Christina Ricci candidly shared on Shannen Doherty’s podcast that her work-life balance was non-existent while filming Season 2 of the Showtime series “Yellowjackets.” She revealed that her shooting schedule prevented her from building a close bond with her infant daughter, Cleopatra, leading to feelings of upset. Ricci expressed that her children “do not like it” when she has to travel for work, though she tries to bring her son, Freddie, along when possible due to the expenses involved in traveling with her whole family.
The actress highlighted the challenges of balancing work and family life, noting that being a series regular requires her to pay for everything when she travels. Ricci shared her experiences of trying to integrate her son into her work life as he got older, allowing him to accompany her to certain events to see what she does. She also mentioned that her son was never sleep-trained as she had to return to work when he was just 2 months old, and she had to have him sleep in bed with her so she could get enough rest to work the next day.
Ricci took a swipe at her ex-husband, James Heerdegen, claiming that he did not help her with their son and that she had to have Freddie sleep in bed with her for her own rest. However, she praised her current husband, Mark Hampton, for his support and help with their daughter when she returned to work. Ricci noted that Hampton took care of Cleopatra during the night while she was working on her latest project in Romania, making the process much easier for her.
The Emmy nominee commended the support and assistance of her husband, stating that having a good, supportive partner makes a significant difference when juggling work and parenting responsibilities. Ricci’s divorce from Heerdegen was finalized in December 2022, with the actress separating from him in July 2020 and later obtaining a domestic violence restraining order against him. She married hairstylist Hampton in October 2021, and they welcomed their daughter, Cleopatra, in December of the same year.
Christina Ricci’s experiences shed light on the challenges faced by working mothers in balancing their careers and family responsibilities. Her candid revelations about the struggles of being away from her children for work and the support she has received from her current husband provide insights into the complexities of maintaining work-life balance in the entertainment industry. Ricci’s story serves as a reminder of the importance of having a supportive partner and making efforts to involve children in one’s work life to create a sense of connection and balance between professional and personal life.
