Mark Wahlberg is opening up about the realities of raising kids in the spotlight—and he’s not sugarcoating it.

During a recent interview with Fox News Digital at the premiere of his new action-comedy “Balls Up,” the 54-year-old actor shared how fame impacts his family life, especially his four children. While there are clear perks to being a celebrity, Wahlberg made it clear that it also comes with challenges.

“They know dad’s just a regular guy. It just happens to be my job,” he said. “There are pros and cons to it, right? I mean, if they want to meet somebody, there’s a good chance I could make it happen, but there’s also a lot of baggage that comes with it.”

For Wahlberg, staying grounded as a parent is a top priority. He said he works hard “to stay as connected to them as possible and be just a normal dad” whenever he’s not working.

The “Daddy’s Home” star shares four children—Ella, 22, Michael, 20, Brendan, 17, and Grace, 16—with his wife, Rhea Durham. As his kids grow older, he’s had to navigate new phases of parenting, including watching his eldest daughter experience college life.

Wahlberg recently visited Ella at Clemson University, even stepping behind the bar at a local spot called The Roar during one of her nights out. While the moment was fun, it also came with a dose of reality.

“It was a little difficult, especially the fact that, here’s my daughter now hanging out in a bar when I’m just thinking about taking her to kindergarten, elementary school,” he admitted. “But, you know, it goes by fast, and she’s a wonderful young lady, and she’s having an amazing time at Clemson.”

He added, “They have a lot of fun, but she’s getting some work done too.”

This wasn’t his first time dropping in on her college experience. Back in 2023, Wahlberg visited during parents’ weekend and even made an appearance at a fraternity party—an experience he didn’t soon forget.

“They were having the most fun I’ve ever seen anybody have, ever!” he told Entertainment Tonight. “Even more than her coming to Vegas.”

That visit also sparked a surprising reflection. Wahlberg has said in the past that he didn’t regret skipping college—until he saw what he missed.

Still, his focus remains on being present for his kids, no matter how busy his career gets.

Wahlberg’s own journey to fame started early. He first rose to prominence as a teenager in the music world before transitioning into acting, eventually breaking out with his role in Boogie Nights. Looking back, even that opportunity almost didn’t happen.

“I wouldn’t even read the script because I was turned off by the subject matter,” he once said. “Finally, I reluctantly picked it up… and said, ‘This could be really good or it could be really bad.’”

Today, he’s continuing to build his career with projects like Balls Up, a wild, R-rated comedy he describes as “one of the most outrageous comedies I’ve been a part of.”

But off-screen, his biggest role is still being a dad—one who’s determined to keep things as normal as possible, even in the middle of Hollywood chaos.