"I love it; I love it," says Julia of being a mom. "I wish I could bottle it."
Few people picture Julia Louis-Dreyfus, 45, as anyone other than her famous sitcom alter ego, Seinfeld's Elaine Benes. But even fewer are aware of her favorite role: wife and mother of two sons, Henry, 13, and Charles, 8. As she prepares for her latest TV debut ‑- a CBS comedy called The New Adventures of Old Christine ‑- we chatted with the sprightly star about her new character, how she bonds with her boys and why she'll never quit working.
As a newly divorced mom who stays in very close contact with her ex-husband, your character, Christine Campbell, seems a bit neurotic and a bit pathetic. How much do you feel you have in common with her?
Yeah, I'd say she's a little pathetic! I'm a mom too, but I'm not nearly as neurotic as she is. What appeals to me about the show so much is that it's a realistic take on the imperfect parent. There is no perfect parent, and it's great we can show that on TV and in a funny way.
What parts of the show are most real to you?
When I read on the first page of the script that Christine is leaving herself a message about what things she has to get done the next day, I said, Oh my God, this is so my life. I don't think you even have to be a parent or anything to connect with that.
photo credit © courtesy of CBS