Actress Joanna Page has revealed she made an ‘impulsive’ decision to have her fallopian tubes snipped as she is ‘too old’ to have a fifth child.
The 46-year-old Gavin and Stacey star underwent the procedure after having her fourth child, aged 44.
She also revealed she has slept separately from her husband, former Emmerdale actor James Thornton, for 10 years, with the couple instead occupying bedrooms with their children Eva, 10, Kit, seven, Noah, six, and Boe, 16 months.
Speaking to Woman & Home she said she would ‘love a fifth baby’ but doesn’t feel it would be fair on her current brood.
‘When I was having my third, my obstetrician asked me about contraception plans and I said, “I’m having a baby, I’ll probably not have sex forever,”‘ she told the publication.
She continued: ‘After Boe, the same obstetrician asked again and I’m quite impulsive so I said, “OK, you can cut my tubes.” Then, last month, as soon as I had my first period, I thought, “What a waste! I want another baby. I want another small one”.’
Tubal ligation involves the fallopian tubes being cut, tied or blocked to permanently prevent pregnancy.
The Welsh actress, who said her husband was not a fan of her suggestion to get the surgery reversed, added: ‘Deep down, I know that should be it. I’m too old now and it’s not fair on the others, but it’s the finality.’
Miss Page and Thornton, 47, who met on the set of 1999 TV drama David Copperfield before tying the knot in 2003, have slept in separate bedrooms for a decade.
‘Intimacy is important, but James and I don’t get any time together,’ she said. ‘For 10 years, we’ve slept with the children. Noah is the only one that now sleeps in his own bed.
‘Eva and Kit are in with James and I’ve been in the spare room with Boe for the past year.’
She continued: ‘James has been so understanding. He said, “It’s absolutely fine. This is a moment we’re going through where everything is about the kids”.’
Miss Page, who said she would like to become a yoga teacher or a sex therapist, will return to acting after a decade, starring in Russell T Davies’ upcoming Men Up, about the first Viagra trials.
