“Relationships never affected my family"
Tuesday 01 March 2011
She left Holby City last September, and has just finished the live Strictly Come Dancing tour, but Patsy Kensit tells Closer she always makes time for family life.
“It is a lot of juggling,” she admits. “But I work because I have to and the minute I’m not, I’m straight home to the kids. At the moment I’m back into the school run, but when the next job comes along I’ll have to adjust.”
Patsy is mum to sons James, 18, and Lennon, 11, from previous marriages to Simple Minds singer Jim Kerr and Oasis’ Liam Gallagher, whom she still has “great relationships” with.
She’s described last year’s split from fourth husband Jeremy Healy after 11 months of marriage as “devastating” but says her focus has always been her tight-knit family.
She explains: “The boys really have always come first. Being in a relationship never diluted that; they’ve always been my number one priority.
“We’re very close. They probably are protective of me, and I concentrate on being strong and positive for them. Now especially my whole focus is being the best mum I can. They’re good boys. We’re a very tight-knit unit the three of us.
“My mother and I were inseparable and she died when I was in my twenties, so I’d always thought it could be wonderful to have a girl and recreate that, but I have to say boys are amazing – they do really love their mum!”
Patsy’s supporting Robinsons Fruit Shoot ‘Parents for Playgrounds’ campaign, where parents can nominate their local play area for a £15,000 bursary, and the size 8 star says she uses time outside with the kids to stay fit.
“At the moment we’re renting an apartment, and I used a treadmill until the lovely woman downstairs said I sounded like I was coming through the roof! So I can do some laps in the park when I take Lennon out.
“I’ve always been into fitness - I think healthy body, healthy mind. Getting out of the house and getting a bit of exercise is so important, and like any kid, Lennon would happily stay in and watch seven times in a row if we didn’t make the effort!”
After seven years on first Emmerdale then Holby City, Patsy, who turns 43 this week, now says she’s happy to give film roles a miss.
“I have no ambitions outside of British TV, I really don’t. It’s a wonderful industry, and from my point of view, as a woman in my forties, the roles are there,” she tells . “I think we have a really strong culture here of women who watch TV liking to see strong females with age and experience. It’s a blessing to be part of it. The last seven years for me have been incredible, I feel very lucky.”
Though she’s used wrinkle-busting Botox and had collagen lip injections in the past, Patsy – who is fresh-faced and make-up free when we meet - reveals she no longer worries about aging.
She says: “I have lines and crows’ feet, and I’m very happy to be growing old – I’m an actress, I need expression! Plus I just don’t have the time.
“I think what’s important is just being myself and hopefully, as a working mother, being a positive figure for women out there who have to go to work too.
“I don’t feel any pressure to be anything other than myself.”
By Amy Swales
Patsy Kensit has teamed up with Robinsons Fruit Shoot’s ‘Parents for Playgrounds’ – asking parents to nominate a playground in need of repair, with the chance of winning a £15,000 renovation bursary. The mission is supported by Play England and nominations can be made via www.readyforten.com until 16th March 2011
Posted by jaykaycee
RE: “Relationships never affected my family"
What a fantastic family-orientated woman patsy is and the likes of jordan and kerry katona should take a leaf out of her book. Here's a woman who actually puts her children first. Yeh she's gotta work to support them but as she says she goes straight home to them when the job is done! You don't see her getting photographed at every opportunity or bitching about her exes or whining that she doesn't have a man. Patsy is a LADY with decorum and good family values and i think it makes a lovely change to read about someone who doesnt think fame is more important than her children!
Posted 01/03/2011 14:31:24
Posted by sdfsdf
RE: “Relationships never affected my family"
Well said jaykaycee, couldn't agree more with your comments! I kow some people don't like her but she has remained dignified throughout despite having quite a few broken relationships behind her! I've never seen her children paraded around like prize cattle for her own ends - more than can be said for those other two scrubbers...
Posted 01/03/2011 16:09:20
Posted by n.s
RE: “Relationships never affected my family"
She's had so much stick in the past for having loads of relationships, but she's had no more than other people, she has just happened to marry them. I like her, (even though she's my husbands first crush)!
She has also managed to stay friends with her boys dads, which can only be to the good of her kids. I agree with everything said above. Several people could learn from the way she conducts herself. She's never put her kids and private life out there to get publicity, just her work.
She's always kept a dignified silence through any break up. Good luck to her.
Posted 02/03/2011 11:14:02