I've Learnt To Look After Myself

Actress Uma Thurman talks life in the spotlight, the rise of women in Hollywood, and why she’s feeling better than ever...

Actress Uma Thurman, 49, shot into the spotlight at a very young age. She followed in her model mother’s footsteps and landed her first modelling gig at the age of 16. Then, she broke into the movie industry playing Laura in the 1987 thriller Kiss Daddy Goodnight. She’s probably best known as director Quentin Tarantino’s golden girl for her roles in Pulp Fiction and the two Kill Bill films. She took a break from the screen for a while to focus on being a mom, but recently starred in fantasy drama Down A Dark Hall, and is making her return to TV screens as the grieving mother in Netflix psychological drama Chambers. She has two grown-up kids, Maya and Levon, with ex-husband Ethan Hawke; and a young daughter, Luna, with ex-fiancé Arpad Busson. Uma is single and lives in New York.

I’ve never had that ruthless ambition.

And actually, I think that’s part of the reason I’ve had a relatively successful career. I’ve always managed to struggle through my intense and interesting personal life while maintaining a career. I also haven’t been afraid to take breaks. I don’t know how actors can be in films all-year-round and still see their families – it must be incredibly hard. I’ve never tried it. When I’m not working on set, I’m working hard at home, and that’s okay reason I’ve had a relatively successful career. I’ve always managed to struggle through my intense and interesting personal life while maintaining a career. I also haven’t been afraid to take breaks. I don’t know how actors can be in films all-year-round and still see their families – it must be incredibly hard. I’ve never tried it. When I’m not working on set, I’m working hard at home, and that’s okay.

You never want your children to know that you’re having a hard time.