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Emile Hirsch Calls Being a Father "Incredible," Explains Son Valor's Name

Actor talks about fatherhood for the first time to E! News at AFI Fest screening of his latest film, Lone Survivor

By Natalie Finn, Brett Malec Nov 13, 2013 4:08 AMTags
Emile HirschValerie Macon/Getty Images

Emile Hirsch has reached new heights.

"Incredible" is how the 28-year-old actor described fatherhood to E! News at the AFI Fest screening of his latest movie, Lone Survivor. In fact, he used the word twice to explain what it feels like to be a new dad.

Hirsch welcomed son Valor on Oct. 27 at a Florida hospital, just weeks after it was first reported that he was going to be a father. He has not yet revealed the identity of Valor's mother—but he did tell us a little bit about his child's honorable name.

"I just love the word," Hirsch explained of his son's name. "It's a big name to live into but I like it."

Simply put, Valor means bravery or courage. Or, to put it more lengthily, per Merriam Webster, it means "strength of mind or spirit that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness."

Asked what it felt like to hold his son for the first time, a smiling Hirsch replied happily, "There's not really words for that kind of stuff."

Hirsch's costars in Lone Survivor, about a group of Navy SEALS who are on a mission to capture a Taliban commander in Afghanistan but get ambushed and must fight their way out of the mountains with only each other, include Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch and Ben Foster. Peter Berg directed the action thriller.

Hirsch also told us on the red carpet that he has not yet gotten any parenting tips from Wahlberg, who as a father of four must have a wealth of information to share.

Watch: Emile Hirsch Is a Proud Father