Actor Josh Hartnett is protecting his kids from the hardships of the Hollywood lifestyle.
The “Oppenheimer” star shared that he and his wife, British actress Tamsin Egerton, aim to shield their children from the spotlight and provide them with “normal upbringings.”
When asked if he would allow his daughters to follow in his footsteps, Hartnett said he “wouldn’t encourage it.”
“I mean, it would have to be if they really wanted to, but I wouldn’t encourage it,” Hartnett said. “Not to make it too simplified, but I do think the industry is really tough on girls, and I don’t want that for my kids. I also think the industry is tough on actors. We’re always waiting for people to say it’s okay for us to do our job.”
While Hartnett doesn’t know what the future holds, he hopes to preserve his relationship with his children and stay involved in their lives.
“I don’t know what my kids will end up wanting to do, but I hope that I have that same sort of relationship with them where I can continue to be around them and be a part of their creative life as they get older,” he said.
The “Trap” star fears his children growing up so fast, as he tries to soak up every moment he has with them.
“Our kids are getting older, and all that stuff is terrifying,” Hartnett said. “I don’t want them to get older too quickly. I want to keep them as little, squishy kids.”
Through his daughters, Hartnett learns about new things he wouldn’t have explored otherwise.
“What’s fun about being a dad is that your kids introduce you to new things that you didn’t know you'd ever be interested in. You end up doing things that you never would do for yourself,” he says.
Hollywood Departure
Josh Hartnett made his big-screen debut in 1998’s “Halloween H2O: 20 Years Later,” followed by “The Faculty” that same year.In 1999, Hartnett received his big break after appearing in “The Virgin Suicides”. From there, the Hollywood star starred in movies such as “Blow Dry” (2001), “Pearl Harbor” (2001), “Black Hawk Dawn” (2001) and “Sin City” (2005).
After appearing in more hit films over the years, Hartnett stepped back from Hollywood, admitting that he faced “borderline unhealthy” attention from fans.
At one point, “a guy showed up at one of my premieres with a gun, claiming to be my father. He ended up in prison,” Hartnett recalled.
The “O” star now splits his time between the high-energy cities of the United States and the tranquil countryside of the United Kingdom.
“This is all brand new to me,” he said. “I never would have expected it. And time passes quickly. With four children, you have so much to do. In a way, less is happening. But more of the important stuff is happening. My oldest daughter is eight and a half now—that feels like it happened in the last two years to me. So I’m trying to soak up as much as possible.”
