Michelle Keegan has described life as a working mother as "absolutely shattering," admitting she underestimated the demands when she accepted a role in the ITV crime drama "The Blame" before the birth of her daughter, Palma.
Keegan, 39, welcomed Palma with her husband, Mark Wright, in March 2025. She told Grazia that while she was excited about the role, she "went in blind" to the reality of full-time acting and motherhood.
"I think you just believe that you're going to be fine. And of course I can do it, loads of women work full-time and are a mum. But it is hard. It's really hard," Keegan stated. She described facing long days on set, needing to learn lines at night, and attending to her baby's needs.
Keegan credited her husband, Mark Wright, as being a great partner and father, and acknowledged the support from both their families. However, she emphasized the inherent difficulty of the situation. "Thank God I've got the support system with Mark, and his family and my family have been brilliant as well. But I'm not going to lie. It's tough… I'm absolutely shattered," she said.
Her comments come after she recently withdrew from another major ITV drama, reportedly to prioritize family. The role, a working-class barrister, was set to begin filming shortly after her Netflix drama "The Woods." Sources indicated that the demanding schedule would have kept her away from Palma for too long.
During an appearance on This Morning, Keegan shared that Palma, now 18 months old, is already walking and even "running." She admitted to hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary that returning to work after having a baby was "daunting" and that she was "shattered" juggling filming and motherhood.
"It wasn’t easy but we got through it and Doug [co-star Douglas Booth] was brilliant," she added. Keegan noted that the production team for "The Blame" was supportive, making her return to work feel more manageable.
