton play Gary "Eggsy" Unwin, while Firth played his mentor Harry Hart.
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