Ridley Scott, 88, Reveals Rare Glimpse Into Family Life

Ridley Scott has offered an uncommon glimpse into his life away from film sets, revealing how he maintained “absolute communication” with his children while they were growing up, even as his career kept him relentlessly busy.

The 88-year-old director made his major international breakthrough with 1979’s Alien, before going on to helm a string of landmark films including Blade Runner and Gladiator.

Although cinema has defined much of his public life, Scott made clear that fatherhood remained central to him. He said he was determined to stay present for his children despite the demands of directing often pulling him away from home.

Scott shares sons Jake, 61, and Luke, 58, with his first wife, Felicity Heywood. He also has a daughter, Jordan, 48, from his marriage to Sandy Watson.

Speaking to The Times about what he described as an increasingly dangerous and “crazy” world, Scott reflected warmly on his children’s younger years. He also suggested he is not especially anxious about their futures now, given that they are adults with lives of their own.

He said: “You know, I’m one of those dads who kept absolute communication — from when they were babies. Honestly, twice a week, all you have to do is pick up the phone.”

‘It is the most important thing because, well, I am a Blitz baby.’

The star went on to reflect on almost losing his life to a V-2 rocket during the second world war, noting how he now makes the most of life as he realises just how fast someone can lose theirs.  

Meanwhile, during the interview, despite being one of the highest-grossing directors of all time with numerous accolades under his belt, Ridley remarked that he sees himself as more of an ‘influencer’ than a film-maker. 

He shared: ‘I never want to repeat myself and all my films have been on the money. I’ve been ahead of the game frequently and, if you’re ahead of the game, you’re an influencer. So, I’m not a film-maker, I’m an influencer.’ 

And Ridley certainly seems to be ahead of the game as his work has been recognised and lauded over the years.  

At the 1992 British Academy Film Awards, he received Bafta’s Special Award, and at the 1995 Film Awards he received the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award alongside his brother Tony.

A graduate of the Royal College of Art, Ridley began his career in the 1960s at the BBC as a trainee set designer, working on popular television police series Z-Cars and science fiction series Out of the Unknown.

In 1968 Ridley, alongside his brother Tony, founded production company Ridley Scott Associates (RSA).

In 1977, he made his feature film debut as a director with The Duellists, which received Bafta nominations for Cinematography and Costume Design and won the award for Best Debut Film at the Cannes Film Festival.

His next film, Alien (1979), went on to become one of the most influential science fiction films of all time.

Following the director’s decision to switch his lead from a hero to a heroine, Ellen Ripley became one of cinema’s most iconic female leads.

The film won two BAFTAs in 1980, for Production Design and Soundtrack, and received a further four nominations.

He went on to direct Blade Runner starring Harrison Ford in 1982, widely considered to be one of most important science fiction films ever made.

He received his first seven Bafta and five Oscar nominations as director for Thelma & Louise in 1992.

In 2000, Scott directed Gladiator, which won four BAFTAs and five Oscars.

He received another Bafta nomination in 2016 for directing The Martian.

More recent films from the director include The Last Duel, House of Gucci, Napoleon, Gladiator II and The Dog Stars.