Annette Bening: 'My Kids Are Pretty Great'

By Nicki Gostin Posted May 8th 2010 08:00AM

Two-time Academy Award nominee Annette Bening has been a major player in Hollywood for almost 25 years, but her greatest role is playing mom to her four children with husband Warren Beatty. In a quick chat with PopEater, the star of 'American Beauty' and the just released 'Mother and Child,' radiant at 51, talks Mother's Day, munchies and how she juggles motherhood and her career.

Mothers Day is coming up. Do you celebrate?
Yes, I've loved Mothers Day since my kids were little. Usually something special happens. I get taken out.

Do you get breakfast in bed?
Yes! That has happened many times. I forgot about it until you just said it, which is delightful.

How about the homemade tchotchkes?
They are the best! I have many of them, as you can imagine. I still get them, and they're the most treasured possessions.

You have three teens. Are they embarrassed by you ever?
Sure, there are times, but my kids are pretty great. That happens, but they're also sort of proud too.

How important is work to you?
It's very important. It can make you crazy not having that kind of intellectual stimulation and not using your brain, especially with tiny ones -- that can really make you insane. In a way, women aren't supposed to acknowledge that and [are suppose to] pretend that it's all just fabulous and we love every moment and it's just a wonder, and of course, it is a wonder, but it's also tiring and really, really hard work and a lot of the time your life is not about you, it's about what everyone else wants. In a way that's a stage you basically never get out of. [Laughs] There's that selflessness you need to find, and on the other hand, you hire a babysitter and you go out and you do your work.

Are you a strict mom?
I think so. I'm pretty strict, not insanely strict. I like to think I know how to do that because they need it. It's healthier for everybody if they have some limits.

Do you make them pick up?
Yes, and word of advice, start them cleaning up after themselves when they're young because as they get older it gets harder.

How about junk food?
I try to not be too crazy, but yeah there's a lot out there and it's so accessible. And what is up with getting snacks at school? What is that? I don't even know what that is. It's new. I don't ever remember getting snacks at school.

Tags: Annette Bening, Mothers Day, warren beatty

Comments

(14)

Saturday 08 May

By Denis

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Did you know that Abby Sunderland has made it to Capetown???

By MAGOOS

And, Ms. Benning, so are you. Happy Mother's Day.

By Donna

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Annette is a beautiful woman, in side and out. I am sure shes a great mother too. I wish her all the very best.

By Mei

A very nice lady in all that the word means. I hope that she has a Happy Mother's Day. I know that mine will be.

By Julio Lopez

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Is SHE STILL AROUND? I was sick of her 15 years ago... speaking of advice, she seriously needs some advice on getting a new hairstyle... that "short look" on old women just doesen't work anymore...no one cares about her & her kids, or her warm and fuzzy little life...

By Ann

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Her short do looks great on her. Much better than the long hair.

By Betty Boop

Jeeze, Julio...........Bitter, party of one, your table is ready!

By prawn

She snagged Hollywood's most promiscuous womanizer and playboy.
I guess she should be given a trophy for that, considering the fact that she didn't get something else from him, like STD. If he wasn't a saggy, baggy old man, she wouldn't probably just be another bed partner that would be next in line...Next.

By Jade

Annette IS a beautiful woman, no doubt. Lopes, you will never have a woman like this with your tacky, nasty, and really stupid WAY WITH WORDS.

By Jay Love

Julio Lopez: Yea Julio, fifteen years is a long time, isn't that about the time you sneaked across the border last? oh how warm and fuzzy though....

By jcheev1

Wow, a mom who thinks her kids are great!!!! Now that's news. And she does all this with just a few million dollars a year. I impressed!

Sunday 09 May

By TJ

Hello-someone needs to do their research! Ms. Bening is a 3 time Oscar nominee thank you very much!

Monday 10 May

By jewelry0086.com

I wish her all the very best.

Monday 07 February

By edna

Annette seems like a great gal, wonderful actress and needs support from the fans she has given such entertainment to. She has every right to protect her children and husband. I applaud you Annette.

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