Succession’s Harriet Walter reveals she never thought she was ‘cut out’ to be a mother – and says childfree people can be ‘blissfully happy’
- British actress Walter, 72, said there are ‘no rules’ about being happy in life
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In smash hit TV show Succession, she plays the conniving second wife of Logan Roy and a mother-of-three, but in real life Dame Harriet Walter has found happiness in the little things.
Walter, who plays Caroline Collingwood in the HBO series, has opened up about not having children – admitting she never felt she was ‘cut out for it’.
She added that she has wondered whether having children of her own would have made it easier for her to play a mother.
The thespian also discussed how there are no rules to happiness – noting that some people can be childfree and ‘blissfully happy,’ and that people who are married with children can be unhappy.
Writing in the Sunday Times, the London-based actress also opened up about falling in love with her husband, Guy Paul, in her late 50s.
Dame Harriet Walter, 72, reflected on not having children, and finding love in her 60s, writing in the Sunday Times (pictured in London in 2022)
Ms Walter reflected on whether not being a mother herself should prevent her from portraying one on screen.
‘I never had children – does that mean I can’t play Lady Caroline? I sometimes wonder if I could bring something else to the part if I had. The fact is I never felt cut out for it,’ the actress wrote.
She added that having children does not guarantee happiness, and that there are no rules as to what should make you happy in life.
‘I have friends with children who have been in long marriages and they’re unhappy. I have friends with no children, no partner and they’re blissfully happy. There are no rules,’ she said.
The actress has been married to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them actor Guy Paul since 2011, when she was 60.
The couple met five years after the death of Walter’s fiancé, the actor Peter Blythe, from lung cancer in 2004.
The actress admitted she didn’t know if she would be able to love again following Blythe’s death, but eventually fell for Paul while working on a play, with their romance blossoming backstage.
Walter also revealed that she likes to spend her time going out with friends or going to the theatre, but equally relishes staying home for a quiet night, not going to bed before 2am.
The actress has been married to actor Guy Paul (pictured) since 2011. She was previously engaged to the actor Peter Blythe, who died of lung cancer in 2004. Pictured with Paul in 221 in London
The actress rarely gets out of bed before 8:30am, but likes to start the day with a brisk walk and some granola for breakfast.
She admitted she is not interested in cooking, and would rather spend her time reading, learning new languages or playing the piano.
Known to have played male roles in Shakespeare plays, including Brutus in Julius Caesar and Prospero in the Tempest, as well as Henry IV, Walter added that people should be able to put themselves in other people’s shoes.
In Succession, Harriet plays Lady Caroline Collingwood, the second wife of Logan Roy and the mother of Kendall, Roman and Shiv (pictured)
She also reflected on her part in Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015, saying it felt surreal to shoot with Chewbacca.
Harriet added that she had hoped to take her costume home with her after being fascinated by the first Star Wars movie in 1977 – but wasn’t allowed to.
She also discussed how it would be right that Sir Ben Kingsley wouldn’t be asked to play Mahatma Gandhi, like he did in the 1982 movie, which earned him an Academy Award – with the film winning a plethora of awards, including Best Picture.
Walter also reflected on ageing, begrudging that women of a certain age are often typecast as wicked mothers or aunts because of ageism in the acting world.
She added that while she tries to look after herself, she also finds it comforting to see people age well.
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