Heather Graham has defended her decision to take a “non-traditional path” and not have children at the age of 56.
“I think there’s a lot more acceptance in the culture now. I think it used to be, ‘Why don’t we do that?’ But I think fewer people are doing it1774610924than there used to be,” the “Boogie Nights” actress said on Thursday’s episode of “The Boss Sticks.”
“If you have love in your heart and want to pass that on to your children, I think it’s great to do that. But I don’t think anyone should feel obligated to do so.”
“Obviously, there are a lot of people who are terrible parents,” added the “Austin Powers” actress, who has been estranged from her own parents for most of her adult life.
“If you don’t think you can do it, then don’t do it,” she added.
“One therapist said, ‘If you don’t have children, life will bring in other people to raise you.’ So there are other things in your life that you can raise.”
Ms Graham, who was recently spotted holidaying in Mexico with Italian film director Michele Civetta, added that the idea that women need to start a family is “kind of sexist”.
“I don’t think people think, ‘You’re a man, why don’t you have kids? What’s the problem?’ That’s not the same judgment we make of women,” she said, adding that she thinks it’s “cool” that more women are straying from traditional family planning.
Ms Graham made similar comments in an interview with the Guardian in April last year, admitting she was mostly “glad” she didn’t have children.
“I think I’ve had moments where I wonder what would have been like if I had had kids. Probably 80% of the time I’m glad I didn’t have them and I feel really good about my freedom. And maybe 20% of the time I wonder what my kids would be like. You have to be grateful for your life,” Graham told the outlet.
“I think it’s great that more women are expressing their desire not to have children,” she continued.
“Culture says, ‘You have to have children.’ But why? If you’re not a people pleaser, what do you really want?”
