By Gill Pringle
The actress opens up about raising her son, being happily single and why she still sees so much of her ex.
Kate Hudson has emerged radiant and beautiful, having survived the most tumultuous 18 months of her life. During that time she ended her five-year marriage to rocker Chris Robinson, father of their four-year-old son Ryder, and embarked on a rocky love affair with Owen Wilson, who later attempted suicide. Since then she’s enjoyed a brief romance with comedian Dax Shepard, although she is currently single.
But, like her mother Goldie Hawn, Hudson is a born survivor. Even in the wake of the tragic death of her friend and The Four Feathers co-star Heath Ledger, the 28-year-old actress manages to put a sunny smile on her face.
Sporting a new look — platinum blonde extensions with sexy bangs — Kate talks about single motherhood, love, loss and Australia.
You filmed Fool’s Gold on the Gold Coast. What did you like about Australia?
What don’t I like about Australia? I really love Australia. One of my favourite places is Bill’s in Sydney. Bill Granger is such a great chef. Bill’s does the best breakfast. Australian people are just so easy and fun and we had a great crew and everybody just worked so hard and we were all sharing everything. We were on boats — couldn’t leave the boat all day. So we’re all just hanging out and everybody’s working for everybody and helping everybody. And lifting things on and off boats. And to do that with an Australian crew was the most fun, because they’re just a blast.
You had poisonous spiders in your house in Australia?
I think it was one of those funnel spiders. I just stayed away until the landlord came over and took it down.
Were you frightened?
Initially, but by the time I left Australia, I was like an Australian with the attitude: ‘If you don’t bother it, it’s not going to bother you.’ Everybody there has that kind of attitude. I wasn’t like that when I first got there. I was like — can somebody write down and send us pictures of what can kill you, because everybody says, ‘Look out for this, and look out for that …’ Of course, nobody ever did. But by about a month in, we were sitting outside and winding down at night-time and we heard this insane sound of an animal right outside where we were staying. And somebody says, ‘What was that?’ And I was like, ‘I dunno’. So we kept going and then we started to laugh because it could have been like anything, but we were already so used to wildlife by that time because we were in the rainforest and going deep-sea diving and this sound could have been some deadly animal and we all don’t even think twice about it at this stage. We just didn’t care!
And you saw a giant manta ray while you were underwater?
It was pretty scary because at the time I was only just getting certified and behind me was a manta ray. And it’s like the size of a dining table! At the time I wasn’t really sure what it was because I’m at the bottom of the ocean and it was murky. It looked like a whale. And when I signalled to my diving instructor Michelle, she was like, ‘Calm down, calm down.’ And then she kind of went back and was like, ‘Whoa.’ And then we went up. And I think the exact words out of my mouth was: ‘What the f*** was that?!’ And then of course everyone was just so excited to see a manatee.
Did you have any concerns about going out in the ocean?
I just don’t like sharks so I was really kind of freaked out about seeing what was under the water. But once I got under the water — and you have all these amazing people that are helping you — I felt pretty comfortable. Because working underwater is not really like normal stunts where you feel like you might have some control. But when you’re working in an underwater element, you don’t have that. You know you have to be pretty, like, on-point. You cant f*** around! You can’t because otherwise you’re dead. Your lungs will expand … so you really are, when you’re going down under, you kind of all look at each other, and you all know that once you’re down there, that you’re really focussed. Scuba diving is one of those situations where you have to learn to trust one another in an environment where you really need to trust somebody the most. It was a great bonding experience with the other actors. I did a lot of emergency procedures and I got really good at them, which was really fun because now I feel great going in the ocean and scuba diving.
And you agreed to get certified as a scuba diver as part of your contract?
Yes, but I thought it was going to be easier than it was. When I had my first real dive, I was terrified to get into the water, but the marine crew and all the dive masters were amazing. And once you get down there, it’s just incredible. I mean, to be able to do my first dive on the Great Barrier Reef is mind-blowing. The sea life is phenomenal. It was like being in a whole other world. Now I’m in love with diving; I can’t wait to get back in the water.
And despite your new-found confidence in the ocean, you had initial concerns?
Yes but after going through intensive training, you get to know how to breathe and kind of like relax your body. I think the best thing about what I do is that I get to do all these things I would never have done otherwise. I would never have gone scuba diving. I would never have wanted to know what was in there. It freaks me out!
Did you teach Ryder to swim while you were on the Gold Coast?
