Renowned musician Phil Collins recently offered candid insights into his personal life, reflecting on the profound impact his celebrated career had on his relationships, particularly his three marriages and his connection with his children.
During a recent interview, the 75-year-old artist shared his perspective on the difficulties he faced. "To some extent, I have to say I regret my marriages falling apart," Collins explained. He characterized the endings of these unions, stating, "Sometimes I jumped. Well, one time I jumped, two times I was pushed. But I wouldn't have written it like that." Despite the sorrow, he acknowledged a silver lining: "on the other hand, I've got five fantastic kids that I wouldn't have if that hadn't happened. So I have to balance it."
Challenges and Commitments in Family Life
Collins' first marriage was to Andrea Bertorelli, lasting from 1975 to 1980. During this period, he adopted Bertorelli's daughter, Joely, and the couple welcomed their son, Simon. His second marriage was to Jill Tavelman, from 1984 to 1996, with whom he shares daughter Lily. He later married Orianne Cevey in 1999, a union that concluded in 2006, and they have two sons, Nicholas and Mathew.
Reflecting on the dissolution of his first marriage, Collins attributed it to his demanding touring schedule with his band, Genesis, which kept him away from home for extended periods. He recalled the band's intense schedule: "Genesis did, in one year, I think, three American tours, two European tours, and a tour of Japan." He noted that upon his separation, bandmates expressed surprise, saying, "Well, why didn’t you tell us? We’d have stopped it." Collins, however, recognized the hindsight in such comments, adding, "But that’s easy to say in retrospect. I was gone, and we grew apart."
Despite the marital challenges, Collins emphasized his consistent effort to be present for his children, stating he "always tried to be there for the kids." He also conveyed that entering into three marriages was never part of his life plan, acknowledging, "You don't go into life thinking that."
Reconciliation and Shared Understanding with Daughter Lily
His daughter, Lily Collins, known for her role in the Netflix series "Emily in Paris," delved into her relationship with her father in her 2017 memoir, "Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me." In a passage from the book, she openly addressed her feelings and journey toward forgiveness:
"I'm learning how to accept your actions and vocalize how they made me feel. I accept and honor the sadness and anger I felt toward the things you did or didn't do, did or didn't give me. I forgive you for not always being there when I needed it, for not being the dad I expected. I forgive the mistakes you made. And although it may seem like it's too late, it's not. There's still so much time to move forward."
Over time, the father-daughter relationship has visibly strengthened. In January, Lily shared photographs from her father's 75th birthday celebration, accompanied by a heartfelt message: "Love you to the moon and back again…" Her birthday tribute further conveyed her "gratitude" for being able to mark the milestone with him, expressing how "lucky to have hugged you, laughed with you, and reminisced with you on such a monumental day."
More recently, on Father's Day, Lily posted a tribute on her social media stories, reiterating her "endless gratitude for your unconditional love, guidance and support." She also shared a newfound perspective as a parent herself: "Now as a parent, I have a newly found understanding and deeper appreciation for everything you’ve done and continue to do." Lily also mentioned her child, stating, "Tove is lucky to call you Grandpa P." Lily and her husband, Charlie McDowell, welcomed their first child, Tove, via surrogate in January 2025.
