How Chris Hemsworth and Sarah Jessica Parker try integrating work-life harmony

Just like virtually every other working parent out there, celebrity moms and dads also struggle to provide the bacon, cook it, and still spend quality time with their kiddos.

Team Guide

8/31/20220 min read

These 5 celebrities shared how they (try to) integrate work and life, all the while showing that despite fame and fortune, work-life issues plague all parents, regardless of your paycheck.

Chris Hemsworth

Felicity Huffman

Sarah Jessica Parker

Debra Messing

Gwen Stefani

The Avengers actor admitted that he sometimes struggles to find work-life balance. “Half the time, it’s out of my control,” he told CNBC Make It. “But when it is in my control, or I have an opinion, I just try and make sure I’m at home as much as possible and with the kids as much as possible.” And when it’s feasible, Hemsworth brings his three children to work with him.

You’ve got to appreciate an honest answer. When asked how she manages her own work-life balance, actress Felicity Huffman admitted to People magazine: “People always ask, ‘How do you balance home life and work?’ And I tell them, ‘I don’t. I just drop the ball all the time.’ ” She then added: “I’m failing as both a mother and an actress. But I do what I can to stumble forward joyously.”

In an interview with Parade magazine, Sex and the City actress Sarah Jessica Parker said: “We’ve had two occasions recently where both Matthew and I were working, and it was so hard on the kids, especially James Wilkie, because he can really articulate how he feels about our absence. On the other hand, there are big chunks of time when we’re home a lot more than conventionally working parents. So you hope to make up for it.”

The Will & Grace actress spoke candidly about being a single mom to her son, Roman, and still being a successful actress. “Knowing your limitations is important. It took me a long time, but now I have a pretty good idea of how many hours I can work on a TV show and still feel like I’m able to be present when I get home,” Messing told POPSUGAR. She also encouraged others to seek the help of friends and family for assistance.

“Finding that balance between work and family is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, by far,” Gwen Stefani, a mom of three boys, told Glamour UK. “I’ve always worked really hard, and the hardest thing I’ve ever done is have kids!” The former No Doubt singer continued: “All of it — everything from getting up in the morning to trying to be consistent to trying to have the right feelings. But, of course, the rewards are so great.”