Rita Wilson, the 69-year-old actress and singer, has opened up about the profound impact of losing her mother, Dorothy Tzigkou, who passed away in 2014 after a four-year battle with Alzheimer's disease. Wilson, born Margarita Ibrahimoff, shared her reflections in a recent cover story for People magazine, revealing that she will never forget the anguish of losing her 'best friend.'
Unfiltered Honesty with Her Children
Wilson admitted that despite thinking she had asked her mother everything, there remain unanswered questions. 'There's things I wish I had asked her, that I wish I had known,' she said. This experience has led her to be more open with her own children. 'For my kids nowadays, I'm probably a bit more unfiltered with them. I just tell them things all the time, and we usually get a lot of laughs out of it,' she explained.
A Musical Tribute
The 'Jury of One' songstress recently released a music video for her new single 'Your Mother,' which features Super 8 footage of Dorothy. In the song, she sings: 'I know it's hard for you to see / There was someone else she used to be. / If you listen you will learn / Every time the seasons turn / That you'll never have another / Your mother.'
Wilson hopes that her music encourages others to cherish their relationships. 'It's about that desire to just feel that you're really known, that there's no barriers to being with your family and with your children in that way, so that you can be honest,' she said.
Family Updates
Wilson and her husband, Tom Hanks, have a blended family of four children. Hanks' son Chet Hanks recently moved to a trailer park in Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue his country music career with his band Something Out West. Footage of Hanks watching Chet perform at the Stagecoach Music Festival went viral last month.
Their younger son, Truman Hanks, works as a camera loader and will appear in the upcoming film 'Office Romance' starring Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein. The couple quietly celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary last Thursday without posting on social media.
Past and Present
Hanks was still married to his first wife, Samantha Lewes, when he met Wilson during her guest role on his sitcom 'Bosom Buddies' in 1981. He legally separated from Lewes in 1985, and their divorce was finalized in 1987. Wilson became stepmother to Hanks' children, Colin Hanks, 48, and E.A. Hanks, 43.
Upcoming Projects
Wilson will appear in the documentary 'Marty, Life Is Short' about Martin Short, premiering on Netflix next Tuesday. She has also landed a role in the HBO Max pilot 'How to Survive Without Me,' playing a matriarch who dies from cancer. Additionally, she will perform in the Broadway comedic play 'Celebrity Autobiography' on May 16-17 at the Shubert Theatre in New York City.
Wilson is promoting her sixth studio album, 'Sound of a Woman,' released last Friday, and will embark on a 12-date tour starting June 11 at City Winery Boston.
