Hayley Atwell's Parents Divorced: She Lived with Her Mother in England and Holidayed with Her Father in the US
Actress Hayley Atwell views her parents as influential figures in the family, despite their divorce. Growing up between England and the U.S., she had an unusual childhood that shaped her life and career.
Hayley Atwell is a versatile Hollywood actress, and her unique upbringing has influenced her capacity to embody various roles in both TV and film seamlessly.
Raised by her divorced parents in two countries, Hayley has managed to blend into her circumstances and even expressed pride in how her living situation has positively shaped her.
Hayley Atwell attends the European Premiere of "Christopher Robin" at BFI Southbank on August 5, 2018, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
Hayley Atwell Reveals Her Parents' Fascinating Quirks
Hayley Atwell is quite fond of the fascinating quirks of her British mother, Allison Cain, and American father, Grant Atwell. Her parents had gone their separate ways when the actress was only two years old.
In a 2010 interview, Hayley described her mother as a "motivational speaker" and truth-seeker. Despite appearing composed from the outside, Hayley said her mom is a vulnerable woman.
Allison is also a caring mother who likes to advise her daughter about being mindful of her heart regarding relationships. Meanwhile, Grant has Native American heritage and is a shaman with the tribal name "Star Touches Earth."
Grant, who is unconventional, also experiences ADHD, which influences his perception of time and organizational skills. Despite the condition, Hayley noted that her dad was "ethereal" and a "thinker."
Hayley Atwell's father, Grant Atwell, is a more prominent parent on social media than her mother.
She said Grant has viewed acting as a spiritual practice, believing it involves assuming different personas and embodying various spirits.
Hayley possesses qualities from both her parents. She said she inherited her father's compassion while she got her voice, confidence, and questing spirit from her mother.
Hayley Atwell Spent her Childhood in England & the U.S.
Hayley Atwell grew up in Missouri and London. She studied in London, and if school days were over, she would spend holidays in Kansas City.
She also had an unusual childhood. Hayley recalled becoming a committed vegetarian at eight after witnessing a live lobster being boiled.
At nine years old, she participated in a workshop where she walked over hot coals. During her teenage years, she engaged in activism and preferred deep conversations about life, love, and the universe.
She also developed an interest in film and theater through her mom, who emphasized the importance of theater as a transformative and communal experience.
Hayley also fell in love with storytelling. She remembered spending hours alone in her room, recreating her favorite fairy tales and building her own fictional worlds.
Despite being educated in England, Hayley considers Missouri her "spiritual home." The actress embraces the best of both worlds, seamlessly blending in between and gracefully adjusting to her surroundings. She said:
"When I was with my mother's friends, I could talk fluently about Descartes. When I was with my father, I could do the New Age thing and immerse myself in ceremonies for dead spirits I had never met."
Hayley's ability to adapt to two places reflects how she has become a versatile actress. She is known in many action films, including "Captain America," starring Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, Samuel L. Jackson, and Stanly Tucci.
She also stars as Peggy Carter in "Marvel's Agent Carter." She appeared in "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" with Benedict Cumberbatch and Xochitl Gomez.
One of Hayley Atwell's Parents Is Quite Active on Social Media
Hayley Atwell's father, Grant Atwell, is a more prominent parent on social media than her mother. Allison prefers to live a life away from the public eye.
In contrast to his ex-wife, Grant maintains an active presence on LinkedIn, where he promotes his own massage center. He has been in the massage and wellness industry for over 30 years.
Hayley Atwell and his father Grant Atwell attend Marvel's "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" premiere at the El Capitan Theatre on March 13, 2014, in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
Grant, a certified massage therapist, offers house calls and corporate chair massages through his qualified team in California. Before managing his business, he worked as a freelance photographer.
He was also a spiritual practitioner and energy worker at Pleiadian Lightwork Sandpoint Idaho, from 2017 to 2019. Hayley's dad studied health services, allied health, and health sciences at West Valley College in 1999.