Robert De Niro thinks working parents always "feel a little guilty" about missing time with their children.

The 83-year-old actor - who has Drena, 54, Raphael, 49, 30-year-old twins Julian and Airyn, Elliot, 28, and Helen, 14, from previous relationships and Gia, three, with partner Tiffany Chen - doesn't believe there is a "secret" to being a good father but it important to try to manage expectations around commitments in every area of life.

Asked the key to fatherhood, he told People magazine: "I don't know if there is a secret. "It's just managing it all. And there's no way around not feeling a little guilty about not being there at times you should or you think you should."

The Whisper Man actor noted that becoming a parent for the first time requires just being able to "jump in" and adapt to new life circumstances.

He said: "It's a new experience. It's not like you've taken courses on it and stuff.

"You can, of course, but you don't. You just jump in and you have the child and you got to... That's it."

Last year, the Goodfellas actor explained he believes the most important thing a parent can do for their kids is to always back their decisions, regardless of whether or not they agree with them.

He told Entertainment Tonight: "The main thing is to support your kids. As long as they're not hurting themselves, doing anything destructive or anything like that, you have to support them - period.

"Even if you don't go with it--you have to support them. And they have to know that you support them. Always."

The Meet the Fockers actor previously told of how he "somehow makes it work" when it comes to juggling his career with raising a toddler.

He told E! News: "Yeah, she's great! She came on the Zero Day set a few times, I shot that last year. You make it work, somehow. Sometimes I have her on the set with my girlfriend. I'm lucky, I have a camper."

Robert "tries his best" to be a good dad and to meet his children' s different needs.

He told The Sunday Times magazine: "Oh God, they would all have a different answer. Family is so complex.

"I try my best, that's all. I hope they'll be happy."

The Killers of the Flower Moon star previously revealed that he loves it when his brood is all together and enjoys going on family vacations with them.

He told People: "The fact that they'd all be together is everything to me."

Asked what his favourite thing to do with his children is, he replied: "Just being together, taking trips to warm places."