Juliette Binoche Talks About the Power of Children

Calling children "the most astonishing piece of creation" and childbirth "such a mysterious moment," actress Juliette Binoche -- mom to Raphaël, 14 ½, and Hana, 8 ½ -- says in a new interview that "when we have kids, it's a decision of three people."

They come with their own story, their own power. A friend of mine said that bringing up children is like going up stairs. One step, then breathing, reaching a certain point, then another step, that's fine, then another and, oh, my god, another after that; always on the move.

On the move is a state of being the 44-year-old actress and her children know well. Juliette says she never had to choose between career or family because she "always took" Raphaël and Hana along when a film role required her to travel. "When my son was ten, I asked him if he wanted to come, and we went all round the world, changing schools," Juliette says. There is no power struggle between Juliette and the fathers of her children, because both children are co-parented; For Juliette, "there is no hierarchy in life" and thus "there is no boss" of Raphaël and Hana. She adds,

You have to recognize your task early on. If you decide you want children, you have to take responsibility for them until they fly on their own. It doesn't mean I don't make mistakes, because I do. I want to be perfect –- of course. I've never wanted to say no to my son, so I always said yes.

Raphaël's father is scuba diver André Halle; Hana's father is actor Benoît Magimel.

Source: Times Online; Photo by Eamonn McCormack/WireImage