Yeah. Ryder’s like a little fish now. He’s swimming up a storm. He was learning how to swim there but then he got a little timid for a while. I took him on a surf board in Byron Bay. I asked him, ‘Do you want to go on a surf board?’ And he said ‘Yeah’. And I took him in very shallow water with his little wings on and stuff, and put him on the surf board, and it kind of freaked him out. And so he got very timid for about two months but now it’s gone, and now he’s just swimming all the time.
So does Ryder wake very early? Like at 5am in the morning?
Oh yeah. Totally. Although today I beat him. Today he was out cold. I was getting ready for work which is always absolutely super cute because that’s always one of my favourite times — watching him sleep. I think parents love to watch their kids sleep. The older they get, and the more active they get, when they’re finally asleep, you can just stare at them forever. It’s also my favourite time to talk with him when he’s really tired because we’ll lay down together and we’ll just talk and talk and talk. And he’ll be so concentrated and so happy to talk because he doesn’t really want to go to sleep but he knows he has to, so he’s very focussed on the conversation which I love. Imagination and kids, it’s so amazing. They see so many things that, as adults, we don’t see.
Has Ryder already started pre-school now?
Oh yeah. He loves it. Unfortunately he’s not there today because he got a little sick. But he loves it. He’s a good little schoolboy. I’m actually kinda shocked although he did say once, ‘You know, Mummy, I don’t like school. Its too much work and not enough toys!’ I loved that!
Does he spend more time with you than with Chris?
Chris and I spend a lot of time together but I think that’s kind of the way it ends up cause Ryder’s too young really right now really to go on tour, but I’m sure by the time he’s about eight or older he’ll start going on tour more with Chris because then it’ll be a little easier and he can help out with stuff and be a part of everything. He’s too little to be on the road right now.
And there’s too much trouble for him to get into on the road?
No, because they’re old guys now. They’re no trouble any more.
No! I mean more like all the heavy equipment and electrical gear on stage!?
Oh yeah! I don’t want him getting run over by road cases! Totally! I thought you meant like rock’n’roll excess! But they’re getting old now. The Black Crowes are no longer in their 20s! They’ve calmed down now. They’re all parents now.
Your Fool’s Gold co-star Matthew McConnaughey recently found out he’s going to be a father. He says it was a surprise. Was it the same for you when you discovered you were pregnant with Ryder?
Yes! That’s exactly how I felt about Ryder. It was, like, not planned but definitely not not being planned.
And you were glowing after you had Ryder, saying how it was just the greatest thing?
It is! It’s still the greatest thing in the world. Now though he’s at that age where I can’t wait to have more! Can’t wait. Yeah! He’s just the best thing ever.
Do you have any parenting advice for Matthew?
One thing I can’t stand is advice. I don’t want anybody telling me what to do. But if somebody wants it, and asks for it, I’m more than happy to offer whatever it is I have experience with. With parenting, there are no real answers. Instinctually you probably do the right thing. Especially, with the mother, instinctually it all just happens the way it’s supposed to happen. And then you make some mistakes or you discover things that are more difficult for you than maybe they were for your friends, and vice versa, things that are less difficult. It’s such an on-going journey. The one thing that’s amazing is that it’s just, that’s it, that’s all your life ever wants to be, is to be with your child. And now that he’s communicating and talking, and he’s sensitive and has all these ideas. I’m writing everything down because the things he says are just amazing. And you know it’s not going to last very long — it’s like this window of three-and-a-half to four-and-half years old.
What do you think about how they’ve made your boobs bigger on the publicity posters for Fool’s Gold?
Yeah! My breasts?! I mean, I love them! I wish I had them.
So you’ve no complaints? You’re not going to sue the film company?
No. If I ever was going to get my boobs done, I’d take this photograph to the doctors. They look great!
This is the second time you’ve worked with Matthew in a romantic comedy, first pairing up five years ago in How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days. You have amazing on-screen chemistry despite the fact Fool’s Gold director Andy Tennant claims you’re totally incompatible in real life…
That’s true. That’s very true. I am a very serious, organised person who needs to know exactly what’s going on. I also got that after I had Ryder.
You may be incompatible but it’s obvious you like Matthew?
Yes. I have a total soft spot for him. He’s so endearing; there’s not a mean bone in his body. We can goof around and have a great time, but we also know how to push each other’s buttons perfectly. We both have a little bit of a competitive nature and throw little jabs at each other.
But you have to be organised as a mother?
Oh yeah, I’ve got a baby on my hip and I want to know where this is going; I want to know if I’m going to make it home in time to cook dinner. So there’s a little bit of that in me that I think probably shifted since Matthew and I worked together last…
For more of this interview, see Woman’s Day (on-sale February 11, 2008)
Fool’s Gold is screening in cinemas now.
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