Celeb Life: Maternity leave? Not if you're a star ...

Sunday Mirror, Aug 15, 2004 by Jennifer Rodger

GWYNETH PALTROW

What she said:

'You can't do movies back-to-back and see your child. I might not work for ages'

What actually

happened:

A few weeks before her baby's arrival, the 31-year-old denounced working mums for putting their movie careers ahead of their children. Fast forward three weeks, she'd given birth to Apple and was having much more difficulty giving up sought-after roles. So she agreed to star and produce in a film about the life of Marlene Dietrich.

length

of maternity

leave:

22

days

KATE HUDSON

What she said:

'If it's going to affect my career, then fine, let it. Because if that's what being a star is all about, I don't want it'

What actually

happened:

As soon as she'd lost her pregnancy weight (27kg/ 4st 4oz), Kate, 25, was straight back to work on her next film, Skeleton Key, nursing baby Ryder Russell Robinson on set. She said, 'How lucky am I as a working mother that I can have my baby with me all the time?'

length

of maternity

leave:

12

weeks

KATE WINSLET

What she said:

'My career comes second. Some actors do back-to-back jobs. That's not me'

What actually

happened:

She'd planned to take seven months off, but within weeks Kate was in negotiations to star in a new project alongside Ewan McGregor. But there are signs she's decided to stick to her original plan about balancing working life and motherhood. Kate recently dropped out of a Woody Allen film to spend more time with Mia, three, eight-month-old Joe and second hubby, director Sam Mendes.

length

of maternity

leave:

7

weeks

FIONA BRUCE

What she said:

'I wouldn't advocate any woman rushing back after having a baby'

What actually

happened:

The BBC believe Fiona - reportedly nicknamed Lady Macbeth by her colleagues - set a new record for cutting short her maternity leave. Within 16 days of giving birth to her second child, Mia, 40-year-old Fiona returned to presenting Crimewatch, a decision that became a subject of national debate. 'I'm not a career monster,' she insisted.

length

of maternity

leave:

16

days

ZOE BALL

What she said:

'I want to be at home. I've sort of turned into my mother'

What actually

happened:

Zoe announced her plan to quit her Radio 1 job to be in a stress- free state to conceive, though she actually fell pregnant before leaving the station. After having baby Woody, however, she cut short her maternity leave to film The Priory. 'I took too much time off when I was pregnant,' she said. 'There are only so many times you can wander round M&S, only so many soft furnishings you can buy.' With baby no 2 on the way, Zoe doesn't intend to make the same mistake twice.

length

of maternity

leave:

3

months

JORDAN

What she said:

'I want to spend all my time with Harvey because he needs me'

What actually

happened:

Less than two weeks after giving birth, 24-year-old Jordan was modelling again. Then 11 weeks later, the 32DD model celebrated her first cover and centrespread for Playboy, partying with founder Hugh Hefner and a posse of Bunnies. 'If people expect me to turn into an earth mother and start wearing Laura Ashley dresses, then they are going to be disappointed,' she says.

length

of maternity

leave:

10

days