Woody Allen describes his relationship with his wife as 'paternal'.

Woody Allen has spoken openly about his relationship with his wife Soon Yi Previn.

In an interview with radio show NPR, the actor/witer/comedian/etc talked about his movies, his anxiety, and the 35 year age gap between him and his wife.

Woody, 79, began dating Previn, 44, when she was 21 years old.

Allen was in a relationship with Previn’s adopted mum, Mia Farrow between the years of 1980 and 1992. Farrow and Allen’s relationship infamously ended when Farrow discovered intimate pictures of Previn in Allen’s possession.

It’s like a hilarious soap opera plot-line. Except of course that it’s a real relationship.

A “highlight” of his interview with NPR though (and we use this term very, very loosely), were his comments about why their relationship worked.

“I lucked out in my last relationship. I’ve been married now for 20 years, and it’s been good. I think that was probably the odd factor that I’m so much older than the girl I married. I’m 35 years older, and somehow, through no fault of mine or hers, the dynamic worked. I was paternal. She responded to someone paternal. I liked her youth and energy. She deferred to me, and I was happy to give her an enormous amount of decision-making just as a gift and let her take charge of so many things. She flourished. It was just a good-luck thing.”

This was despite his comments that he “never liked people”. So that’s… nice?

On the other hand, it’s also a slightly different interpretation to Previn’s previous comments about the relationship in 1992.

Speaking to Time, she said, “to think that Woody was in any way a father or stepfather to me is laughable”.

Ha… ha… ha?

In his interview with NPR, Allen did acknowledge that he feels he treats his partners better than he used to when he was younger.

“When I was in my 20s, even in my early 30s, I didn’t care about other people that much. I was selfish and I was ambitious and insensitive to the women that I dated. Not cruel or nasty, but not sufficiently sensitive.”

Allen also talked about the recent rape allegations of his daughter Dylan Farrow, and suggested he didn’t think it affected how many people saw his movies.

“I would say no. I always had a small audience. People did not come in great abundance, and they still don’t, and I’ve maintained the same audience over the years. If the reviews are bad, they don’t come. If the reviews are good, they probably come.”

Yep. And that’s probably enough Woody Allen for today.

Related links:

6 questions about the Woody Allen abuse scandal.

Scarlet Johannson defends Woody Allen on sexual assault allegations.

Cate Blanchett’s nightmare dilemma at the Oscars today.