Elizabeth Anne (E.A.) Hanks, daughter of Tom Hanks, recently shared her thoughts on her relationship with her stepmother, Rita Wilson.
E.A.’s life took a significant turn at the age of 12 following her parents’ divorce, after which her father was granted primary custody of her and her brother Colin. Tom subsequently moved with his children from Sacramento to Los Angeles, accompanied by his second wife, Rita.
“Rita’s not really a stepmother, she’s my other mother,” E.A. told People in a recent interview on Tuesday, offering insights from her new memoir, The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road.
Expressing the deep affection she holds for both her father and her stepmother Rita, whom she regards as her mother, the 42-year-old “nepo baby” noted, “When I say my parents, I really mean my dad and Rita.”
“Because they’ve been together since before I can really remember,” she continued.
“They’ve been together since I was 4 or 5,” E.A added.
It’s important to note that Tom and his former wife Samantha Lewes, with whom he shares daughter E.A and son Colin, separated in 1985 after seven years of marriage, with their divorce finalized two years later.
Tom fell in love with Rita while still married to Samantha, during Rita’s guest appearance on the ABC sitcom Bosom Buddies in 1981.
Later, Tom and Rita welcomed two sons: Truman Hanks, 29, and Chet Hanks, 34. The couple will celebrate their 37th wedding anniversary on April 30th.
Tom’s daughter further commented, “My younger brothers, I don’t think I’ve ever really referred to them as my half-brothers, which I guess they technically are.”
