Life for Louisa Lytton feels intense right now. The former EastEnders star is about to embark on a 12-week theatre tour and she is excited about getting back to work after an extended maternity leave.
It will mean spells away from her daughter Aura, who turns two this week, and Louisa is grappling with a conflict of feelings that most working mums will recognise.
“I’m a mixed bag of emotions,” she tells us. “It was quite a big decision to go on tour for a few months and I’m so happy to be working again. But I’m also going to miss Aura and the life I’ve known for the last two years, so I’m totally split.”
Louisa, 34, made a brief return to the stage last November for a five- date run of The Vagina Monologues in Cheltenham – her first time away from Aura. She missed her daughter so much that after the second show, she drove 100 miles through the night back to London to spend a few hours with her before driving back for the next evening’s performance.
“I needed to see her,” she says. “It’s hard to explain how that need feels. It’s a very physical, bodily experience. Aura was absolutely fine, having the time of her life! It was all me. I always wanted to be a mum, but you never know how much you can love another person until you have a baby.”
This time there won’t be much opportunity for a quick dash back home. Louisa is taking on the role of Jenny, following in the footsteps of Lily Allen, Jaime Winstone and Cheryl Tweedy. The touring production of the supernatural thriller 2:22 A Ghost Story opens in Bath this week, before heading around the UK.
Denne historien er fra September 04, 2023-utgaven av OK! UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra September 04, 2023-utgaven av OK! UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
A CITY OF TWO HALVES
There's a holiday for every budget to be found in Dubai, as OK!'s Faith Richardson discovered
'Christmas is a double whammy'
Chef James Martin on the pressures of dividing his time between his restaurants and his family over the festivities
LEARN HOW TO PLEASE YOURSELF
The festive season can be an incredibly stressful time, particularly for people-pleasers who struggle to put their own needs first
'There's a bit of faking it until you make it'
Actor Paul Mescal on entering the Gladiator II arena, building a blockbuster body for his role as fighter Lucius Verus, and heading up an A-list cast of Hollywood's finest stars
THE A-LIST HAIL HOLLYWOOD'S BIG HITTERS
A line-up of the film world's best-known faces attended this year's Governors Awards to celebrate lifetime achievements
'I think we arrived right on time'
The stars of the long-awaited film Wicked, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, tell us why its themes are so relevant right now and why the musical is so dear to their hearts
'No one knows who I am'
Having first found fame on social media, GK Barry has become the breakout star of this year's I'm A Celebrity
'I still pinch myself about how we met'
Now legally married, MAFS Uk’s Adam and Tayah Aveling are looking forward to Christmas with their daughter and welcoming baby number two in 2025
THE ROYAL WEEK
It was a sad week for Queen Camilla, but a good week for the royal family’s charities with visits to hospitals and homeless centres
WILLIAM AND KATE'S MAGICAL CHRISTMAS
After a challenging year for the royal family, the Prince and Princess of Wales plan to give their children an unforgettable time filled with fun and festivities
