Bell has been outspoken about his childhood and being raised by a single mother after his father left him when his mother was pregnant with him.
In an interview with Radio Times, the actor opened up about how fatherhood is the "hardest role I'll ever play".
In the interview Bell was asked about pushing back against toxic masculine ideas, he said: "Love is the answer. If you’re consistent with your kids – and that’s not easy, we’re human and react to things in the wrong way – then that bedrock is everything. I understand why my father left. It’s really hard to be a parent. The harder thing is to stay, to show up through thick and thin. Being a father is the hardest role I’ll ever play – the greatest reward and challenge."
Bell has three young children and is married American actress Kate Mara.
The actor has featured in a couple of films that portray a difficult father-son dynamic, including 'Undertow' and 'All Of Us Strangers'. He will also be featuring in an upcoming TV drama Half Man which follows the "turbulent, decades-long relationship of two non-biological brothers."
Refelcting on this recurring theme, Bell said: "I think people come to me because I exude it, I subconsciously bring that baggage. So many of my characters are orphaned or dealing with parental dysfunction."
