She was pregnant? Offspring’s Kat Stewart gave birth five weeks ago
AFTER keeping her second pregnancy completely under wraps, Offspring star Kat Stewart has revealed the new addition to her family.
EXCLUSIVE
AFTER keeping her second pregnancy completely under wraps, Kat Stewart has revealed that she is a mum again to a five-week old baby girl.
The 43-year-old star gave birth to daughter Georgia on March 16 — just weeks before she starts filming the new season of Offspring. And until now, Stewart has kept Georgia, or Gigi as she is known, out of the public eye.
It is the star’s second child to husband David Whiteley. The pair has a 4-year-old son, Archie.
“It wasn’t a conscious thing (to keep Gigi’s birth secret),” Stewart says. “I haven’t been hiding her. I’ve just been pottering around at home.”
Stewart delayed starting a family to concentrate on her acting career. In the past she has said that Archie would likely be an only child.
“Gigi is a very pleasant surprise,” Stewart says with a smile. “I’m only five weeks in (from Gigi’s birth). I wouldn’t normally go back to work this early but Offspring is a family.
“Archie takes his role as big brother really seriously. He’s in charge of calming Gigi down with lullabies.”
Offspring will turn into a mini-creche when filming begins Tuesday. Stewart will be bringing Gigi to set and Asher Keddie will have one-year-old son Valentino.
Keddie plays obstetrician Nina Proudman and Stewart is Nina’s sister, Billie.
“Archie was on set with me when he was really little and I’m doing the same with Gigi,” Stewart says.
“We’ll have Asher’s little boy here too. It is a family-friendly atmosphere. It feels really right and really nice. I think it will only enrich the experience of doing the show having them around.”
Stewart says she and Keddie have been sharing parenting stories during the past two weeks of pre-production.
“It is so lovely to be spending time with Asher again,” Stewart says. “We haven’t seen much of each other since the last series and Valentino is a gorgeous little boy.
“We said ‘how much sleep did you get’ (after babies) and we both looked at each other and said ‘not much’.
“I’m going to be doing her (Billie) on less sleep (but) as soon as you let go of the idea of getting enough sleep it is quite liberating.”
Fans will get their first look at new-mum Stewart when she attends this year’s Logie Awards. Stewart won Silver in 2009 for her portrayal of Roberta Williams in Underbelly.
“It will be my first night out (since Gigi’s birth),” Stewart laughs. “I don’t get out very often at the moment.”
The storylines for the sixth season of Offspring have been just as big a secret as Gigi. Ten has refused to reveal which characters will return to the show. There are rumours the plot will jump forward in time.
“There is always the element of surprise with Offspring,” Stewart says. “I’ve read the first couple of episodes. I feel like the characters are going deeper. There is more stuff to discover.”
Offspring hasn’t screened since August 2014. Its future was under a cloud after it reached its 65 episode tax rebate threshold.
“I really didn’t think it would happen,” Stewart says. “It was the best experience I’ve had in a show. You form such deep relationships with the people and also the characters.
“I feel really confident we’ll be able to deliver something great. I don’t think we’re going to coast on some sort of legacy. We’re really aware of that and all want it to be as fantastic and awesome as it can be.
“To get to walk around in Billie’s shoes again is fantastic.”
Offspring will screen on Channel 10 in the second half of 2016.
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