Robert De Niro calls fatherhood a ‘mystery’ after welcoming his seventh baby

The actor and his partner Tiffany Chen welcomed their baby on 6 April

Amber Raiken
New York
Friday 12 May 2023 16:13 BST
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Related: Robert De Niro’s seventh child revealed as baby girl named Gia Virginia

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Robert De Niro has shared his thoughts about fatherhood just days after he announced that he welcomed his seventh child.

The 79-year-old actor gave some parenting advice during an interview with Access Hollywood on Tuesday while at the premiere of his new film About My Father.

When asked what it takes to “be a good father”, De Niro responded: “Sometimes, I don’t think people really know what being a good father is.” He then corrected himself and added: “Well, they do. You know you have your responsibility.”

The Goodfellas star also described some of the different feelings he’s had about fatherhood.

“Look, it’s a mystery, it’s a lot of excitement,” he said. “But it’s scary and you do your best,” he said.

De Niro first announced that he had another child during an interview with ET Canada, which was published on 9 May. When interviewer ​​Brittnee Blair stated: “I know you have six kids,” he corrected her and said: “Seven, actually. I just had a baby.”

De Niro also confirmed to Page Six that his partner’s pregnancy was planned.

“How you could not plan that kind of thing?” he said.

During an episode of CBS Mornings days later, Gayle King revealed new details that De Niro had shared with her about his newborn. She presented a photo of the baby, who had black hair and was wearing a light pink onesie. The TV host revealed that DeNiro and his partner, Tiffany Chen, welcomed the child on 6 April. King also shared that the baby’s full name is Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro.

King said De Niro and his girlfriend are “over the moon” about the newest addition to their family. She also noted that when she asked the actor if the baby was planned, he told her “yes” and that he and his partner both “wanted her”. She emphasised how “psyched” and “excited” De Niro has been about having another child.

However, before this episode of CBS Mornings aired, his co-star for his new movie, Kim Cattrall, appeared to reveal the identity of his child’s mother.

Speaking to Extra at the premiere of About My Father, she praised DeNiro and said: “God bless him, his significant other. Tiffany is such a beautiful woman. She came to the set once with her family and watched filming, and she was gorgeous and sweet. I’m happy for both of them.”

Along with his newborn daughter, the Meet the Fockers star has six other children from previous relationships.

De Niro and his first wife, Diahnne Abbott, share one daughter, Drena, 51, and one son, Raphael, 46. In 1995, he welcomed his twins, Julian and Aaron, 27, with ex-girlfriend Toukie Smith. He also shares his 25-year-old son, Elliot, and 11-year-old daughter, Helen Grace, with ex-wife Grace Hightower.

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