Leïla Bekhti stars in the film *My Mother, God and Sylvie Vartan*, portraying a devoted mother facing challenges with her disabled son. In a recent interview, she candidly discussed her own motherhood journey, including struggles with conception and her deep bond with her children. Bekhti reflects on the joy of motherhood, balancing her acting career while nurturing her four children, and emphasizes the unconditional love and strength mothers possess, likening them to “superheroes without capes.”
A Heartfelt Tribute to Motherhood
In the film My Mother, God and Sylvie Vartan, premiering on March 19, Leïla Bekhti portrays a brave mother who will go to great lengths to support her son, who faces challenges due to a disability. This poignant role offers the 41-year-old actress a chance to reflect on her own experiences with motherhood during her recent guest appearance on ‘Sept à Huit’ with Audrey Crespo-Mara. She shared cherished memories of her mother and grandmother, along with her own struggles in starting a family.
Overcoming Challenges on the Path to Motherhood
Leïla Bekhti’s love story with Tahar Rahim, which blossomed on the set of Jacques Audiard’s film A Prophet, has led to the joyful arrival of four children between 2017 and 2024. Despite her bustling career, she once doubted she would ever be a mother. In a candid interview, she remarked, *”It’s a miracle.”* She recounted the difficulties she faced in conceiving her first child, sharing that medical professionals had given her little hope. *”When the gynecologist told me about my challenges with natural conception, I felt as though my left ear was blocked, completely stunned by the news,”* she revealed, adding that this was the first time she had discussed these struggles publicly.
Reflecting on the moment she shared this news with Tahar, she said, *”I told him, ‘we’re not going to face this ordeal alone,’ and he quickly reassured me, ‘it’s not just your issue; it’s ours. I want children with you.'”* Despite grappling with her own fears, she emphasized that they faced this journey together. After enduring daily injections, a miracle occurred just two months later—she became pregnant naturally. “Even today, my gynecologist can’t explain how I had all four of my children naturally,” she added.
With a twinkle in her eye, Leïla said, *”I often tell them: I waited for you; I was eager for you to arrive.”* Her children, born within a close timeframe, include a 7-year-old and a little one celebrating her first birthday. *”In six years, I gave birth to my four children,”* she shared proudly.
Balancing motherhood and a career in the film industry is no small feat for Leïla. She described her daily life as *”quite sporty,”* often multitasking during photo shoots while ensuring she is involved in her children’s lives. *”I need to know what they eat and what their schedule is,”* she explained, adding that while she travels for work, her children usually stay home, but they share a close bond. *”When we go on vacation without their dad, we all sleep in the same room,”* she noted fondly.
Leïla expressed that her connection with her children has liberated her in many ways. *”There’s a rule in our house: every day, we express our love for one another and share laughter,”* she revealed. Interestingly, she noted that each of her children is linked to a film she worked on while pregnant, including the upcoming My Mother, God and Sylvie Vartan.
As her character Esther tells her son, *”I give you my life,”* Leïla resonates deeply with this sentiment. *”They are the only beings for whom I would act without hesitation to save them; it’s a visceral, animal instinct,”* she shared. She believes that mothers are *”superheroes without capes,”* stating, *”It’s one of the purest and unbreakable forms of love. My love for my children is a bond that will never fade.”*