Namely, the actor recently spoke openly in an interview about personal issues that prevented him from being a reliable parent in the first months of her life, although he still describes the moment of her birth as one of the happiest in his life.
During an appearance on the podcast "Really Famous with Kara Mayer Robinson," the 69-year-old actor recalled 1991, when Emma was born. "I was completely emotionally drained. I was completely unreliable because I was falling apart," Roberts said. Roberts emphasized that he takes full responsibility for that period of his life, marked by personal problems, addiction, and depression. "I was broken by many things. Part of the problem came from painful revelations about my father and the realization that what had been presented to me for years as devotion was actually nothing but callousness," he stated. Nevertheless, despite all the difficulties, Roberts describes the moment Emma came into the world as unforgettable. He recalled that his daughter cried loudly while he sang "Happy Birthday" to her. "She stopped crying and seemed to be trying to find my face," he said. "I felt a connection immediately. It might have been the most fulfilling moment of my life, to be recognized by a completely new being that carries my DNA. It was magical, and I will always carry that with me," he said. However, he admits that the strong feeling of love for his daughter did not mean he was ready for fatherhood. In his 2024 memoir, "Runaway Train: Or the Story of My Life So Far," he wrote that although he fell in love with Emma immediately, he struggled with the reality of parenting. "The pregnancy was an exciting time. I fell in love with Emma as soon as I saw her. I sang 'Happy Birthday' to her even while she was in the womb. When she was born, she cried loudly, but as soon as I sang to her, she immediately calmed down. She must have recognized my voice," he said. Roberts emphasizes that he loved his daughter with all his heart, despite his own weaknesses. "But I didn't know how to deal with the fact that a child had come into my life, and I didn't know my role as a parent. Honestly, even today, I don't see myself as a father figure," he conveyed. The actor also reflected on his relationship with Emma's mother, Kelly Cunningham, and the consequences of their breakup. "I left Kelly when Emma was only seven months old. We went through a lot, and she saw me at my worst moments—and yet she stayed for a while, although I'm sure she wondered if she should," he said. In the podcast, Roberts dismissed the public perception of his relationship with his daughter: "It only looks complicated from the outside because people don't really know what was happening between us. They have their own image, but that's not our real relationship." Regardless of everything, Eric emphasized that his pride in Emma has always been unquestionable. "I am incredibly proud of my daughter. I could talk about her all day. I love what she does today. I can't believe how amazing she has become. I am so proud of her that I'm bursting with pride. I'm simply happy to be her father," he conveyed.