Helen Hunt

HELEN HUNT, the American actress, film director and screenwriter who is currently starring in the new movie 'Every Day', says she refuses to let her 6-year-old daughter become an actress despite being a former child star herself, reports the New York Magazine. Hunt, whose early roles included 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' and 'The Bionic Woman', says that if her daughter did express an interest in acting, she would initially want her to appear on the stage rather than on a movie set.

After being asked whether she sees her daughter 'Makena Lei' pursuing a career in film, the ACADEMY AWARD winner replied, "Oh God, no! I can't look at it that way. She's 6, and I was older than that, at least". She went on to say that the 6-year-old would begin an acting career 'over her dead body', claiming that the movie set is a "very adult place to be". Hunt, who won the 'Best Actress' OSCAR for her performance in the romantic comedy 'As Good As It Gets', did concede that if 'Makena Lei' was serious about acting she would look for her to appear in theatre productions, adding, "There are ways to do it where you're not on a movie set with 60 adults, which I loved at the time, but as a parent, I don't know that I'd be dying to put her in that spot".

Hunt's new film 'Every Day', which follows the story of a crisis stricken New York couple, also stars British comedian and actor EDDIE IZZARD and 'Defiance' star LIVE SCHREIBER.
Source: http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/helen-hunt-refuses-to-let-6-year-old-daughter-act_1195511

Helen Hunt

Helen Hunt says she won't let her daughter get in front of the movie camera because a film set is "a very adult place to be."

Hunt, 47, raises her daughter Makena Lei Gordon Carnahan, 6, with husband Matthew Carnahan, a producer and director.

The actress herself appeared in TV series as a child, during the 70s. She had roles on programs like, "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "The Bionic Woman," and "The Swiss Family Robinson."

However, she reportedly says she was "never a child star," adding:

“I was in school every year and had normal friends and I loved it and here I am, so I can’t say that I wish I hadn’t done it.

“I used to say, ‘No, I didn’t miss any of my childhood,’ but it is a very adult place to be, a movie set.

"Like, it’s a little weird. I think if my daughter was interested in acting, I would find ways for her to act in theater that has to do with her school or a kids’ improvisational thing.

“There are ways to do it where you’re not on a movie set with 60 adults, which I loved at the time, but as a parent, I don’t know that I’d be dying to put her in that spot.”
Source: http://www.thirdage.com/news/helen-hunt-daughter-hunt-wont-be-child-star_1-15-2011#ixzz1BA7WpWQL