Alec Baldwin is opening up about the painful and challenging period following his highly publicized divorce from actress Kim Basinger, which took place more than two decades ago. 

In a heartfelt conversation on the March 2 episode of the new TLC reality show *The Baldwins*, 

the 66-year-old actor reflected on how the separation from Basinger in 2002 affected their daughter, Ireland Baldwin, who was just a child at the time.

Baldwin shared how the divorce and its aftermath deeply impacted his relationship with Ireland. 

He recalled, “I must say that because my relationship with my daughter Ireland was so negatively impacted by my divorce from her mother 

and having a very protracted custody battle that the media really were having a party about everything.”

Baldwin explained that the custody dispute lasted for seven years, with financial battles taking up about a year and a half and the rest of the time being consumed by custody arrangements. He described the experience as “insanity” and “really, really tough.” Baldwin’s biggest regret, he confessed, was how the entire ordeal affected his relationship with his daughter, noting, “One of my most regrettable things about the whole thing was how it affected Ireland.”

The divorce, which lasted from 1993 until 2002, became a media spectacle, with Ireland caught in the middle. The situation reached a particularly low point when a voicemail Baldwin left for his daughter, in which he harshly scolded her, was leaked to the public. This incident led to Baldwin temporarily losing visitation rights and prompted him to issue a public apology. The difficult custody battle and its public nature placed tremendous strain on Baldwin’s relationship with Ireland, a strain that took years to mend.

Now, over two decades later, Baldwin is in a much better place with his 29-year-old daughter. He reflected on their current relationship, saying, “I have a good relationship with Ireland.” He went on to explain that Ireland is close with her younger half-siblings, referring to them as “the kids,” and that she is a loving older sister, although she’s not always included in the same activities as the younger children. Baldwin revealed that he focuses a lot of attention on his relationship with his oldest daughter, Carmen, saying, “This is why I think I’m so focused on Carmen… because I have a girl all over again.”

Baldwin’s family life has evolved significantly since his marriage to Basinger ended. He married Hilaria Baldwin in 2012, and together they share a growing family of children: three daughters—Carmen Gabriela, María Lucía Victoria, and Ilaria Catalina Irena—and four sons—Rafael Thomas, Leonardo Ángel Charles, Romeo Alejandro David, and Eduardo “Edu” Pao Lucas. Baldwin is clearly devoted to his children and committed to maintaining strong relationships with all of them, especially as he continues to navigate the complexities of fatherhood.

Kim Basinger, now 71, also shared her thoughts on her relationship with Baldwin in a recent interview with *Variety*. The actress, known for her roles in *L.A. Confidential* and *The Marrying Man*, explained that she and Baldwin have a respectful and amicable relationship today. “Alec and I have a great relationship. I have great respect for where he is today and his family,” she said. While they do not spend holidays together or see each other often, Basinger emphasized that they remain in contact and share a “genuinely cordial and, I think, loving relationship in a lot of ways,” largely due to their shared love for their daughter, Ireland.

Basinger previously discussed the emotional toll the divorce took on their family, calling the experience “heavy-duty” and acknowledging the difficult time Ireland went through during that period. During an appearance on *Red Table Talk* in 2022, Basinger admitted that she and Baldwin didn’t always see eye to eye on co-parenting, but she added that, despite their differences, they’ve reached a place of mutual understanding.

While the wounds from Baldwin and Basinger’s divorce may never fully heal, it’s clear that both parents have worked hard to establish a healthier relationship with each other and with their daughter. The two now seem to share a sense of respect, understanding, and a commitment to their roles as co-parents—something they’ve both publicly acknowledged in recent years. For Baldwin, the experience has shaped him as a father, and he continues to focus on building strong, loving relationships with all of his children, especially his daughters.

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