The Curse and Eastenders star Emer Kenny has spoken about feeling “nervous” about having a baby with her broadcaster husband Rick Edwards because of the impact having a child could have had on her career.
The 33-year-old writer and actor, who welcomed a baby boy with television presenter Edwards in January, said that when she found out she was expecting, she was “scared” that having a bump would mean “you might not get considered for certain roles”.
Kenny, who married BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast host Edwards in 2016, said it was a “shame” there was little protection for pregnant actors.
She told the Standard: “I have always been nervous about getting pregnant due to my job.
“I think a lot of actors feel the same way. Our work is a physical thing and if you have a bump you might not get considered for certain roles. It is quite scary to think that you might get a role and then they don’t want a pregnant person playing that character.
“There is not much protection. I know [comedian] Katherine Ryan has spoken out about that – productions not being able to get insurance to be able to cover her. It is a shame that we have to think about it.”
Kenny said she was initially nervous about telling her co-stars of The Curse – the Channel 4 comedy series about a group of hapless criminals set in the 1980s.
“I was writing the story for the curse which was quite lucky really as in the back of my mind I was thinking: ‘Yeah I am going to have a bump for all of this.’
“I was scared to tell them, but when I was starting to show I called them and said can we write it in. They were so supportive. I think it is quite an unusual experience to see a pregnant person on screen and not having to hide it.”
Kenny – who also writes and stars in NTA-nominated ITV drama Karen Pirie – also spoke about juggling her son with work, adding she had already returned to work due to writing and acting commitments.
She said: “I have gone back to work quite early because I have had to. It is a juggle, it is a whole new world that I am navigating. He is only four months old, but I am enjoying the fact it makes your priorities clear. I am just making sure anything I do from now on is really worth it.”
All episodes of The Curse are available to stream on Channel 4 catch-up.
