Jason Momoa Says Growing Up Without Dad Affects Relationship with Son: 'Didn't Know What It Takes'

Jen Juneau
·3 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Jason Momoa is reflecting on his own childhood as he continues along his fatherhood journey.

The Aquaman actor, 41, spoke about his role as a parent in a new interview with InStyle, published Tuesday. Having grown up without a father at home, Momoa said, "I didn't know what it takes to be a dad."

"And I don't want to just tell my son, 'Because I said so,' " he continued of 11-year-old Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha, a.k.a. Wolf. "I really want to connect, and I want him to be vulnerable and open."

The actor stressed the importance of embracing one's vulnerability. "I'm a warrior, and I will lay it down," he said. "But I'm also the first one to say, 'I have a lot of problems, and I want to be able to correct those problems.' "

Momoa — who was dressed all in pink for his InStyle interview, including two pink scrunchies — added that "we all have the feminine and the male side in us, and we need to embrace both."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Carter Smith Jason Momoa for InStyle

View this post on Instagram

ALOHA ALWAYS WINS. I encourage all my OHANA friends and fans to show the world that we are not backing down from TMT --we are and will always be Non-violent and Aloha --so if they come at us we will stay in Peace but we will stand! The world is watching. Show me your love post picture of yourself and spread the awareness and aloha. #AlohaAlwaysWins #wearemaunakea Aloha Nui j

A post shared by Jason Momoa (@prideofgypsies) on Jul 19, 2019 at 4:45pm PDT

RELATED: Jason Momoa Says He Was "Completely in Debt" After Game of Thrones Role: "I Couldn't Get Work"

"Pink is just a beautiful color," he replied when asked about his love for the hair accessory. "And I'm pretty secure in my masculinity. I don't really give a s--- what anyone thinks."

Walking the walk when it comes to being vulnerable and candid, Momoa opened up about going to therapy, and how it's especially helpful after he films combat scenes for work.

"I'm amping myself up all day long, and then my nervous system doesn't know that I'm not lopping people's heads off," he said. "For me to relax and sit still is next to impossible."

View this post on Instagram

Raised by this company @dahuiofficial passing on to the next generation of kia’i our guardians of the oceans. Love u unko @eddierothman @kala_dacaptain @makuarothman All da braddahs DA HUI. Hui O He’e Nalu. The protectors The frontline. Making a new line I got some new pants and shorts coming out soon stay tuned. Everyone wants the jailbird pants I GOT STRIPES coming soon. Collab with @dahuiofficial for life. Aloha j

A post shared by Jason Momoa (@prideofgypsies) on Sep 28, 2019 at 1:50pm PDT

RELATED VIDEO: Jason Momoa Takes Break from Filming to Visit Children's Hospital: "Greatest Part of Being Aquaman"

Jason Momoa Takes Break from Filming to Visit Children's Hospital: 'Greatest Part of Being Aquaman'

The visit included a cute arm-wrestling match with a young fan

The father of two also spoke to the magazine about being in such a financial hardship following his appearance on Game of Thrones that he struggled to pay the bills on the Los Angeles home he shares with wife Lisa Bonet and their two children: Wolf and his big sister Lola Iolani, 13.

While his costars went on to find huge success amid their roles on the HBO series, Momoa said he went through a tough period after his character — Khal Drogo, the husband of Emilia Clarke's Daenerys Targaryen — was killed off during the season 1 finale in 2011.

"I mean, we were starving after Game of Thrones," he recalled. "I couldn't get work. It's very challenging when you have babies and you're completely in debt."