Actor, author, mother of six, law student, Madeleine West can do it all — but she isn’t perfect

NOT only is Madeleine West a successful actor and author but she is a mother to six — yes, six — children, and she’s looking for even more to do.

MADELEINE West makes me feel positively lazy.

Not only is West a successful actor and author but she is a mother to six — yes, six — children.

Yet somehow, between learning her lines, keeping fit with 4.30am yoga sessions and penning her latest kids’ book, West finds time to papier mache her children’s dreaded Book Week costumes and make a batch of biscuits for her film crew.

WEST AND BENNETT SPLIT AFTER 13 YEARS TOGETHER

ACTOR MADELEINE WEST TURNS HER HAND TO CHILDREN’S BOOKS

MADELEINE WEST ON PARENTING AND HER NEW BOOK SIX UNDER EIGHT

And she hasn’t ruled out one day finishing her law degree, joking, “Who needs sleep, right?”

Well, I do actually, so I can assure you that I am not sitting up late at night with a hot glue gun to craft an authentic-looking literary ensemble for my son after a dawn session of downward dog.

Madeleine West is a mum, an actor and an author.

And I can’t remember the last time I baked anything from scratch because a packet of Arnotts is usually just as well-received and far less messy than anything I could conjure up in the kitchen.

But that’s OK, because nobody is perfect.

And, it turns out, West isn’t either. Thank goodness.

When I sat down to talk to West recently about her return to prime-time TV, she confessed to relying on a glass or two of wine some nights just to get through the horrors of dinner time chaos (yep, me too).

She also laughingly described “screaming like a fishwife” in frustration sometimes when her kids continued to ignore her (been there too, friend).

Madeleine West with her husband Shannon Bennett in happier times.

There’s no shame in imperfection.

Frankly, it should be a relief to hear another working mother speak honestly about the daily challenges of living up to these impossible standards we see on social media.

Instead, sadly, it can become an excuse for some to stick the boot into another woman’s parenting.

Yet there’s no doubting West is a devoted mother.

After all, she put her own career aspirations on hold for years to take care of her brood and keep the home fires burning while her partner Shannon Bennett built a culinary empire.

She also wants to lead by example and show her kids it is important to follow their dreams.

West was a star on Neighbours, marrying Jarrod Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney) in 2003.

This is why, now aged 38, she is returning to the small screen to star in Ten’s gloriously camp drama, Playing for Keeps.

Juggling full-time work and six children will no doubt be a struggle, but West says she’s “never been more ambitious”.

Good on her for owning that too.

Let’s face it, West probably doesn’t work for the money, or even for the fame — she has both already in spades — West works because she loves it.

I, for one, will be glad to see her succeed, and will be cheering her on from the couch as I enjoy a glass of sauvignon blanc and a chocolate biscuit straight from the packet.