Keeping his life extremely private, the acclaimed filmmaker Steven Spielberg is often known for his work rather than his personal life. To protect his family from unnecessary media coverage Spielberg rarely speaks about his family. However, during an interview with Variety, the director reflected upon how becoming a father changed his life.
Discussing during the interview how he never planned to have kids, Steven Spielberg mentioned what inspired the director to have children. Married to Kate Capshaw, the filmmaker stated how E.T. changed his perspective entirely. Especially working with 6-year-old Drew Barrymore worked wonders for Spielberg.
Steven Spielberg Initially Didn’t Plan To Have Kids
Steven Spielberg started his family with his wife Kate Capshaw and shared 7 children, all together. With two children from their previous marriage and two adopted kids, the couple shared three biological children in their marriage. However, the director is often known for keeping his life private, to avoid unnecessary headlines.
Nonetheless, during an interview with Variety, the Jaws director reflected upon the time when starting a family was the furthest thing from his mind. Focused on his career and making incredible films, Spielberg mentioned how he initially didn’t plan to have children of his own.
Given his busy schedule and directorial career, Steven Spielberg mentioned, “I didn’t want to have kids”. Explaining his decision further, the director shared, “because it was not a kind of equation that made sense for me as I went from movie to movie to movie, script to script.” However, eventually things changed for Spielberg as he began shooting a particular movie.
E.T. Inspired Steven Spielberg To Start A Family
Early on in his career, Steven Spielberg often made thrillers and sci-fi movies like Jaws and E.T. However, having kids changed his perspective on his filmmaking and made him seek out creativity and delve into history, more than ever. That’s when he started focusing on movies like Schindler’s List. However, despite shifting his genre, the director mentioned how E.T. changed his life forever.
“It never occurred to me till halfway through E.T. I was a parent on that film.”
“I was literally feeling like I was very protective of Henry [Thomas] and Mike [McNaughton] and my whole cast, and especially Drew Barrymore, who was only 6 years old,” Steven Spielberg explained his realization. Directing and guiding many child stars on the set of his Oscar-winning movie, Spielberg felt like he already took on the role of a parent.
That’s when he started thinking, “Well, maybe this could be my real life someday.” He further added, “it was the first time that it occurred to me that maybe I could be a dad.” Discussing his experience a little further, Spielberg mentioned, “And maybe in a way, a director is a dad or a mom … I really felt that that would be my big production.” Finally, as E.T. won four Oscars, Steven Spielberg started planning parenthood.
Source: Variety
