Hugh Grant: "I’m Not As Bad With Children As I Used To Be"

In the upcoming issue of Parade magazine (set to hit newsstands November 22) British actor Hugh Grant, 49, seems to have babies on the mind. In his interview with best-selling author Jane Green he embraces the prospect of fatherhood and discusses his own possible parenting ideals.

On how his thoughts about becoming a father have changed over the years: “Ten years ago, I wouldn't have thought about having children at all. But now I have so many nephews and nieces and cousins and godchildren, I like the thought. But that's on the basis that I can leave after 10 minutes. I don't know what it would be like 24 hours a day. I think I'd have a lot of nannies.”

On whether he thinks he will have children of his own: “Yes, yes, yes. I haven’t given up hope.”

On whether he thinks he would be a good father: “Yes, I do rather. I find I’m not as bad with children as I used to be.”

On his hand-off approach to parenting: “I see a lot of children over-parented now, by my standards. Over-adored, over-spoiled. I quite like the children left alone to get on with it.”

On what he calls “love avoidance”: “If you have a smothering parent, the effect it can apparently have on a child is to give them, in equal doses, a sense of too much self-esteem, because they are mummy's little princess or prince, and low self-esteem. It affects future relationships. You want to repeat this smothering thing, and you are very adept at bringing people in to love you, love you, and as soon as they get close enough, you push them away. Then you bring them back and push them away again. You can go on torturing people like that for ages.”