(LifeSiteNews) — Catholic actress Patricia Heaton encouraged all women to become mothers, revealing that children open a unique “chamber of your heart.”
During an August 21 interview with PragerU, American actress Patricia Heaton opened up about maintaining her Catholic values while working in Hollywood and shared how becoming a mother fulfilled her in a way that nothing else could.
“When you have children, it breaks open a chamber of your heart that can only be opened by children,” Heaton told PragerU CEO Marissa Streit. “It made me fiercer — better at fighting for what I wanted.”
Heaton is one of Hollywood’s few faithfully Catholic actors. In fact, on her first day, she boldly told her producers that she was pro-life and would not compromise her values. Heaton is most famous for her role in the TV series “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “The Middle.”
During the interview, Heaton revealed that women do not need to choose between motherhood and a career or put off becoming a mother until they are established in the business world.
“It never seemed to me that you had to put [having children] on hold for a career, and I found out later, when we did get married and had children, that it actually improves the way you focus on your career, because when, you know, you have a solid relationship at home and that no matter what happens to you in show business, you have a person who’s there for you,” she explained.
“So that actually gives you stability and comfort, and then when you have children, it breaks open a chamber of your heart that can only be opened by children.” Heaton continued.
Indeed, far from detracting from her career, Heaton revealed that becoming a mother helped her to become a better actress.
“And it gives you another well of emotions to dip into for your acting, and you become more vulnerable because now pieces of your heart are walking around you outside of your body,” she said.
“And so, you’re more vulnerable because you’re responsible for them, and that vulnerability is great for acting, that you have more fears and you have more joy, and everything is deepened,” Heaton continued.
“It made me fiercer as far as what I need, and it’s not for me, it’s for my kids,” she declared. “I was better at fighting for what I wanted — and when I talk to actors, especially if I talk to Christian actors, I say, ‘Don’t put off your life. Don’t put off relationship.’”
Heaton’s message echoes that of Catholic Kansas City Chiefs star kicker Harrison Butker during his pro-family speech at Benedictine College earlier this year.
Butker encouraged women to “embrace and love being wives and being mothers over their career.”
“I love women, I love my wife, and it comes from a place of love,” he added later. “She has sacrificed so much for me. She has completely changed her life around. And she has made sure she is focused on being the ultimate wife and the ultimate mother.”