Mel Gibson admits he 'screws up' as a dad

Mel Gibson has admitted he regularly messes up as a parent but hopes he's doing a good job.

The 60-year-old filmmaker - who has eight children from two previous relationships - has admitted he's not the perfect father all the time but hopes he's doing a good job more than not.

Speaking to The Sunday Times newspaper, he said: "As a parent, everybody screws up.

"There's no such thing as a perfect parent and it's so easy to mess up. But hopefully I've screwed up less than most."

Mel hit the headlines around the globe six years ago when video footage of him verbally abusing his then-girlfriend Oksana Griegorieva, with whom he has seven-year-old daughter Lucia, emerged in which he mocked her physical appearance and allegedly punched her in the face and knocked out her teeth.

Four years prior to that incident, which resulted in him being banned from seeing his daughter, Mel found himself caught up in another argument but, this time, involving a police officer.

Throughout his career, the 'Expendables 3' star has been very honest about his battle with alcohol, which has resulted in him being arrested multiple times for drink-driving.

His troubled personal life led to the 'Hacksaw Ridge' filmmaker stepping out of the public eye, and he has been "working on" himself and spending quality time with his kids, Hannah, 36, Christian and Edward, both 34, William, 31, Louis, 28, Milo, 26, and Thomas, 17 - who he has with his first wife Robyn Moore.

He's since managed to claw back his life and is now expecting a baby - his ninth child - with his partner Rosalind Ross.

He told the publication: "Things are really good and the last two years have been some of the best."

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