While many millennials are putting off having children to focus on their careers, one actress in Hollywood is thankful that she did things the other way around.
In an interview with Kate O’Hare of Patheos.com, Patricia Heaton, the star of CBS’ new TV drama Carol’s Second Act, shared how she credits God with allowing her to have a family first, and fame second.
“I believe that God withheld any real success from me until I was married and had children, because it’s so easy to be consumed by your career, especially in this industry,” Heaton said.
Heaton, who is a devout Catholic, explained how if she had found success in acting earlier in life, she would not have been able to focus on the family the way that she did.
“I love acting, and it would be very easy for me to be consumed by it. So it really wasn’t until I got married and started having kids that things started blossoming. The minute I got pregnant with my first son, my priorities completely shifted,” she explained.
“I felt powerful because there was this human being developing inside of me. It’s still miraculous when I think about it. I had this person to protect and to nourish and to raise.”
Heaton, who is a wife and mother to four boys, explained that work “took a backseat” to her family, but it did not mean she stopped working altogether, just motivated her to become more focused.
“I didn’t have time to think about it when I came home, because I had kids. So I became better at work because I was super-focused,” she explained.
In her newest project, “Carol’s Second Act,” Heaton plays “a woman who embarks on a unique second act after raising her children, getting divorced, and retiring from teaching: pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor. At age 50, Carol is a medical intern and must sink or swim with peers who are half her age. It’s her enthusiasm, perspective, and yes, even her age that may be exactly what will make her second act a great success.”
Heaton hopes that the TV show will help inspire men and woman of all ages to pursue the dreams they have, not allowing age or any societal norms stand in the way.
“I hope it inspires women and men in their 50s, 60s and 70s to step out of their comfort zone, pursue that dream that they had to set aside for whatever reason, know that they have value to the world and the community they’re in,” she shared.
“Their skills and knowledge and wisdom are needed in this world, especially by young people, to be mentors and big brothers and big sisters, and just figures of wisdom to people who are struggling,” Heaton added.
You can watch “Carol’s Second Act,” on Thursdays, at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.