Alfred Molina opened up about a poignant memory involving his father’s lack of support for his career decisions.
“When I was very young, my dad got me a job as a waiter in the restaurant where he was working,”
Molina shared in an interview with Vanity Fair.
“I was a proficient waiter, and the management even offered me a two-week management training course,” he explained.
However, Molina turned down the offer as he had secured an acting job. His father, Esteban, questioned his decision upon learning that the acting job paid half of what he earned as a waiter.
“Wait a minute. You’re making £30 or £35 here. Then you go to making £15?”
Molina recalled his father’s reaction, which conveyed a mix of concern and bewilderment.
This conversation occurred before Molina achieved recognition as a Tony and BAFTA-nominated actor.
“He stared at me like he didn’t recognize me. The only thing I could say to him was, ‘This is what I love, Dad.’ He never quite got it.
I did disappoint my dad. Yeah. If my dad had lived a little longer, he’d hopefully would have realized I hadn’t wasted my time.”
Despite the initial disappointment, Molina revealed, with tears in his eyes, that over the years, his father kept a suitcase filled with clippings, photos, and letters from admirers of his son’s work.
“He kept all this stuff, but he never talked about it,” Molina reflected.
Molina has since carved out an impressive career, starring in acclaimed films like Chocolat, The Da Vinci Code, and Frida. Notably, he portrayed the villain Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man 2 and reprised the role in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
