‘ I LOVE MY CURVES’
The TV star on the ups and downs of motherhood, her newfound body love and if she’d ever leave Studio 10
Television host Sarah Harris shares her newfound body confidence
“You think, I’m just failing as a mum”
She might do three and a half hours of live TV every day of the week, as well as regular spots on The Sunday Project, before rushing home to her two young boys, Paul and Harry, and husband Tom Ward, but when WHO meets Sarah Harris at our photo shoot in Sydney, she’s warm, present and an open book. Discussing everything from her newfound body love, her jam-packed schedule and the recent changes at Studio 10, to geriatric pregnancies and vomiting babies, Sarah, 37, isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. “Right now, I am flat-out. Beautiful [radio host] Kate Langbroek said to me, ‘You’re just in the trenches at the moment.’ And that’s totally what I am. I’ve just got my head down, bum up,” she admits. “I feel like since I got back from maternity leave, I hit the ground running, which has been great but you get a bit lost.” Overwhelmingly, throughout WHO’S chat, Sarah’s generous spirit fills the room and it’s clear why she’s so popular with the Studio 10 audience and beyond. How are you going with two young boys, a husband and your demanding job? I’ve really simplified my life. I don’t do anything other than work and spend time with my kids. But it’s not going to be this way forever. We’re just like the next working family. My husband and I are just paying our mortgage,
trying to be the best parents we can be. But I had a bit of a meltdown about a month and a half ago. We’re just working so much and I said to Tom, “What are we doing? What happens if one of us gets sick or one of us dies tomorrow—what have we got to show for it?” Like what is this all about? So we booked our first family holiday. We’re just going to Queensland for a beach holiday for five days to get away. We’ll take the boys to the beach and get fish and chips and have time as a family. You reach that point where you feel like you’re failing at everything and sometimes it all gets too much. You think, “I’m just failing as a mum at the moment.” So it’s good to have a breath. Well, you definitely deserve a break! Yes. But I love it and I wouldn’t change it for the world. For me, kids have completely opened up my world. Life is definitely crazier but it’s much fuller. I’ve been working since I was 16 and, for a long time, what I did felt like it was my identity and if it all turned to custard, if it was just me and my job, I probably would have been so lost. But now, obviously my career
is so important, but these two little humans have given me a whole new perspective. Not all my happiness is derived from achieving at work so that’s balanced me in a way—even though I’m completely unbalanced—that’s helped me find a bit of peace. Are date nights a thing of the past right now? Yes, we don’t do anything! We’re so boring. Date nights are probably something we should look at but every time we have a date night, I get pregnant! So no more date nights for a while! [ Laughs] But another baby might be on the agenda? I feel like I’ve got another one in me—i mean, not literally in me right now! But I don’t feel like I’m done. When I had Harry, seconds after, I turned to my obstetrician and I said, “I’ll be back.” What I’m concerned about is trying again and having twins or triplets. Now I’m over 35, every pregnancy is considered a geriatric pregnancy. I need a couple of years without anything growing in me or feeding from me. Tom wants like 20 kids. But one more would just be the icing on the cake and it would
add to the beautiful chaos that is my life.
What about making time for yourself?
I’ve been going to a personal trainer twice a week to help put my body back together. When I was 25, it was all about how skinny can I be? Do I fit my skinny jeans? Now it’s like, how strong is my pelvic floor? Will I wet myself when I sneeze? So your total approach to your body changes. Compared to when I was 25, I’d say I’m 20kg heavier than I was, but I’ve got a lot more body acceptance because I’ve seen what my body can do, in that it’s grown and delivered two children.
So you’re feeling comfortable in your skin?
It’s amazing what you care about when you’re older. I have a newfound love for my body. You finally become comfortable with who you are. Your body is no longer just an ornament. As you get older, it’s an instrument. It’s something that carries you, that gives life. It’s taken a while to get to that point but that confidence comes with the older you get. I also see a shrink pretty regularly—i think that’s really important. I call it my check-up from the neck up. It’s a really good way to go and sort out what’s in your head. I started seeing a shrink when I went through a rough patch after my father died. I was 26 or 27. So that helped me get back on track.
Does it ever get easier dealing with online bullies and trolls?
There are days when you’re stronger and there are days when there are chinks in your armour. I did aversion therapy. I basically sat there and read all this bad stuff about me and knew it couldn’t get any worse and now it’s a bit like water off a duck’s back. Once you learn to laugh and take the piss out of yourself, you’re OK. Every job has a downside. I’ve had death threats and people say the most horrific things to me, which I have reported to Channel Ten and
blocked them. But you’ve got to rise above it.
How does work fit in with the boys’ schedule?
We’re off-air at 12, by the time we do meetings, I’m home by 2 PM. I don’t get to have breakfast with the boys but I have afternoon, dinner and bedtime. It’s why this job is absolutely perfect for me at the moment.
How is Paul taking to Harry?
[ Laughs] Look, he’s getting better but there’s definitely sibling rivalry between them. Harry is obsessed with Paul and looks at him with these loving eyes, and Paul is so rough with him. He’ll just walk up and smack him in the face. “Gentle” and “No” are the two words I say the most in the house. I hope they can be mates.
How old are they now?
Harry is 8 months, and Paul will be 3 in December. Paul was up sick last night. They’re always sick, they’re like walking diseases. We’ve got Paul in daycare a few days a week and he loves it but those first few months he was sick every week. It was temperatures and vomiting and conjunctivitis—he had it all. The first week I brought Harry home from the hospital Paul had a middle ear infection— with temperatures above 40 degrees, he spent his second birthday in the emergency room. It was full on. But again, this is what you signed up for and you put your head down and get through it.
After so many changes at Studio 10 with the departure of Jessica Rowe and Ita Buttrose, you’re not going anywhere, are you?
Not that I’ve heard! No, no I’m there. Front and centre. Within a few months of me coming back, Jess had left, Ita had left and I was sniffing my armpits going, “Is it me?’ It’s devastating when a founding panel member goes—it’s like losing a family member. But the show has to evolve and it’s a good thing to have fresh blood. It’s been really nice learning about the new panel members, Angela Bishop and Denise Scott. Denise Scott—i call her Australia’s mum— I just love her. Then you’ve got beautiful Ange, who is more than an entertainment reporter, she’s got a political-science degree. She’s had such emotional upheaval in the past six months, losing her husband, she’s bringing something completely new to the table.
Soon Kerri-anne Kennerly joins the panel too.
We could not be more thrilled to have the dame of television joining. I’ve admired Kerri-anne and her effortless ability to navigate live TV for many years. Ita and Jess are irreplaceable but I’m loving these new additions.
Looking ahead, is there something else you’d like to achieve?
Right now, I’m living my ideal life. I love live TV. I love news and current affairs. Down the track, I’d love to move into breakfast TV. But at the moment, not with the kids. I’m liking being myself. Since I’ve come to Ten, I can be who I really am and a bit unfiltered, not some super-polished version.