HELEN FLANAGAN MUM OF TWO TELLS OK! ABOUT BEING A
HELEN FLANAGAN OPENS UP ABOUT BEING A MUM OF TWO, RETURNING TO ‘CORONATION STREET’ AND NOT CARING ABOUT HAVING A BIT OF CELLULITE
Helen Flanagan arrives at our secret Surrey location in a whirlwind, full of apologies after her cars kept cancelling on her. In the flesh she’s even prettier than in photographs, despite a late night out with her friend Gemma Collins the evening before.
The Coronation Street actress, 29, is joined by her two daughters, Matilda, four, and Delilah, 16 months, who are the image of their mother. They’re here to celebrate the launch of Elli Smiles – a new doll which works via a unique interactive necklace that allows a child to play at being a mother.
Manchester-born Helen has embraced motherhood and has taken to life in Glasgow, where her fiancé Scott Sinclair plays for Celtic Football Club, and tells us she loves the ‘peace and quiet’ of the Scottish countryside.
Scott proposed at Disneyland Paris last year, but the couple haven’t had time to finalise their wedding yet. Instead, Helen reveals she’s hoping for something ‘romantic’ from Scott to celebrate their ten-year anniversary in December...
You seem to be enjoying motherhood, Helen…
I love being a mum, I’ve always wanted to be a mum. I found having one child quite easy. Delilah is a really good baby, but going from one, and giving them all your attention, to two is quite hard. I do work quite a bit and I travel quite a bit for work and it’s just trying to find a balance. Matilda is such a little character – I’m trying to get her into acting. She’s very sassy.
She’s also very sporty like her dad. It’s going to be emotional when she goes off to school.
And how is Delilah?
You can’t imagine it when you’re pregnant with your second, but you really do love your children equally. They are completely different and having been pregnant with Matilda I expected another Matilda, but she’s so different personality-wise. Delilah is more me, although I am not shy, but she has got my eyes. She’s so skinny as well but all she does is eat!
Would you like more children? I would. I’ve always wanted four. That’s my dream. I don’t think it’s Scott’s dream, though!
Is Scott a hands-on dad?
He adores the girls and is hands on. You have to be a team with two as it’s full on. It’s about balance and it’s nice to be honest with other mums and ask for help if you need it.
How do you keep the romance alive in your relationship?
I don’t know, but we’ve been together ten years so we must like each other! We have a date night once a week. I love Scott to bits but don’t like to be soppy – it makes me cringe. Ten years is a long time. It’s our anniversary in December and I keep having to remind him! I have high expectations…
How are the wedding plans coming along?
The plans are going well, but it’s lots of work fitting all the planning around the girls and Scott’s football!
Have you seen your friend Brooke Vincent – who plays your on-screen sister – recently?
I saw her the other day and she looks amazing, pregnant. I saw Sally [Dynevor, her on-screen mum] too, which was nice. Brooke’s very maternal. She’s around so many children all the time, she will be a natural and find being a mum really easy. It’s like anything, you find your own way and just do your best.
Will your children be close?
Definitely. Me being in Glasgow and Brooke being in Manchester makes it more difficult, but when she’s ready I will come down and see her and the baby. When you have your baby you don’t want everyone coming straight away. She’ll let me know when she’s ready. Brooke and I have grown up together and I’d love our children to be that close.
Are you planning to return to Corrie?
I definitely will go back, but I’m waiting for the right time with the girls. I just don’t know when that will be. I love playing Rosie and sometimes I’ll think of things and I’ll go: ‘That would be so good for Rosie, I need to speak to the script writers!’ I know it sounds cheesy, but it’s like a family there. But when you have kids they have to come first so I have to find the right time to return. I worked from when Matilda was 18 months to just before she was three, when I fell pregnant again. I’d literally work in Manchester all week from 5am until 9pm and then every weekend
I’d drive to Scotland to see Scott. I used to drive up the motorway in a onesie!
Do you still have epic shopping trips?
I don’t have time to go shopping! Most days I am busy with soft play, taking them to groups and I’m also working on my brand so my life revolves around the girls. Now when I do shop, it’s for the girls. I like the odd designer item and treat myself sometimes, but I love the High Street – Topshop, Zara and Primark.
How do you feel about your body after two children?
There are parts of my body I don’t really like – I don’t really have a bum but I do squats. What I really love about being a mum is it puts everything in perspective. So what if you have cellulite? I’ve lost a lot of weight from having my children and my boobs are not what they were, but so what? I breastfed Matilda for eight months and Delilah for 13 months and my boobs need a bra, but I’m proud of my boobs. They fed and nurtured my two beautiful daughters so, actually, I love them.
Did you feel under pressure to diet and get back in shape fast? No, when you’re a mum it’s not important. I never went on a postbaby diet. I hate diets and don’t think they’re healthy. It’s about eating a balanced diet, not cutting foods out. Having two daughters, I don’t want either of them to ever say: ‘I can’t eat this.’ I’d be gutted if Matilda or Delilah one day said they were going on a diet. Matilda sees me eat fruit but she also sees me eat cake.
How do you keep in shape?
I have a fitness programme called Mumma Fit. I didn’t want to focus on weight loss as I don’t like the pressure new mums are under.
What are your beauty secrets?
I struggle with my skin. I’ve always had acne and mine’s hormone related so when I’m pregnant or breastfeeding my skin is lovely and clear, but when my hormones go back to normal my skin plays up. I see a dermatologist. As a mother of two girls it’s important that I teach them beauty is only skin deep and confidence comes from within.
Do you let Matilda try make-up?
I let Matilda play with my make-up and wear it in the house, but I wouldn’t let her go out wearing it.
What toys does she like?
Matilda loves her Elli Smiles doll. What I like about it is it’s a nice present to give any little girl, you can put it on the potty and give it a bottle and is very baby like and has over 15 functions. Matilda is a really good girl and been amazing to her little sister but she naturally likes to play with dolls. Boys can play with them too. ELLI SMILES, £79.99, AVAILABLE FROM SMYTHS TOYS.
‘Matilda sees Me eat fruit but she also sees Me eat cake’