Uma Thurman reflects on her motherhood journey, balancing parenting her children, career, and self-care in 'sunset period.'
Actress Uma Thurman is navigating a meaningful stage in her ongoing motherhood journey as she watches her three children grow older. In a recent interview with The Times on July 19, Thurman talked about this period as the “sunset period” of parenting, describing the balance of responsibilities involved in overseeing her children’s lives.
Balancing Parenting Duties with Adult Children
The 55-year-old star is raising her childrenMaya Hawke, 26, Levon Hawke, 23, and Luna, 13. While Maya and Levon are shared with her ex-husband Ethan Hawke, whom she was married to from 1998 to 2005, Luna is her daughter with French financier Arpad Arki Busson, whom she dated from 2007 to 2014. Despite the challenges, Thurman remains actively involved in everyday parenting tasks, such as shopping, driving, and communicating with teachers.
“[It’s] shopping and driving and emailing teachers and all the things we do,”
she explained. —Uma Thurman
Respecting Children’s Independence
Thurman shared that she has little intention of advising her children on their career paths, especially since her eldest daughter Maya has pursued acting with a strong foundation and discipline, having attended Juilliard and completed high school.
“Oh, [Maya] knows what she’s doing. She went to Juilliard, thank God,”
Thurman stated.
“She actually finished high school. And what I did learn [about mothering] is that nobody listens. So it’s really about being there for them rather than telling them what to do.”
—Uma Thurman
She prefers to support rather than direct, allowing Maya to freely explore and even rummage through her 1990s wardrobe to find inspiration.
“There’s very little left of it,”
Thurman said of her collection of 90s and early 2000s fashion.
Image of: Uma Thurman
“She’s done a good job. I don’t spend a lot of my everyday life dressing up.”
—Uma Thurman
Balancing Career Ambitions and Self-Care
Beyond motherhood, Thurman revealed her aspiration to move into directing films someday but remains firmly committed to juggling her roles as a parent, professional, and caretaker of her well-being. To unwind, she practices yoga and Pilates, takes walks, cooks, and indulges in light reading to maintain balance in a busy life.
Finding Escape in Fiction Amidst Life’s Harsh Realities
Thurman highlighted her preference for escaping the harshness of real-world news by turning to youthful romantic fiction as a form of refuge. She described this genre as a welcome contrast to non-fiction, which she finds too harsh and difficult.
“Now non-fiction is just too brutal,”
she admitted.
“The world has driven me to romantasy. Really, really teenage stuff. It’s a great alternative to the newspapers right now.”
—Uma Thurman
When asked about her favorite romance reads, Thurman playfully declined to share her choices, saying it would make her blush.
Looking Ahead
As Thurman moves through this reflective stage of her motherhood journey, her commitment to supporting her children’s independence while nurturing her personal goals remains central. Her perspective on parenting—the acceptance that direct advice is often ignored—emphasizes the importance of presence and support. The actress’s openness about balancing career, motherhood, and self-care paints a thoughtful portrait of contemporary parenthood, with an eye on the future as her children continue to grow into their own lives.
