Andrew Garfield says the thought of becoming a father scares him, even though he wants to do it. The actor spoke candidly on the September 29 episode of Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast after Poehler asked whether any challenge felt too large. Instead of naming a demanding role, he turned to a possible future in his personal life. It was a reflective answer, not an announcement that he is expecting a child.
Garfield’s first response was direct:
“Being a dad scares the shit out of me. It scares me so much.” — Andrew Garfield
He then explained why the idea carries so much weight for him. He described parenthood as potentially the biggest and most important thing he would do. Poehler reassured him, and the conversation moved between humor and genuine anxiety. The exchange stood out because he did not dress the fear up as a polished motivational line.
What did Garfield mean?
Poehler’s question was about challenges, including the way Garfield commits to difficult work. His answer widened that frame. Acting can demand research, emotional effort and months on a set, but he was talking about responsibility for another person rather than a project he could finish and leave behind. He said the thought could make him emotional, and that he knows what it is like to be on the child’s side of the relationship.
He also said he does want to become a father. He was holding two ideas at once: he wants the experience and he is nervous about its importance. Poehler responded warmly, telling him he would be good at it, and the two found room to joke even as the subject made him emotional.
Did he announce a baby or a timeline?
No. Garfield did not say he or a partner is expecting a child, and he gave no timeline for becoming a parent. He was imagining a possible future when Poehler asked him about challenges that scared him.
The longer conversation moves between work, relationships and what feels meaningful beyond his career. Poehler’s reassurance and their joking back-and-forth make the fatherhood answer feel less like a dramatic declaration and more like someone thinking aloud with a friend.
Where can you hear the full exchange?
The episode is titled “Andrew Garfield Is a Real Tenderoni.” You can hear it on The Ringer or watch the Good Hang video. Garfield’s answer comes with pauses, laughter and Poehler’s reassurance, which give the exchange a warmth that a short quote alone cannot carry.
Garfield’s answer will sound familiar to anyone who has wanted something and still felt nervous about it. He spoke about fatherhood as an important possibility, not a plan with a date attached.
