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Bindi Irwin's secret Hollywood dad

Monday, March 14, 2011
Bindi Irwin's secret Hollywood dad
“My first impression of Terri was as a mom – the mom of the leading actress of our movie. Bindi had a big responsibility,” recalls Beau.
 

The effervescent young actress and eco warrior has found an unlikely ‘second dad’ – movie star Beau Bridges.

Bindi Irwin throws her arms around a familiar looking older man in a Melbourne TV studio and squeals with surprise. You could be forgiven for thinking it’s a long-lost relative, but in fact it’s none other than movie star Beau Bridges.

The unlikely friends met through film, but it was their shared love of wildlife that really cemented the bond. And like Bindi’s dad Steve Irwin, Beau’s father, actor Lloyd Bridges, was also a keen conservationist.

The link between 69-year-old Beau and 12-year-old Bindi is so strong, the young Aussie sees the Bridges clan as a second family. “Beau is just wonderful and has become such a great mentor to Bindi and such a great friend,” mum Terri reveals on this week’s episode of This Is Your Life.

Beau and his family have made the long haul from Hollywood to celebrate the friendship between their families. Beau met Bindi on the set of Free Willy: Escape From Pirate’s Cove in South Africa. He provided support and friendship to the youngster and her mum, who’s raised Bindi and Robert, 7, alone since Steve’s death in 2006.

“My first impression of Terri was as a mom – the mom of the leading actress of our movie. Bindi had a big responsibility,” recalls Beau. “Terri was right there every step of the way making sure that the workplace was a safe one and a happy one so that Bin could do the best job possible.”



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User comments
I saw the This Is Your Life show and my heart went out to Terri Irwin. She looks as if she is still grief-stricken by Steve's death and is grimly hanging on for the sake of her children. I have heard from someone who works at Brisbane Hospital that she and Steve used to visit the children's ward and were wonderful to the kids, all without publicity. As for Bindi and Bob, what great kids. Life handed them a huge lemon with the passing of their dad, and they're making top lemonade. My very best wishes to all three of them for the future.
I'm so tired of reading the nasty comments aimed by some idiots at the Irwins. Such vitriole against a family who seem fairly down-to-earth & whose goal is only to promote the conservation of animals in such a way that takes it away from the old stereotpye of the tree-hugging hippy & in to the realm of possibility for all. Saving animals for the future costs a lot of money, and if raising that money means a little girl and boy do some singing, dancing or acting to raise the cash & it makes them happy then good luck to them. Isn't it better that they do that work for a worthy cause & teach the rest of us a lesson in humility, than work in entertainment just for fame and the money to spend on expensive toys, booze & drugs. I can imagine you ridiculous twits cackling in moronic glee if Bindi or Bob have a break-down one day. Words almost fail me.
Good luck to the Irwin Family, I hope they make billions because as we already know they put most of it back to wildlife conservation. They have done more to promote wildlife conservation than the detractors could do in 10 lifetimes. The are belssed to have the oportunity to continue the energetic work of Steve, one of the great Australian heros, and one of the greatest conservationists the world has ever seen. The Irwins credits are too numerous to mention and i say to the detractors - what have you done for wildlife conservation. Oh that's right - NOTHING. Keep up the good work Irwin's and staff and don't let any of these (totally jealous) moronic detractors ever deter you from the sensational work you do for wildlife preservation.
If you don't like it, do something else. My daugher did ballet, the difference???? No family needs negitive publicity, even when they are in the public eye, if they are just doing what they do, then step back, enjoy the good things. Put your energy into the real issues. Just get over it
Well, here we go again, dumping on someone famous. The drags come out, critisism, Lears, how spitful can you be? I can see the plegm of your words. To all those with the mud sludge, get a life.
Fair Go. Gee, let Bindi develope her own future with the help of here mother. Seem there is some jealously among other contributors. Bindi and her mum saw the opportunities and persued them. Good luck and all to the family. Robbo from Geelong
I saw This is your Life last night and think the Irwin children are lovely- However feel that Terri has created little media stars who say all the correct things yet really need to be left to be children- out of the spotlight for a while. Bindi speaks as if she is 20 years old , not 10 and I suspect she has been made to grow up before her time. Very sad to note that Steves dad , Bob was not mentioned at all on the show. Obviously the rumours of a strained relationship with Terri are true. Very sad , as i would imagine this would distress Steve greatly if he was here to see that..
Of course Terri was there every step of the way, shes just making sure her little money maker is still marketable. And did i read this right? they did a This is Your Life on Terri Irwin? seriously? come on people! we have true aussie heroes saving lives and contributing to more than their own financial futures.
I am real pleased to hear that the Bridges so supportive to Terri and Bindi. I watched Steve in the early days and I can see a true romance and a real happy marriage between him and Terri. The Zoo is from Steve's Dad and his legacy. Bindi is the little girl that shares the interest of her loving parent and with Steve's passing she's filling her Dad's shoes out of love and obviously surival, naturally with the help of her mum. Behind everyman there's a woman and through all these time assisting Steve she should know how to take care of the business. Up keeping a family needs finance and try that with a Zoo. Terri could easily sell the Zoo and the land but she didn't. She could also remarry. Sorry I did not know whether they still have the Zoo. I just asume they have. It needs a lot of money to run a Zoo and I am sure it is not that profitable. Any Zoo require Govt funding. They are doing the best they know how and I sincerely wish them ever success and happiness ---------------------
I am completely sick to death of hearing about Bindi irwin. Just because her late father harrassed wildlife. To me she just represents a poor little kid who has had her entire childhood taken away by a greedy mother eager to keep the dollars coming in, via her child. Wait until she grows up and realises what has been done to her, rehab here we come.

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