Kate Bosworth says being a stepmother is one of the “most important aspects” of her life.
The 32-year-old actress is married to film director Michael Polish, who has 17-year-old daughter Jasper. Kate takes her role in the teenager’s life very seriously, explaining she hopes to teach her about feminism.
“Watching her grow into a young woman, I’m reliving my own life. I’ve been struck by how that transition is a beautiful journey that can be challenging at times,” she told Elle Canada. “Being a stepmom is one of the most important aspects of my life.”
Kate is a big supporter of women and was moved by Emma Watson’s UN speech last year, in which the Harry Potter star suggested men and women work together to ensure equality.
The other important part of her life is her marriage. She and Michael exchanged vows in 2013 and since then she’s come to realise the union is about more than just having good times together.
“It was always a profound connection, but getting married gave this a feeling of beautiful permanence,” she explained. “Our relationship isn’t hard, but life is. It feels very deep to know that no matter what gets thrown at you, this person is not going anywhere.”
Adding to that feeling of tranquillity is the ageing process. Kate found fame as a child star, appearing in the Oscar-nominated movie The Horse Whisperer when she was just 14. Many others who had trodden that path have experienced difficulty, with the actress admitting it’s only recently that she’s felt able to leave the baggage than came with it behind.
“People talk about the transition that happens for child actors,” she explained. “There’s another transition that happens just around 30. I’m most excited about my career now because I can take what I’ve experienced and translate that into these roles.”
On top of that, the star is excited to be moving into her 30s. Not many actresses feel that way but the previous decade was hard for Kate and she is happy to finally feel settled.
“There’s only so much you know about yourself at that age and only so many roles you can play,” she said. “You get all the battle wounds and scars, but there was a point where I started looking for more complex roles, and I had to wait to grow into that.”
