Woody Allen says he plays a 'paternal' role in marriage to Soon-Yi Previn

Woody Allen’s comments on his relationship with wife Soon-Yi Previn are raising some eyebrows, particularly because of his father-like role in her life when he was with Mia Farrow, Previn’s adopted mother.

Allen, who started an affair with Previn while still with Farrow, ended up marrying Previn over two decades ago despite their vast age difference.

“I'm so much older than the girl I married. I'm 35 years older, and somehow, through no fault of mine or hers, the dynamic worked,” he told NPR.

“I was paternal,” he added. “She responded to someone paternal. I liked her youth and energy. She deferred to me, and I was happy to give her an enormous amount of decision-making just as a gift and let her take charge of so many things. She flourished. It was just a good-luck thing.”

He went on to say when they first got together he “thought it would just be a fling, it wouldn't be serious,” but as it progressed it “had a life of its own.”

“And I never thought it would be anything more. Then we started going together, then we started living together, and we were enjoying it. And the age difference didn't seem to matter. It seemed to work in our favor, actually,” he added.

Allen was also asked about the sexual abuse allegations from his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, saying he doesn’t think it affects the success of his work.

“I would say no,” he said. “I always had a small audience. People did not come in great abundance, and they still don't, and I've maintained the same audience over the years.”

image via INFphoto.com

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