Heather Graham has opened up about her decision not to have children, admitting she has no regrets about her choice.
The actress, 53, has had a successful career in Hollywood and several high-profile relationships, including with Heath Ledger, James Woods, and Yaniv Raz, but chose not to start a family.
Graham revealed that she is happy with her choice despite the stigma society often places on women who opt not to become mothers.
While she thinks if she had had kids it "would've been cool", she believes "if you're meant to have kids, you have kids," but says "the universe gives you someone or something to nurture" regardless.
She told People: "I think we all have different paths. You just have to embrace the one that you're on. If, somehow, I had had kids, I'm sure that would've been cool.
"But at the moment, not having kids, I do feel free. And I get a lot of sleep. That is pretty great."
While it's everybody's choice whether or not they want to have children, Graham admits that there is still a deep-rooted double standard for childless men and women in today's society.
"I do feel like as a woman, culturally, you're not allowed to say, 'I didn't want to have kids.' Because it's like, what's wrong with you?
"I think as a man it's like, 'Oh yeah, cool, you didn't want to have kids.' Now, women are getting more free to just make their own choices."
While those who pile pressure on to women to procreate - even if they don't want to - often suggest that childless women are "missing out", Graham confirmed: "I don't feel that I'm missing anything."
She revealed that she often views her projects as her kids, which she finds "hard but super fulfilling", as she has taken on writing, producing, and directing.
Graham also admitted she once turned down a very high-profile movie gig - and still regrets that decision to this day.
Remaining tight-lipped about what the project was, she explained: "Sometimes I do wake up in the morning thinking about it, going, why didn't you do that movie?
"I am embarrassed to even say [the name of] it because it's so dumb that I didn't do it. But I believe that you're on your path and I'm grateful. I'm so happy that I got to be an actress."
Despite regretting passing up on the mystery movie, the SAG award nominee believes that her acting career is "secondary" in her life, and her main goal is to "enjoy" herself.
After being "super ambitious" when he was younger she now finds it "so much more fulfilling" to be able to soak up the quieter moments rather than chasing the next level in her career.
She explained: "Of course, I still am ambitious, but whenever I can really relax and get into a place of gratitude, then I feel like I really can enjoy all the good things in my life, which I have a lot."
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