Keisha Castle-Hughes doesnt regret becoming a mom at 17

I hope everyone remembers the film Whale Rider. It was a small, independent film released in America in 2003. It was a critical success, and Keisha Castle-Hughes, the young actress in her first film performance, earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her work. It really is a lovely, wonderful little film, and I’ve been a fan of Keisha’s ever since, even though she’s only done five projects since. Part of the reason? Keisha got pregnant when she was sixteen, and gave birth to a daughter when she was 17 years old. While Keisha is in Toronto promoting The Vintner’s Luck, Keisha spoke to People about becoming a teenage mother, and how she has no regrets:

Since becoming a teenage parent, Whale Rider Oscar nominee Keisha Castle-Hughes is relishing the role of a lifetime – costarring her daughter.

“I absolutely love being a mother,” Castle-Hughes, 19, told PEOPLE at the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of her new film The Vintner’s Luck. “It’s been a blessing. It’s fun and it’s hard, but it’s absolutely amazing.”

At the age of 17, Castle-Hughes gave birth to Felicity-Amore, now 2, with boyfriend Bradley Hull. Since then, she’s chosen to be out of the Hollywood spotlight to focus on taking care of her toddler, who is blossoming into a mini version of herself.

“Felicity’s just like me. All trapped into a little body,” says Castle-Hughes. “It’s quite full on. She’s got lots of energy and quite dramatic. She’s picked up quite a few dramatic tendencies from me, which is good and bad. But it’s very exciting to watch her personality develop.”

As for being a teenage mom, the youngest female star ever to be nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award – she was 13 – says, “It’s no different for me than any other mum in the world. I can be a little stressful and tiring, but it’s the most rewarding thing.”

While critics called her too young to become a mother, Castle-Hughes said she respectfully disagrees. “I was in a very different situation when I had her. I was in a loving and stable relationship with her father, who I’m still with. I had quite an established career and so the decision to have her was very easy,” she says.

“Once I found out I was pregnant there was no decision really. I was shocked but it was just like, ‘Okay, we are having a baby. That’s great.’ ”

She ads, “I’ve lived a fast-paced life, but I had the best childhood. I didn’t miss out on anything by having my daughter at a young age … If I would go back and change things, I would not. I can’t imagine living my life without her.”

Castle-Hughes is still in a happy and committed relationship – and revealed that she and Hull, 22, have “been engaged for 2½ years,” she said enthusiastically. “It’s a very long engagement but no immediate plans. Eventually it will happen. I love him and we will be together for the rest of our lives.”

As for Hull’s parenting skills, Castle-Hughes says Felicity-Amore could not have a better dad. “He’s very present in her life. He’s a fantastic father who absolutely loves her. He’s very gentle and very loving with her. He does every with her and is the perfect dad.”

The New Zealand native also says she “absolutely” wants little Felicity to have siblings. “I have no idea how many, but it changes every day. I come from a big family, so I’d like to have a big family.”

Castle-Hughes says she has a difficult time being away from her daughter. “When I’m away from her it’s torture. The minute I see a little kid on the street, I want to be with them. The [parents] go, ‘Excuse me, can you not touch my child?’ And I’m like, ‘I just wanted to hold them because I miss my own kid!’ ”

[From People]

That’s nice to know that she’s still with the father. And it’s great that she’s found the transition to motherhood so easy and joyful. That being said, I don’t think she should be held up as example of teenage motherhood, or any kind of spokesperson for it. I don’t think that’s what she’s saying either – she’s just trying to explain her personal experience with it. She seems to be a very responsible, focused young woman and a great, engaged mother, so God bless.

Keisha Castle-Hughes is shown on 2/21/09. Credit: WENN.com

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