Phil Collins gets frank on marriage failures and life regrets: 'I regret my marriages falling apart'
Phil Collins Opens Up About the Cost of Fame and the Value of Family
In a candid conversation on the Piers Morgan Uncensored show last month, 75‑year‑old drummer and former Genesis front‑man Phil Collins reflected on the personal sacrifices that came with a life in the spotlight. The star admitted that while his career brought him worldwide acclaim, it also fractured his marriages and strained his relationships with his children.
“I regret my marriages falling apart,” Collins said, noting that the distance imposed by touring took a toll. “Sometimes I jumped. Well, one time I jumped, two times I was pushed. I wouldn’t have written it that way. But on the other hand, I have five fantastic kids that I wouldn’t have if that hadn’t happened. So I have to balance it.”
Collins was first wed in 1975 to Andrea Bertorelli, an Italian woman who later became the mother of his daughter, Joely, through adoption. The couple had a son, Simon, before divorcing in 1980. In his interview he explained that the strain of touring – “in one year I think we did three American tours, two European tours, and a tour of Japan” – left him rarely home. “I wasn’t around, and we grew apart,” he said. His bandmates had even suggested they could have prevented the split if he had been more forthcoming about the difficulties.
His second marriage was to Jill Tavelman from 1984 to 1996. Together they raised Lily, the actress who would later star in Netflix’s “Emily in Paris.” Lily’s memoir, Unfiltered (2017), contains a heartfelt passage in which she writes, “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.” The book, read aloud by Collins in the interview, showcased the mother‑son duo’s willingness to move beyond past hurts.
Collins’s third marriage was to Orianne Cevey between 1999 and 2006, producing two more sons, Nicholas and Matthew. In a brief remark he admitted, “I never planned on getting married three times. You don’t go into life thinking that.” Yet, he insisted, he has always striven to be present for his children, despite the chaos of a touring lifestyle.
The interview also highlighted Collins’s recent birthday celebration. In January, the drummer turned 75 and was photographed with Lily and her family. The 2017 memoir author posted a heartfelt caption: “Love you to the moon and back again…” She added, “I’m grateful to be able to celebrate this milestone birthday with you. I consider myself lucky to have hugged you, laughed with you, and reminisced with you on such a monumental day.”
Lily’s public tributes continued into the summer. On Father’s Day she shared an Instagram post expressing her gratitude for her father’s “unconditional love, guidance, and support.” She wrote, “Now as a parent, I have a newly found understanding and deeper appreciation for everything you’ve done and continue to do. Tove is lucky to call you Grandpa P.”
The young actress confirmed that the family’s newest member, Tove, arrived in January 2025 via surrogate. Lily and her husband, director Charlie McDowell, celebrated their daughter’s birth together, reinforcing the family’s resilience and unity.
Collins, who has had to adapt to a demanding touring schedule that once saw him traverse the globe in a single year, reflects on how that life shaped his personal relationships. “Genesis did, in one year, I think, three American tours, two European tours, and a tour of Japan.” He added that while the band members could have helped him navigate his personal challenges, hindsight made the path clearer. “We grew apart because I was gone.”
Despite the regret over broken marriages, Collins’s candidness underscores the complicated trade‑offs between artistic ambition and family life. His story, punctuated by moments of self‑reflection, a daughter’s forgiveness, and a recent family celebration, offers a glimpse into how a global icon reconciles a storied career with the intimate realities of parenthood.