Joshua Jackson Says His 'North Star' Daughter Inspired Him to Buy Back His Childhood Home for Her (original) (raw)

Joshua Jackson. Photo:

Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty

Joshua Jackson's little girl inspired him to buy back the house he grew up in.

The actor, 46, spoke with his Dawson's Creek co-star Sasha Alexander, 51, on her Instagram Live, opening up about his relationship with his 4-year-old daughter Juno Rose Diana, whom he shares with his ex-wife, actress Jodie Turner-Smith, 38.

Jackson shares that he recently bought his childhood home back from the man who bought it from his parents, saying that he's excited for his daughter to grow up there. "I bought this house for my daughter," he said.

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 celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Joshua Jackson in 2023.

Daniele Venturelli/Getty

"Something that's become really clear to me in this year since I asked for the divorce is that I kinda thought, you know in all the dreams you have when you have a baby, the thing I wanted to model for my daughter was like, here's two parents, here's what a man and a woman can look like in a home, in a happy, healthy relationship," Jackson continued.

"But what I've realized in this last year is I never got to experience the love of a father. And I'm getting to experience it now. And that's what this house is for."

Jackson also called his daughter his "greatest gift" and said she's his "north star."

"I love being a dad and I love being her dad. I have failed often but I always wanted to be a good man and that's not always an easy path and I have not always walked that path," he said.

"Now that I'm a father, it makes the weight easier. If it's a bad decision, as a father, it's just not a decision I'm going to make," added Jackson.

Joshua Jackson.

Araya Doheny/WireImage

Speaking to PEOPLE at the Walt Disney Company's Emmy Awards Celebration on Sept. 15, Jackson was asked about how he's been able to stay fresh-faced after all these years. "I think it's chasing around a 4-year-old. I think that it keeps you young," he responded.

Of his appearance, Jackson joked, "The gray hair might tell you a little different."

He went on to discuss what he and Juno like to do together these days, saying, "We're in a big Lion King phase right now, so that's good. And yeah, I mean, go to the park, sit at home, do arts and crafts."

"She's just awesome. She's just the most fun in the world," added Jackson, who was at the Emmys earlier in the evening to present Dawson Creek's executive producer Greg Berlanti with the Governor’s Award.

Jackson is currently starring in ABC's Doctor Odyssey, which premieres Thursday, Sept. 26.