Actress and model Megan Fox (Transformers franchise, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Jennifer’s Body, This Is 40) originally hails from Oak Ridge, Tennessee. It’s there, where she developed a love for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated TV series as a child. Megan credits an older sister for sharing her collection of VHS tapes. The hot mom describes her opportunity to play TV journalist, April O’Neil, in the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles CGI live action adventure as a “dream come true.”
The day we caught up with Megan, she was attending a press junket for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, while husband, actor Brian Austin Green (Beverly Hills 90210, Anger Management) was trading childcare duties. With Noah and Bodhi, both under the age of 3, and one stepson, Kassius, 12, Megan had plenty to say on mothering two toddlers, tweens, and teens, while working in Hollywood. She’s also buzzing with excitement as a “fan girl,” shooting, TMNT, one of her favorite movies from childhood. Here’s what Megan said during a roundtable discussion…
Were you a big fan of TMNT?
Megan Fox: I was! I was about 4 or 5. The first movie I saw was the second one, which was Secret of the Ooze (1991). Of course, I wanted to be like my sister because she loved it, but then I continued watching it as I got older I just genuinely became a fan!
When eventually lobbying for the opportunity to play April, Megan says, she sent dozens of emails saying: “Please, please let me do it! You’re not gonna find someone that’s a bigger fan!”
How has motherhood changed the projects that you pick?
MF: Now that I have kids, I feel like I do know where my heart is basically. It’s about getting up the nerve to work: because I do hate leaving my kids. It’s really difficult. Noah was six months when I left to make this movie. He and Brian were with me. But, when you’re on set, for 16 hours, you don’t wanna stick a baby in a trailer. Luckily, I was there when Noah started crawling. So, it’s not about the projects. But, those are the things that when you go to work, you’re afraid that you’ll miss. You’re so torn in half with your career and being a mom.
What kind of advice can you give to girls, who may experience low self-esteem?
MF: It’s hard when you’re young. You’re gonna go through that. You’re also dealing with hormones. And that is a whole battle, in-and-of itself. I know that just from being postpartum and you turn into a different human being for a moment and there’s nothing that can be done about it. Part of growing up is dealing with that and you’re going to suffer through some low self-esteem issues. But, it’s hard to encourage a teenager to be in touch with their higher self because they don’t understand what that means. And, maybe they’re not supposed to. But, if you have a voice inside yourself, like you understand what is right and what is wrong. All I can say is: “Don’t be afraid to follow what is right!” And, understand that not everyone is going to like you all the time!
What’s your dream job? Who would you love to work with?
MF: This really was a dream job for me! This was the biggest fan girl experience I’ve ever had! They’re already making the new Star Wars. I’d geek out for that. I’d always said I wouldn’t want to be in the new Jurassic Park, because I don’t watch what I’m in. Obviously, anything that Spielberg directs would be the dream!
Since Bodhi’s birth, you had to bounce back into shape? Did you find it more difficult the second time around?
Both times I had my children, I had to do a press tour right afterwards. And then I did a shoot for Esquire like eight weeks after Noah was born. And then I had a shoot coming up for British GQ. The pressure an actress feels to get into shape is extraordinary. But for me, it threatens to take away how you enjoy your children if it’s in the forefront of your mind. The pressure is horrible for what we do. But, I think that Hollywood now is embracing curvier women like Sofia Vergara. I think we’re moving in a direction, where we’re embracing different types of figures.
I’d work out at the house when Noah was napping. I actually found that it took me longer to get into shape than when I was trying with Bodhi. And, I would just rest and eat right. It’s something about pushing your body before it’s right and ready. You go into “war with yourself.” Your body refuses to conform to what you want to do. And you can cause damage to your stomach muscles if you start to work out too early. It’s where the muscles are torn and they don’t join. There’s a medical term for that. I’m in much better shape now, than when I made this movie because I worked out way less.
