Famous actress Christina Ricci said she had trouble bonding with her newborn daughter Cleo while filming “Yellowjackets.”
“Last year I was commuting back and forth to Vancouver for Yellowjackets,” Ricci revealed on the “Let’s Be Clear with Shannen Doherty” podcast. “She didn’t know me. We had no bond. So that was very upsetting.”
The star talked about how important it was for her to be present as a mom but also discussed the challenges that she faces while balancing motherhood with her career, saying although it’s “difficult,” she tries to “manage it” to the best of her ability.
Actress Christina Ricci attends The Ninth Annual CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards at 548 West 22nd Street on November 13, 2012 in New York City. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Christina Ricci attends the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
The 44-year-old actress has a 2-year-old daughter named Cleopatra with husband Mark Hampton. Ricci is also the mother of 9-year-old son Freddie, whom she shares with former husband James Heerdegen, according to People.
Being away from home for filming has proven to be a challenge for Ricci.
“My kids do not like it when I travel. When I’m away, I try to take my son with me as much as I can,” she said.
Actress Christina Ricci attends the premiere event for Amazon Prime Video’s Z: THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING on January 25, 2017 in New York City. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for AMAZON
Christina Ricci attends the 2024 Critics Choice Awards on January 14, 2024 in Santa Monica, California. Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for SeeHer
The actress explained that it becomes expensive to take her family in tow when she has to travel for work.
“If you’re a series regular, you have to pay for everything, so I can’t … every time I go up and down, I can’t pay for four people, four flights, you know, and the rooms that you would need and all … it’s just too expensive to travel with everybody all the time,” Ricci told Doherty.
“I try to get back as often as I can,” Ricci said. “I think really the thing that I learned, especially with my son, is mixing him into my work life. Why can’t he come for the weekend to a convention and see what it’s like?”
Christina Ricci attends the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on January 15, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Actress Christina Ricci attends 2016 Fashion Group International Night Of Stars Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on October 27, 2016 in New York City. Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Ricci admitted that her career took a toll on her family, especially when her son was young.
“There are certain things, like my son was never sleep trained because I had to go back to work when he was two months old,” she said. She noted that although her first marriage was more challenging, things are much easier now.
Ricci said her ex-husband “wouldn’t help [her] at all with anything” and recalled co-sleeping with her son “just to get enough sleep to be able to work the next day.”
Her second marriage was different. (RELATED: Bradley Cooper Shares Shocking Revelation About His Daughter)
Actress Christina Ricci attends CFDA and Vogue 2013 Fashion Fund Finalists Celebration at Spring Studios on November 11, 2013 in New York City. Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Actress Christina Ricci attends the Maiyet launch celebration at Barneys New York on March 15, 2012 in New York City. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
“I went and shot Wednesday in Romania when she was 2 months old, and Mark did every single night, all night long. Like I just slept and worked the next day, and it made such a huge difference. It was so much easier this time around. You know, you have to have a good supportive partner,” she said.