Robert Redford’s Emotional Confession About the Love of His Life at 88

At 88 years old, legendary actor Robert Redford has opened his heart in a rare and deeply emotional confession that has stunned fans around the world.

Known for his privacy and reserved demeanor, Redford has rarely spoken about his personal life in detail—but in a recent interview, he finally shared the truth about the woman who was, and always will be, the love of his life.

For decades, Robert Redford has been admired not just for his acting and directing, but for the enigmatic presence he maintained off-screen.

Despite a career spanning more than six decades and filled with iconic roles in classics like The Way We Were, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and All the President’s Men, Redford never allowed the spotlight to fully enter his private world.

However, as he approached his 89th birthday, the Hollywood icon chose to reflect on the person who shaped his heart more than any script or award ever could.

Speaking with quiet intensity, Redford revealed that the woman who most impacted his life wasn’t one of his glamorous co-stars or a fleeting Hollywood romance, but rather someone who remained mostly hidden from the public eye.

He described her not just as a partner, but as a muse, a confidante, and the one person who truly understood him beyond the fame, the success, and the pressures of his career.

“She made me feel like Robert, not Redford,” he said, voice trembling slightly.

“With her, I wasn’t the movie star, the icon, the man on magazine covers.I was just.me.”

Redford didn’t mention her name directly during the interview, perhaps to protect her legacy or respect her family’s privacy, but insiders and longtime fans believe he was referring to his first wife, Lola Van Wagenen.

The two were married in 1958, long before Redford became a global star, and shared four children together.

Though their marriage ended in divorce in 1985, Redford has rarely spoken ill of Lola, always showing a quiet respect for her role in his life and career.

“She saw me before the world did,” he continued.

“She supported my dreams when they were just dreams.

And even after we grew apart, I think a piece of my heart always stayed with her.

The confession has reignited public interest in Redford’s early life and his longtime dedication to his family.

Though he’s been linked to other women over the years, including painter Sibylle Szaggars, whom he married in 2009, many fans believe that his emotional connection to Lola never truly faded.

The interview took a more reflective turn as Redford spoke about the passage of time, love lost and found, and the deep regrets that can come with age.

He admitted that one of his biggest regrets was not being emotionally present during parts of his earlier relationships, caught up in the whirlwind of fame, work, and personal tragedy.

Redford has experienced deep loss in his life, including the death of his son, Scott, at just two months old in 1959, and more recently, the heartbreaking loss of his son James Redford in 2020.

“Grief has a way of putting everything into perspective,” Redford explained.

“It reminds you that love isn’t always loud or perfect.

Sometimes it’s quiet, and patient, and it stays with you—even after everything else fades away.

What struck many about Redford’s interview wasn’t just what he said, but how he said it.

There was no performance, no dramatic flourish—only the voice of a man who had lived fully, loved deeply, and was now making peace with both the joy and the sorrow that had shaped him.

He described love not as something to be owned or controlled, but as a force that moves through your life and leaves its mark in unexpected ways.

Social media lit up after the interview aired, with fans and fellow celebrities praising Redford for his vulnerability and honesty.

“It’s so rare to see someone from that generation speak so openly about love and regret,” one fan wrote.

“It just makes me admire him even more.

” Others shared personal stories about their own long-lost loves, inspired by Redford’s words.

Though Redford has announced his retirement from acting, his legacy continues to grow—not only as a filmmaker, environmentalist, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival but now also as a voice of deep emotional wisdom.

In his final years, he has become more than a star; he has become a storyteller of the heart, using his experiences to remind the world that even icons feel vulnerable, even legends carry wounds.

Toward the end of the interview, Redford smiled gently, eyes misty but calm.

“I’ve had a big life,” he said.“And if I could go back and do it all again, I’d still want to meet her.

Even if it ended in heartbreak.Even if it wasn’t forever.

Some people are worth the pain.

It was a moment of pure humanity from a man who has spent most of his life behind characters and cameras.

And in that moment, Robert Redford reminded the world that true love doesn’t always have a happy ending—but it always leaves a beautiful, lasting echo.