Photo Credit:Emma McIntyre / Academy Museum
Zoë Kravitz Reflects on Moving In with Dad Lenny Over Mom Lisa Bonet: A 'Hurtful' Choice and Its Impact on Her Life
Actress and director Zoë Kravitz recently reflected on her childhood and family dynamics in a candid interview with Esquire magazine. The 35-year-old star of "The Batman" and director of the upcoming film "Blink Twice" shared insights into her relationships with her famous parents, musician Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet.
Kravitz admitted that her decision to move away from her mother Lisa Bonet to live with her father Lenny Kravitz as a child was "very hurtful." She relocated to New York City from Miami at age 11, only to find that her father was often away touring. "I think it was very hurtful that I moved away from her to be with my dad and my dad wasn't even there," Kravitz told Esquire.
Looking back, Kravitz expressed regret about not fully appreciating her mother's efforts at the time. "I just wish I had been able to appreciate what she was doing for me," she reflected. "She was so focused on preserving my innocence. My creativity. Because she knew what the world is — that you don't get that back."
The actress described the stark contrast between her quiet life with Bonet and the "whirlwind" of her father's rock star world. "It wasn't that my dad didn't care. He just cared about different things," Kravitz explained.
Despite the challenges, Lenny Kravitz has spoken positively about co-parenting with Bonet after their 1993 divorce. In a February interview with People magazine, he stated, "I'm very proud of not only how Zoë came out, but how we did it. We did it without lawyers and all that madness. We did it as a family, with love."
Kravitz also touched on how her upbringing shaped her ability to discern people's intentions. "I can smell it out pretty quickly. I had to when I was a kid because he didn't," she said, referring to her father's trusting nature.
The interview comes as Kravitz prepares for the release of her directorial debut "Blink Twice" on August 23. The film stars her fiancé Channing Tatum, whom she met during production. When asked about potential wedding plans, Kravitz downplayed previous comments from her father, saying, "It's literally something we've said in passing. Like, maybe I said, 'Next year would be cool.'"
