Minka Kellybarely knew her father when she was growing up.
“My mom was on her own for a very long time, so she was just surviving and doing her best and maybe not totally well-equipped to have and raise a child,” the formerFriday Night Lightsstar tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “But she did it anyway because she wanted me and she loved me to the best of her ability.”
Phylicia J. L. Munn
Despite a brief rekindling with Dufay that was filled with drug use, Maureen began a tumultuous off- and on-relationship with another man, David, who would become a father figure to Kelly. The two moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to live with David’s extended family and remained there while Kelly went to middle and high school.
A toxic relationship with her first boyfriend — which included an abortion and sex tape — ended when Kelly finally made enough money to move into an apartment of her own and eventually relocate to L.A. to reconnect with Dufay.
“I used to be really angry at him for not being there for my younger years, but I think that everything happens as it’s supposed to,” she says. Kelly initially moved in with Dufay, who helped her find her footing before getting her own place in L.A.
PHOTO: CourtesyPHOTO: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
Her dad especially supported Kelly emotionally after she found out Maureen was diagnosed with colon cancer and given two years to live.
“When she got sick, she and I were not on speaking terms. I didn’t want to be burdened with her anymore,” Kelly recalls. “I wanted to live my life, and I was mad at her for being irresponsible and not taking care of herself. I just didn’t want to believe it.”
Dufay suggested his daughter start therapy to be able to deal with her mother’s death. “Thankfully,” she adds. “Another huge area of my life that I don’t know what I would’ve done without him.”
For more from Minka Kelly, pick up this week’s issue of PEOPLE, on stands Friday.
As for her relationship with Dufay now, theEuphoriastar insists she’s “still working on a lot of that. I’m still working on making peace with him,” she says. “I love my dad so much. I think that he is so wise and he is so smart, and he’s wonderful in so many ways and helped me navigate living in L.A. and going through this business in a way that I need maybe him more now than I did when I was younger. We’re good friends now, and I’m glad he’s here.”
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Tell Me Everythinghits bookshelves on May 2.
Watch the full episode of People Features: Minka Kelly below
source: people.com
