Mark Wahlberg recently shared some heartwarming “then and now” photos of his daughter, Grace, to celebrate her 15th birthday on January 11. Grace is the youngest of the four children he shares with his wife, Rhea Durham, and she frequently appears on his Instagram alongside her siblings.
The adorable montage Wahlberg posted featured a sweet transition, starting with a picture of toddler Grace and shifting to a recent photo where she wore a white t-shirt and sunglasses. In the caption, the Ted star expressed his amazement at how fast time had flown, writing, “Happy b day Grace. 15!!! Wow, that was fast.” He also added the iconic NFL on CBS theme song to the post, giving it a special touch.
In a previous interview with E! News, Wahlberg praised Grace for being particularly disciplined for her age. He shared, “My daughter, believe it or not, is more disciplined than me.” He went on to explain how he didn’t develop that level of discipline until he was in his 30s and needed it for work, but Grace already possesses it because she dreams of becoming an Olympian.
Talking to People magazine, Wahlberg also revealed that Grace’s strong work ethic has been an inspiration to her siblings. “She’s doing things that my other kids are kind of now starting to think, ‘Well, we’ve got to start doing something because she’s got it all figured out, what she wants to do and how she wants to do it,’” he said.
He added that Grace is the child who most resembles him, showing a similar drive and determination. It’s clear that Wahlberg is proud of his daughter’s ambition and maturity at such a young age.