Annette Bening covers the latest issue of AARP Magazine. She seems to be doing a lowkey Oscar campaign for The Report. Which is also a reminder that… Annette has never won an Oscar! One of the most famously Oscar-snubbed actors out there, honestly. Annette and Glenn Close. Anyway, in this interview, Annette speaks a bit about her son Stephen’s transition. Stephen transitioned from his former “Kathlyn” identity in his teens. For a time, it felt like Stephen’s transition put some strain on Annette’s marriage with Warren Beatty, but everything seems to be fine now.
Annette Bening has four children with husband Warren Beatty. They are Stephen, aged 27, Benjamin, aged 25, Isabel, aged 22, and Ella, aged 19. And in the December/January issue of AARP The Magazine, the Oscar-winning actress talked about her son Stephen’s gender identity after transitioning from Kathlyn Elizabeth in his teens: ‘He’s managed something that’s very challenging with great style and great intelligence. He’s an articulate, thoughtful person, and I’m very, very proud of him.’
The Captain Marvel actress also talked about protecting her children: ‘When I was younger, part of me thought I could save my children from having to suffer, which was, of course, ridiculous. They have to go through their struggles.’
In 2016 Warren said his hero is his transgender son. The famously private actor and director said Stephen is a ‘revolutionary.’ ‘He’s a genius, and my hero, as are all my children,’ Beatty told Vanity Fair.
This is just a nice story. I seriously remember the rumors about how Warren had a hard time with Stephen’s gender identity and transition, and how Annette was always supportive of Stephen. If those rumors were true, I’m glad that Warren finally accepted his son and that Warren and Annette can speak about it now with such love and acceptance.
Cover courtesy of AARP Magazine, additional photo courtesy of WENN/Avalon.
I jumped for joy when I saw my AARP magazine sitting in my mailbox on Monday with Annette on it!!!! Can’t wait to read it! And the fact that she and Close doesn’t have Oscars…is a TRAVESTY!
She is one of the very best!
It’s good to hear that their son is doing so well, I can’t imagine going through something so challenging with famous parents and tabloid speculation.
When I read this article, I wondered to myself whether it would be easier or harder to transition with famous parents. Yes, everyone is in your business and your private transition is public, but on the other hand, given that the industry tends to be a bit more progressive than other places in America, perhaps it is easier to gain acceptance in that respect. I do appreciate that Annette is speaking out about this topic, which in and of itself is pretty groundbreaking, which does help normalize this topic a bit in the public sphere.
Overall, (and I am thankful for her comments, her son’s grace and bravery, and Warren’s comment here as well)- their lives/responses in the public eye in this matter makes the community as a whole a little safer. So I hope very much the public aspect has been mostly a good experience for him.
Even if its not a famous parent, one good person having your back in public can deter a Lot of harm. So rock on Annette. (Not that you needed my applause 🙂 )
I’m happy for the family. AB looks great, she looks a little like Liz Warren in the second picture.
I came to comment the same thing, minx. I sure wouldn’t mind resembling Elizabeth Warren.
I also see a little Carey Mulligan.
I LOVE Annette Bening. She is an incredible actress and it is criminal that she doesn’t have an Oscar. I know it’s not really based on merit, but COME ON. She is truly a master of the craft. Really love to read about her son as well. It’s crazy that she and Beatty have been married for nearly 30 years!
She is a class act, and a great actress to boot. No wonder Beatty fell madly in love with her and stopped his obsessive womanizing.
I remember a Vanity Fair cover story on Annette Bening about 30 years ago. She was just about to start working on Bugsy. The interviewer reminded her that Beatty had a habit of becoming involved with his leading ladies. Her response was along the lines of “Oh, pooh, that’s not gonna happen with me.” Well, he certainly changed his woo ‘em and leave ‘em for her and I don’t blame him. She seems like a good person in addition to being one of our greatest actresses. Over the last week I watched The Report and rewatched The Kids are All Right and 20th Century Women. She was fantastic in all of them.
If you read the articles where Beatty gives interviews and he talks about her and his family. it is so clear he is completely in love. He just flat out said that it was pretty much love at first sight for him and he knew she was the one. Its kind of crazy how that works sometimes. Its interesting he decided to take a hiatus from acting so his kids could grow up more normally. Anyway, they are a really interesting couple.
With all the crappy news from Britain and my own worries about the Trump impeachment, it was so nice to read a story about families who love each other!
‘When I was younger, part of me thought I could save my children from having to suffer, which was, of course, ridiculous. They have to go through their struggles.’
I am living this right now. And crumbling democracy and climate change are only making it worse. What will my children’s struggles look like?
@ShazBot: Sending you and the family only good vibes at this tough time.
I wish all parents of trans-gender children were like these ones, loving and supportive. It is so incredibly awful to read about parents kicking their children out to fend for themselves on the streets when they find out they are gay or trans. Please parents, love your kids for who they are.