Woody Allen 'lucked out' with wife, Mia Farrow's adopted daughter Soon-Yi

Melbourne: Woody Allen has opened up on his 23-year relationship with wife Soon-Yi Previn, who's also his former partner Mia Farrow's adopted daughter, saying that he "lucked out" in the relationship.

In a rare interview with NPR's film critic Sam Fragoso, the 79-year-old director, who's 35 years elder to the wife, 44, revealed that he had started the relationship with only a fling in mind, but it just took on, News.com au reported.

Their huge age gap actually worked in their favour, and Previn responded to someone paternal, and enjoyed the things he introduced her to that he knew from his experience.

The 'Annie Hall' helmer had started a relationship with Farrow in 1979, however Soon-Yi Previnhad earlier said in an interview that Allen lived apart from the rest of the family and hence was never her father figure.

Allen's relationship with Previn was made public in 1992 after Farrow discovered he had naked photos of her adopted daughter, then 20, in his apartment. It revelation ripped the family apart, along with allegations that Allen had molested their adopted seven-year-old daughter, Dylan Farrow, a claim he said came about because Farrow "brainwashed" her into believing she was molested.

Together Allen and Previn, who married in 1997, are parents to two adopted daughters, Bechet, 16, and Manzie, 15.