'LOTS OF US SECRETLY HAVE A CRUSH ON OUR FIRST LOVE'

COMEDIAN KATHERINE RYAN ON SECOND CHANCES IN ROMANCE, BABIES AT 40, AND WHETHER YOU REALLY CAN HAVE IT ALL

-  JULIE ANN TRAINOR AND MITYA UNDERWOOD

While comedian Katherine Ryan tells us she’s “knackered” from looking after a baby and a toddler, you’d never know it from looking at her.

Whether it’s her revived relationship with her childhood sweetheart Bobby Kootstra, or her breastfeeding hormones, her famously smooth skin is glowing and her hair and make-up are on point.

Whichever it is, getting older is doing wonders for the Canadian-born creator and star of The Duchess, who has just celebrated her 40th birthday.

“I like getting older, even though I don’t look as incredible as I once did, especially since the babies,” she tells us. “I think I’m a lot more realistic and self-assured about my looks. I don’t mind – it’s not all about my appearance.”

The “babies” Katherine is referring to are the two children she shares with Bobby – two-year-old Fred, and seven-month-old Fenna Grace. She’s also mum to 14-year-old Violet, from a previous relationship, who she had at 25.

So, given her age now, and the fact she’s juggling working mum life, does Katherine think she and Bobby will have any more children?

“Yes, I do, if we can,” she says firmly. “Right now, I think if we had another one, it would be an injustice to the baby [Fenna]. I think she needs to have our time a bit, and we’re knackered. That’s the thing about having two under two at 40.