Hilaria Baldwin is opening up about her life and struggles in her new memoir, Manual Not Included, set to release on May 6, 2025. The 41-year-old entrepreneur and mother of eight has been candid about her experiences, including the challenges she faced following the tragic shooting incident involving her husband, Alec Baldwin, on the set of the film Rust.
In a recent interview with Extra, Hilaria recounted the terrifying moment when Alec collapsed in front of her after the incident. "That was one of the scariest moments in my life, you know? He collapsed on me, and I don't know how I held him up — but I did. I think it was just this drive of having to try to make things better," she shared.
Hilaria's memoir also addresses the public scrutiny she faced regarding her Spanish heritage and accent, which began in earnest in 2020. She admitted that the backlash left her questioning her sanity. "I started to question [my] sanity after being accused of faking my Spanish accent," she revealed. "I was born in Boston and grew up spending time with my family between Massachusetts and Spain. My parents and sibling live in Spain, and I chose to live here, in the USA."
As she navigated this public controversy, Hilaria's mental health deteriorated. "My mental health got worse and worse and worse as the controversy developed," she confessed. In her book, she reflects on her struggles with being neurodivergent, stating, "Growing up being neurodivergent, I had to work harder in school than many of the people around me. I never felt like I was smart in the right way."
Hilaria's memoir is not just a recounting of struggles but also a celebration of resilience. She explained how she learned to embrace her differences, stating, "I’m now aware that my brain just works differently and I can really succeed in the right environments and tasks." She hopes to shed light on the stigma surrounding neurodiversity and encourage others to embrace their uniqueness.
In addition to discussing her personal challenges, Hilaria addresses a particularly painful incident involving her parenting style. She recalls a moment when she felt undermined by a "very famous actress" while attempting to discipline her daughter, Carmen. The incident occurred during a family gathering when Hilaria asked Carmen to stop eating bread before dinner. The actress intervened, insisting that children know what they should eat and should be trusted to make those decisions.
Hilaria described feeling self-conscious and embarrassed as the actress picked up the breadbasket and offered more bread to Carmen. "I felt that what I was saying was reasonable and I just wanted to make sure Carmen ate well," Hilaria reflected. She admitted that she remained quiet during the confrontation, feeling intimidated by the actress's status. "I realized that the real problem wasn’t the bread or the potential tummy ache. The problem was that I didn’t have the confidence or know-how to stand up for what I felt was right," she stated.
Looking back, Hilaria expressed a desire to have handled the situation differently. "I should have looked the actress in the eye and thanked her for her experience, then removed my kids from her presence. But I was young and easily intimidated," she wrote. Despite the discomfort of that moment, Hilaria has since learned to assert herself more confidently in her parenting decisions.
In her book, Hilaria also touches on the viral moments that have captured public attention, including a red-carpet interview where she and Alec joked about the internet's reaction to her accent. She recalled Alec saying, "It's like, the internet's really mad at you right now," to which she humorously responded, "What did I do? What did I do now?"
Hilaria's candidness about her life, struggles, and family dynamics is a central theme of Manual Not Included. She aims to provide a raw and honest look at her experiences, hoping to connect with readers who may have faced similar challenges. As she promotes her book and appears on her family reality show, The Baldwins, Hilaria is determined to share her journey authentically.
In the end, Hilaria Baldwin's story is one of resilience, self-discovery, and the importance of standing up for oneself. As she navigates the complexities of motherhood, public scrutiny, and personal challenges, she remains committed to being true to herself and her family.
