Gingersnap
08-05-2010, 11:34 AM
Emma Thompson: having it all is a 'revolting concept'
Emma Thompson has dismissed the idea that women can have it all as a "revolting concept".
By Laura Roberts
Published: 7:03AM BST 03 Aug 2010
http://i36.tinypic.com/2uf61dh.jpg
Emma Thompson says having it all is a 'revolting concept' Photo: GETTY IMAGES
The actress said only women who employed professional help could be both a mother and have a full-time career.
Thompson, 51, who has a daughter Gaia, 10, said she was not prepared to hire outside help to look after her child. The couple also adopted a 16 year-old Rwandan refugee seven years ago called Tindyebwa Agaba.
Thompson told the American edition of Good Housekeeping that ideal of perfectly balancing work and home life was "false".
She said: "I don't want your readers ever to think they have to have it all."
The Oscar-winning actress claimed was possible to have a good career and excel at motherhood but not necessarily at the same time.
Maggie Gyllenhaal, who was being interviewed alongside Thompson and who stars with her in the sequel of Nanny McPhee, said the older actress had inspired her to put her own husband, Peter Sarsgaard, first more often.
Gyllenhaal, who has a three year-old daughter called Romana, claimed that behaving as a "classical" wife "feels really right to me".
You go girl! The idea that a woman can have a hard-charging career involving travel and late nights (as most hard-charging men do) and be a really hands-on parent available 24/7 to attend children is ridiculous. No one can do all that. Either you settle for what amounts to a McJob when the kids are still living at home or you hand off the kid-related stuff to a home-based Dad or paid help.
Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/7923430/Emma-Thompson-having-it-all-is-a-revolting-concept.html)
Emma Thompson has dismissed the idea that women can have it all as a "revolting concept".
By Laura Roberts
Published: 7:03AM BST 03 Aug 2010
http://i36.tinypic.com/2uf61dh.jpg
Emma Thompson says having it all is a 'revolting concept' Photo: GETTY IMAGES
The actress said only women who employed professional help could be both a mother and have a full-time career.
Thompson, 51, who has a daughter Gaia, 10, said she was not prepared to hire outside help to look after her child. The couple also adopted a 16 year-old Rwandan refugee seven years ago called Tindyebwa Agaba.
Thompson told the American edition of Good Housekeeping that ideal of perfectly balancing work and home life was "false".
She said: "I don't want your readers ever to think they have to have it all."
The Oscar-winning actress claimed was possible to have a good career and excel at motherhood but not necessarily at the same time.
Maggie Gyllenhaal, who was being interviewed alongside Thompson and who stars with her in the sequel of Nanny McPhee, said the older actress had inspired her to put her own husband, Peter Sarsgaard, first more often.
Gyllenhaal, who has a three year-old daughter called Romana, claimed that behaving as a "classical" wife "feels really right to me".
You go girl! The idea that a woman can have a hard-charging career involving travel and late nights (as most hard-charging men do) and be a really hands-on parent available 24/7 to attend children is ridiculous. No one can do all that. Either you settle for what amounts to a McJob when the kids are still living at home or you hand off the kid-related stuff to a home-based Dad or paid help.
Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/7923430/Emma-Thompson-having-it-all-is-a-revolting-concept.html)