Woody Allen claims he has made Soon-Yi Previn’s life better.
The 80-year-old director has been married to Soon-Yi, 45 – the adopted daughter of his former partner Mia Farrow – for over 20 years and Woody says that he "provided her with enormous opportunities".
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Woody said: "She had a very, very difficult upbringing in Korea: She was an orphan on the streets, living out of trash cans and starving as a six-year-old. And she was picked up and put in an orphanage. And so I’ve been able to really make her life better. I provided her with enormous opportunities, and she has sparked to them. She’s educated herself and has tons of friends and children and got a college degree and went to graduate school, and she has traveled all over with me now. She’s very sophisticated and has been to all the great capitals of Europe. She has just become a different person. So the contributions I’ve made to her life have given me more pleasure than all my films."
Woody was still dating Mia, his partner of 10 years, when he began seeing Soon-Yi but despite the controversial start to their relationship, Woody insists they are perfect for each other.
He said: "Well, she’s given me a lot of pleasure. I adore her, and she’s given me a wonderful life. We’ve been married 20 years. And we were together for a few years before that. And she has given me the great years of my life, personally. She’s a great companion and a great wife. She has given me a stable and wonderful home life and great companionship. I guess whenever you meet somebody and they’re the right person for you, there is a great emotional contribution they make to your life."
And Woody, who has daughters Bechet, 17 and 16-year-old Manzie with Soon-Yi, admitted he and Mia, 71, have no contact with each other anymore.
He said: "I don’t think she lives in New York. I think she lives in Connecticut. I’m not sure. Or travels for UNICEF or something."
Woody Allen; ‘I made Soon-Yi’s life better’
