Jenny Eclair admits ‘motherhood is traumatising and she was massively shocked by it’ as she reveals she was always ‘needy for fame’ and remains ‘furious over sexism in comedy’

Jenny Eclair admits 'motherhood is traumatising and she was massively shocked by it' as she reveals she was always 'needy for fame' and remains 'furious over sexism in comedy'

As a dedicated follower of Jenny Eclair‘s career and personal journey, I can’t help but admire her honesty and resilience. Her candid admissions about the challenges she faced as a mother, particularly during the height of her success, resonate deeply with me.


Jenny Eclair has confessed that she experienced motherhood as distressing, and was taken aback to realize that her maternal instincts were not as strong as she believed they would be.

Back in 1990, smack-dab in the middle of her triumphant comedy reign, I was blessed to welcome my precious little girl, Phoebe Powell, into this world – yep, that’s right, I’m talkin’ ’bout the one and only comedian who had me rolling with laughter!

The popular television personality openly confessed that she had a constant craving for recognition and her self-worth was significantly tied to her level of success.

On the “How to be 60” podcast with Kaye Adams, she shared her surprise: “I thought I would be more nurturing than I turned out to be. The experience of motherhood left me utterly surprised and even traumatized.

As a passionate devotee, I can’t shake off this intense yearning to climb that ladder. My identity is deeply intertwined with my work – it defines me. My essence lies in the amount of tasks I undertake and the wealth I generate.

Jenny Eclair admits 'motherhood is traumatising and she was massively shocked by it' as she reveals she was always 'needy for fame' and remains 'furious over sexism in comedy'

Jenny Eclair admits 'motherhood is traumatising and she was massively shocked by it' as she reveals she was always 'needy for fame' and remains 'furious over sexism in comedy'

When raising kids, they require a lot of attention. I found myself leaning heavily on others for help, and I must admit, I’ve never looked back and felt regretful about it.

Women face a unique challenge due to the limited timeframe for childbearing. Typically, this fertile period ranges from around 25 years old to about 35 years old, which is the window in which many women aim to find a partner, conceive, and have a child.

Additionally, Jenny criticized sexism within the comedy world, expressing that she believes female comedians must exert extra effort to secure the same recognition accorded to their male peers.

She expressed: “I longed for fame. My desire for it was strong. Even now, I feel frustrated that I haven’t achieved the level of fame I desired. However, I’m not sure if I have the energy left to keep fighting for it.” This is how she put it in a conversation with Kaye Adams on her How to be 60 podcast.

It’s eye-opening to realize how much harder it is for women in this industry to reap the same benefits, given our circumstances. I may not possess a long driveway or luxury items, but I reside on a busy street near a bus stop.

Though I don’t reside in a shoebox, it feels like an immense amount of work has been put into what I’ve achieved, yet some individuals seem to reap the benefits with seemingly minimal effort compared to their rewards.

The actress from “Grumpy Old Women” has additionally made appearances on several reality programs such as “I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!”, “Splash”, and “Celebrity MasterChef”.

In addition, she has written a number of novels and also co-hosts the Older and Wider Podcast. 

Jenny Eclair admits 'motherhood is traumatising and she was massively shocked by it' as she reveals she was always 'needy for fame' and remains 'furious over sexism in comedy'
Jenny Eclair admits 'motherhood is traumatising and she was massively shocked by it' as she reveals she was always 'needy for fame' and remains 'furious over sexism in comedy'

Once a driven professional, I find myself admitting that my ambition isn’t what it once was. I no longer feel compelled to push myself relentlessly in pursuit of success. Instead, I’ve come to realize: “I won’t sacrifice my peace for it anymore, I won’t continue to apologize or compromise.

Two years ago, her grandson Arlo was born, which significantly altered her outlook on life. To be honest, I never expected to feel such affection towards him; it’s quite surprising and catches you off guard.

I am deeply devoted to him. He brings me immense happiness, he’s my beacon, I’m utterly smitten. There’s no comparison to the warmth of a small hand holding mine.

Once I waded into the realm of motherhood, I found myself quickly retreating with a scream, initially viewing it as incredibly demanding and tedious. However, that’s not how I feel now with Arlo by my side – it’s no longer monotonous for me.

It could be that I’ve taken things a bit easier lately. After all, I’ve put in so much effort and I believe I deserve this time to spend with him.

Read More

2024-10-03 21:03

Previous post Review: ‘The Outrun,’ Saoirse Ronan tale of alcoholism and rehab, feels more like montage than movie
Next post Here’s What’s New on Netflix in October 2024