Kathleen de Leon Jones is getting ready for a teary farewell as she moves with her family to LA, writes Naomi Toy.
Just three years after the birth of their daughter, Mikayla, former Hi-5 star Kathleen de Leon Jones and her husband, Savage Garden band member Daniel Jones, are setting off on their biggest adventure yet.
The family are leaving Australia to make a new home in Los Angeles so Daniel, one half of the hugely successful pop duo who split in 2001, can pursue mounting work opportunities. And while Kathleen says she’s not that interested in making any career moves herself, she does have at least one project she wants to pursue – having another baby.
“I definitely want another,” she beams. “I’m really clucky at the moment.”
It’s been two years since Kathleen quit the award-winning children’s group to focus on being a full-time mum, and she’s relishing the role.
“I’m extremely happy being a mum and a wife,” she says.
“I’m so busy. Mikayla is at an age where she just takes up so much time.”
Her life is about to get even more hectic in the coming weeks as she packs up their magnificent home on Sydney’s north shore and resettles the family in California.
Having travelled for much of this year, taking in Eastern Europe and Malaysia as well as spending increasing amounts of time in LA, making the move a permanent one made sense.
And although there’s bound to be work offers for Kathleen, she says unless it’s too good to refuse, she’s more interested in the job she already has. “Unless something right comes up, I’m really enjoying being a wife and mum,” she says.
While leaving her close-knit family and friends will be a wrench, Kathleen is looking forward to showing off her newly honed culinary skills to a whole new set of dinner party guests. Kathleen recently wrapped up a stint on Celebrity MasterChef and meal times are now a fine dining experience.
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