'I'm 65 and things have never been better' - Kristin Scott Thomas on her 'freer' second marriage and what women have taught the new generation of men

Dame Kristin Scott Thomas knows that people often mistake her for the "cold" women she often plays on-screen, but her reality couldn’t be more different.

In a candid and open conversation on Paloma Faith’s Mad, Sad, Bad podcast, The English Patient star opened up on feeling like "a dismal failure" and resenting becoming a statistic when her first marriage ended.

However, she revealed why her second marriage feels "freer" because of how much better she knows herself as an individual - as well as celebrating the lessons "women [have taught] the new generation of men".

Speaking with Paloma, Kristin was asked how differently marriage and romance is when it comes later in life - when there’s no pressure in terms of feeling like one should be having children or building their career.

Kristin shared, "It's a different thing. It's different. You know, he's got three children. I've got three children… I think it probably is freer

"You're established as a person. You know who you are by then. You know, when I was 21, I didn't really know who I was very much. I know what works, what doesn't work, where the danger zones are, and what I should look out for”.

This sense of freedom has allowed the Slow Horses actress to really hone in what she relishes and what to "make the most of and go full flat out down a certain path."

Kristin is married to John Micklethwait, a journalist, with the pair tying the knot in 2024. Before, Kristin was married to François Olivennes between 1987 and 2005, with the pair sharing three children.

When that first marriage ended, Kristin concedes, "I felt like a dismal failure. The worst thing about it was the fact that I became a statistic. I became one of the 40something percent or whatever it is and I really resented that".

Despite the marriage ending, in a conversation about how things have changed over the years, Kristin revealed they remain in one another’s lives and things are the best they’ve ever been.

Kristin said, "I think a lot of women feel that they're trapped, socially, financially, economically... They feel that they have to stay in a relationship because otherwise what do they do?

"You know, they've given up work to go and to look after children or whatever. I think that is probably a case of a lot of women, but certainly wasn't in our case. I mean, I'm really lucky in that my ex-husband is still quite present in my life.. And it's great.

"To be honest, I'm 65 now and things have never been better."

Kristin also spoke about the changes she’s noticed in relationship dynamics over the years, praising the younger generation of men for being more hands on with childcare.

Speaking about her own family, and spending a weekend with her grandchildren, she was proud to see how involved the men were.

"Just to see how the dads were with these children was extraordinary for me. I mean, it was totally thrilling because they were so on it and completely natural, efficient, brilliant. Just didn't even think twice about changing the nappy or feeding. It was just completely organic.

"It's a testament to us women teaching the new generation of men to see child rearing as a group activity."