'I do feel free': Heather Graham opens up about her decision to not have children
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Heather Graham, the 53-year-old Hollywood actress and star of the recently released film 'On a Wing and a Prayer,' spoke with PEOPLE on April 7 about her childless life and how she feels content with her decision. "I don’t feel that I’m missing anything," Heather said. "I do sometimes feel like my projects are little kids; I have started to get more involved in producing and writing and directing."
Although she admitted that having children earlier in life could have been 'cool,' Heather shared that it wasn't her path. "I think we all have different paths," she explained before adding, "You just have to embrace the one that you’re on. If, somehow, I had had kids, I’m sure that would’ve been cool. But at the moment, not having kids, I do feel free. And I get a lot of sleep. That is pretty great." Heather's words show that she is content with her life and has no regrets about not having children.
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Societal pressure for women to have children
Heather also spoke about the societal pressure for women to have children and the stigma surrounding the choice to remain childless. "I do feel like as a woman, culturally, you’re not allowed to say, ‘I didn’t want to have kids. Because it’s like, what’s wrong with you?'" Heather shared. "I think as a man it’s like, oh yeah, cool, you didn’t want to have kids. Now, women are getting freer to just make their own choices." Heather believes that not having children doesn't mean a lack of nurturing, as "the universe" can provide opportunities to nurture in other ways. For Heather, this has manifested in her work behind the camera as a producer, writer, and director. "I think if you don’t have kids, the universe will give you someone or something to nurture," she said.
Graham's latest film and TV appearances
Graham's recent interview about her decision to remain childless coincides with the release of her new film, 'On a Wing and a Prayer', which stars Dennis Quaid and is based on a true story. In the movie, Dennis portrays a man named Doug White who saves his family after the pilot of their plane dies mid-flight, while Heather plays his wife, Terrie White. Heather shared the trailer of the film on Instagram with a clever caption, saying, "We’re coming in for a landing! On a Wing and a Prayer is available starting today on Prime Video. #OnAWingAndAPrayer." The film is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime. Heather also attended the premiere of the Apple TV+ series 'Extrapolations' on March 15 and shared photos of herself on the red carpet, expressing her gratitude for being part of such an incredible cast. The show stars Meryl Streep, Kit Harington, David Schwimmer, and Tobey Maguire, among others.
