Kirsten Dunst recently opened up about her family life and expressed admiration for her “wonderful” husband, Jesse Plemons, during a conversation at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

The 43-year-old actress, known for her impressive career in Hollywood, shares two sons, Ennis, 7, and James, 4, with Plemons, who is 37. Dunst discussed how motherhood has encouraged her to slow down her acting pursuits and make more thoughtful choices about the roles she takes on.

Reflecting on her past experiences, she shared, “I’ve experienced burnout before and struggled to maintain the energy needed for a balanced work-life dynamic.”

She elaborated, “In the past, I juggled school and filmmaking, constantly shifting between the two. But now, I’m fortunate to be in a position where I can be selective and wait for projects that truly resonate with me.”

“With two young children, I’ve cherished the time spent as a mom and have been patiently waiting for opportunities that hold real significance to me,” she added.

‘It’s comfortable and really wonderful that I’m in a position now where I can really be very careful about what really speaks to me and what work I do.’

Kirsten Dunst made rare comments about her children and praised her ‘wonderful’ husband Jesse Plemons while at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia on Thursday

The American actress, 43, who shares sons Ennis, 7, and James, 4, with the actor, 37, opened up about how becoming a mother positively influenced her decision to ease the pace of her acting career and think carefully about the roles she accepts (both pictured in October)

Kirsten also discussed how having children has given her a much more fearless approach to acting, and she counts herself lucky to be surrounded by such a great support system, including her husband. 

The couple married in July 2022, and their wedding was a private ceremony held at the GoldenEye resort in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, after they got engaged in 2017. 

She said: ‘I think anybody who has experienced having children, everything changes. For me, it gave me so much more fearlessness in my acting, which is such a gift that they gave me.

‘Also, they gave me, this isn’t the most important thing, but now when I do have the time to work and want to work, I can give it so much more. 

‘I feel like that’s with any career and growing up. I mean, with this industry, it can really, I think, mess with people’s minds more in a negative way.

She continued: ‘I’ve been very lucky that I have surrounded myself with good people, and I have a wonderful husband, and people that don’t get caught up in the frivolous parts of this industry. So that’s helped.

‘Also, I think the truer you stay to yourself and the less you worry about everybody else, then the more the opportunities come, and the right ones come to you.

‘I think in order to have longevity, especially as a woman, you really have to pick and choose, I think, to continue to have an interesting career and keep yourself special as well.’ 

She said: ‘I have been burnt out before, and I haven’t sustained that energy of being able to have a work-life balance. I also went to school, and I’d make movies, and I’d go back and forth. But now, I am in a position right now where I can wait, wait till I want to work’

She continued: ‘I have two kids. I’ve been enjoying just being a mum and then just waiting for projects that really mean something to me. It’s comfortable and really wonderful that I’m in a position now where I can really be very careful about what really speaks to me’

During the event, Kirsten looked incredible as she hit the red carpet in a blue floral floor-length gown 

She also discussed how having children has given her a much more fearless approach to acting, and she counts herself lucky to be surrounded by such a great support system, including her husband (both pictured last year)

A host of A-list stars attended this year’s In Conversation event at the The Red Sea International Film Festival event, including Genevieve Nnaji (pictured), Natasha Lyonne, and Naomie Harris

Genevieve, 46, looked sensational in a black-and-white printed floor-length dress as she posed up a storm for photographers at the film festival

Meanwhile, Natasha, 46, caught the eye in a black maxi dress with a plunging neckline and a slit at the front

Naomie, 49, exuded class in a black off-the-shoulder blazer and high-waisted trousers as she struck a series of poses for the camera

Sitting perched on a wooden stool for another shot, Naomie added inches to her frame with pointed black heels

The Red Sea International Film Festival is a 10-day cinematic event held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, that showcases a curated selection of the latest Saudi, Arab, and international films. 

Founded in 2019, it is the first international film festival in the country and is organised by the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting film culture in the region. 

A host of A-list stars attended this year’s event, including Genevieve Nnaji, Natasha Lyonne, and Naomie Harris.

Genevieve, 46, looked sensational in a black-and-white printed floor-length dress as she posed up a storm for photographers at the film festival. 

Meanwhile, Natasha, 46, caught the eye in a black maxi dress with a plunging neckline and a slit at the front. 

Naomie, 49, exuded class in a black off-the-shoulder blazer and high-waisted trousers as she struck a series of poses for the camera. 

Sitting perched on a wooden stool for another shot, Naomie added inches to her frame with pointed black heels.