short to be in relationships where you feel
this isn’t fully right or somebody doesn’t have
your back, or somebody doesn’t fully value
you. Don’t be afraid to feel your independence
if things aren’t right. I made that mistake,’
Anna advised one of her podcast callers.
‘If that would be the final piece of advice
I could give you, that would be: know your
worth, know your independence.’
APPLE OF HER EYE
‘Everything that everyone says is true,’
Anna says of motherhood. ‘People really
need to pound the information into you
because it is a tidal wave change into your
life. Especially as a woman, your identity
changes. You are now a mum, sort of the
most important job in the world, and the
pressure and the guilt and all the things
that are sort of wrapped up in that, I don’t
think anyone can prepare you for.’
The actress welcomed Jack on August 25,
- The now-five-year-old arrived a little
early and as a result, wears glasses due to an
issue with his sight. And while we think he’s
the cutest thing ever, Anna reveals it took
her son a little while to get used to them.
‘When he first got glasses, because he
was two months premature... which is
apparently pretty common in premature
kids that they have visual problems. He
would bury his head in his hands and he’d
be like, “Oh,” because people would say,
“Oh my God, there’s a kid with glasses,”’ she
recalls. ‘Now, he is so proud of them and it
makes me so... It just makes my heart swell
with pride. I’m just like, “Oh, I love that he’s
proud, that he’s owning it. He’s my boy.”’
ACTING UP
Encouraged to pursue acting by her parents
when she was very young, Anna’s journey to
Hollywood hasn’t been easy. The actress had
a handful of small appearances before her
break-out role came in 2000, when she starred
in the horror-comedy parody Scary Movie.
She backed this up by starring in the next
three sequels, plus a hilarious performance in
2003’s The House Bunny. But Anna admits it
was hard to move away from that stereotype.
‘I felt so lucky to be a part of those movies,
but I couldn’t get auditions for anything
dramatic for a long time,’ she reveals. ‘I had
to fight for [the Lost in Translation] role.’
Now, with a steady stream of acting
credits to her name, Anna can be heard
in this year’s The Emoji Movie as character
Jailbreak – a role she took on for her son.
‘I really love doing voice-over work. I love
being a part of animated movies,’ she says.
‘Partly because I get to use my voice as
a tool, and also because I now have [a]
five-year-old kid who now gets to see some
movies that I do. That’s very rewarding.’
THE STAR DISHES OUT AGONY AUNT-STYLE
ADVICE IN HER PODCAST UNQUALIFIEDQ
AFTER A FIGHT, IS IT OK
TO GO TO BED ANGRY?A
It’s OK to go to bed angry. I think
men in particular sometimes just
need time... and they won’t be able to
be rational. And women, too. I don’t
mean to gender stereotype, but they
won’t be able to think rationally until
their anger has dissipated.Q
SHOULD GIRLS AVOID MAKING
THE FIRST MOVE?A
It’s so stupid, but I have experience
with this, because Chris, he’s a
hunter and a fisherman. And when we
began our relationship, I began to really
understand that there is this component
to men where they really like a catch.
And it sounds f---ing stupid and it’s
horrible. I wish they didn’t. But I think
you have to give the illusion that you’re
desired by lots of people.Q
SHOULD YOUR ROMANTIC
RELATIONSHIP TAKE PRIORITY
OVER YOUR FRIENDSHIPS?A
It took me longer than it should
have to realise just how important
female relationships are. It takes
vulnerability of spirit to open yourself
up to other women in a way that isn’t
competitive, and that’s especially hard
in Hollywood, where competition is
built into almost every interaction.Q
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP
TIPS FOR MAINTAINING
A SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIP?A
Don’t tease – even if it seems
harmless – because that can be
a... rapidly increasing spiral, and then
you’re actually teasing people and it
really gets to a bad pattern. [Also] be
kind and treat one another like you would
a friend. Truly be kind and supportive.(^) OCTOBER 30, 2017 4 7
TEXT BY SARA BORDON PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALAMY