Jennifer Connelly Talks Being Directed By Husband Paul Bettany
Jennifer Connelly has been in the film industry for decades, and has gone through her fair share of acting challenges from emoting in various roles. That said, her last challenge could probably top what she’s done in the past as an actress. For the film Shelter, she had to learn how to balance her work with her life.
Connelly who was directed by husband Paul Bettany found the whole experience to be strange. While she and Bettany have acted alongside each other, having her husband sitting behind the camera proved to be worlds different than anything she has experienced with him on the big screen.
The Beautiful Mind actress recently opened up to DuJour magazine about the unique experience. “It was kind of strange, going to work in the morning with the director. “I had this fantasy that we’d talk about scenes all day.”
Jennifer continued to explain that what she imagined working with her husband would be like was far different from what she experienced when she got to the New York City set.
“In reality, if the man sat down, there was a line of people wanting to talk to him. Since we moved so quickly, I think he felt his wife was the least of his worries.”
In Shelter Jennifer Connelly plays a woman who falls in love with a homeless man (played by Anthony Mackie). In addition to directing the film, Paul Bettany also wrote the independent screenplay. Although Connelly didn’t receive any notes from her husband, the actress wasn’t offended.
“We’ve been married for 11 years. We have kids together, so I feel confident in our ability to navigate situations.”
The two met on the set of A Beautiful Mind, where they both acted in the 2001 film opposite Russell Crowe. The two married in 2003 in Scotland, and welcomed their first son Stellan. In 2011 Connelly gave birth to daughter Agnes Lark. In addition to the two children she has with Bettany, she has son Kai, 16, from a previous relationship with photographer David Dugan.
As for their children and how they’re affected by their parents modest fame, Jennifer thinks they are like any other children.
“I think they’re interested in the same way all kids are interested in what their parents do, but it doesn’t come up. It affords them some fun experiences. They’ve seen hardly any of my movies, but they’ve been on almost every set.”
Jennifer’s break out role was in Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem For A Dream. Her next project aside from her husband’s film is Aronofsky’s first blockbuster Noah.
[Image credit: Universal Pictures]
