Eric Roberts reveals his emotional struggles as a new dad to Emma

Eric Roberts acknowledged being in a tumultuous emotional state when his daughter Emma Roberts came into the world.

In a chat on the podcast Really Famous with Kara Mayer Robinson, the 69-year-old actor shared reflections on Emma’s birth in 1991 and his personal challenges during that period.

“Emotionally, I felt like a rag,” he expressed. “I was completely unreliable emotionally because I was a wreck.”

Eric mentioned he fully accepts responsibility for this phase of his life, citing personal issues, addiction, and depression as factors.

“I was a wreck due to various issues,” he explained, detailing how part of it involved realising “loyalty” he was taught was actually chaos.

Despite these confessions, Eric described Emma’s birth as a moment he’ll never forget.

When Emma, now 35, was born, the experience was unforgettable for him. He recounted her “crying loudly” as he sang "Happy Birthday" to her.

"She stopped crying and tried to find my face with her little blind eyes,” he reminisced.

For Eric, the bond was instant. “It was possibly the most complete moment of my life — that something I did was recognised by this new being sharing my DNA,” he noted. “There she was, already knowing me. … It was magical. Something I will treasure always.”

Yet, he later admitted, that surge of emotion didn’t translate to being prepared for fatherhood.

In his 2024 autobiography Runaway Train: Or the Story of My Life So Far, Eric confessed to falling “deeply in love” with his daughter yet found parenting overwhelming.

Eric also looked back at his relationship with Emma’s mother, Kelly Cunningham, and what happened after their breakup. “I left Kelly when Emma was just seven months,” he wrote. “We faced many challenges, and [Kelly] saw me at my worst — yet she stayed for a while, albeit likely questioning her decision.”

On the podcast, Eric challenged the outsider perceptions of his bond with his daughter, noting that much of it is subject to speculation. “It’s only complex to outsiders because they don’t truly understand it,” he said. “They form opinions … but it’s not an accurate portrayal.”

Despite all this, Eric stated his pride in Emma remains unwavering. “I’m incredibly proud of my daughter,” he stated. “I could talk about her endlessly.”