Justin Hartley opened up about the special bond he shares with his 19-year-old daughter, Isabella Hartley, whom he shares with ex-wife Lindsay Korman-Hartley.

Talking to PEOPLE, the Tracker actor expressed his joy, describing the connection with Isabella as the 'best' and likening it to having 'another friend you can talk to."'

Despite Isabella transitioning into adulthood, Justin emphasized that being a dad never fades away; it remains a top priority.

“Having an adult, it's like having another friend you can talk to. She's really wonderful. I don't think, for me anyway, being a dad really goes away, It's always dad first. I think when she's 30, it'll be dad first,” he said.

Isabella, who graduated from high school in 2022 and now attends the University of California, Santa Cruz, has made her parents proud with her achievements.

Justin reminisced about Isabella's growth over the years, from her first steps to her current successes, reflecting on cherished memories.

He emphasized the need to cherish every moment, recognizing the swift passage of time.

The outlet shared that Isabella's journey from childhood to adulthood has filled Justin with pride, and he's grateful for the positive milestones she has reached.

“If you had a punch list of things that kids should do from the time they're an adolescent to the time to become an adult, she's hit all of the positive ones, She's just made it easy on me, so that's good,” he said.

On the other hand, Isabella's mother, Lindsay, also expressed her pride on social media during Isabella's graduation.