Mel Gibson believes mothers play a more important role in a children’s lives than fathers.
The 60-year-old Hollywood actor is expecting his ninth child with his girlfriend Rosalind Ross, who is believed to be six months pregnant.
Mel already has daughter Hannah and six sons – Edward, Christian, William, Louis, Milo and Thomas – from his 28-year marriage to Robyn Moore and six-year-old daughter Lucia with his former partner Oksana Grigorieva and although he plays an active role in all of his kids’ lives he thinks children need their mother’s love more than anything else.
In an interview with The I newspaper, he said: "Children depend more on the mother. Dad has to be there, but being a mother is tougher."
Mel’s fatherhood responsibilities played a part in him accepting his role in his new film ‘Blood Father’ – directed by Jean-Francois Richet.
In the action thriller, Mel portrays John Link, an American war veteran and ex-con now working as a tattoo artist who must save his troubled teen daughter Lydia Link (Erin Moriarty) from the clutches of a murderous gang and he admits the story resonated with him.
He added: "I’m a parent … it ticked a lot of boxes … There was something Hopalong Cassidy about it."
The film is Mel’s first lead role since 2012’s ‘Get the Gringo’ and one of his few major parts since he was arrested for drink driving in July 2006 during which he made anti-Semitic remarks to the arresting officer.
Mel – who has directed biographical World War II film ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ which comes out in November – did have some nerves about the project but he threw himself into it but admits he finds it harder to do the daredevil stunts now he’s 60.
He said: "This film (‘Blood Father’)? Nervous? Yes and no. One always has a healthy concern that you can do it or that it will work in time allotted with the money. You just have to jump in and act as if everything is going to be great."
Talking about his physical condition, he laughed: "Nowadays, you bend over and it’s, ‘Agh.’ Things change!"
Mel Gibson shares parenting theory
