Phil Collins gets frank on marriage failures and life regrets: ‘I regret my marriages falling apart’
Phil Collins, the 75-year-old Genesis drummer, has reflected on his regrets over his three failed marriages during an interview with Piers Morgan. He explained that whilst he regrets his marriages falling apart, he acknowledges that without them he would not have had his five children, whom he describes as "fantastic". The balance between personal failure and family legacy appears to inform his perspective on his life choices.
Collins was married to Andrea Bertorelli from 1975 to 1980 (with whom he had son Simon and adopted stepdaughter Joely), to Jill Tavelman from 1984 to 1996 (daughter Lily), and to Orianne Cevey from 1999 to 2006 (sons Nicholas and Mathew). He attributed his first marriage's breakdown to his demanding touring schedule with Genesis, which saw him undertake multiple tours across America, Europe and Japan annually. His daughter Lily Collins, star of Netflix's "Emily in Paris," has publicly forgiven him, writing in her 2017 memoir about accepting his shortcomings as a father, and the pair now celebrate milestones together, including his 75th birthday in January.
- Regrets three failed marriages but values five children from them.
- Genesis touring kept him absent from his first marriage, causing its breakdown.
- Daughter Lily has publicly reconciled with him after years of estrangement.
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Phil Collins is the drummer and longtime member of Genesis, one of the world's most successful rock bands. At 75, he remains a recognisable public figure, with his personal life having been the subject of considerable public and media interest over the decades.
Collins has been married three times, with each marriage ending in divorce. His first marriage to Andrea Bertorelli lasted from 1975 to 1980, his second to Jill Tavelman from 1984 to 1996, and his third to Orianne Cevey from 1999 to 2006. He has five children across these relationships, including adopted stepdaughter Joely, and biological children Simon, Lily, Nicholas and Mathew.
Collins has previously attributed his first marriage's breakdown to the touring commitments required by Genesis, which saw him travel extensively across America, Europe and Japan each year. His daughter Lily Collins, an actress known for the Netflix series Emily in Paris, has spoken publicly about reconciling with her father and forgiving him for his absence during her childhood. His family relationships remain an important part of his public identity alongside his music career.