Kirsten Dunst, known for her roles in films like Spider-Man and The Virgin Suicides, recently shared a harrowing experience involving her younger son, James. While filming her upcoming movie, The Entertainment System Is Down, in Budapest, her four-year-old son suffered a “serious health scare.”
Dunst and her husband, Jesse Plemons, had initially planned for the whole family to stay in Budapest for the duration of the six-month shoot. They rented a house and enrolled their elder son, Ennis, in school. However, things took a turn when James became ill. Plemons took the boys back to Los Angeles to be closer to their support system, leaving Dunst alone in Budapest to finish filming.
While Dunst remained tight-lipped about the specifics of James’s illness, she assured fans that “everyone is fine now.” She likened the experience to the movie Final Destination, where one imagines all the worst-case scenarios happening to their child. “I have never seen that movie,” she added, “But I know the concept. That’s how it feels to be a mother at times.”
In a recent interview with Town & Country, Dunst reflected on the situation, stating that it ultimately “brought us together as a family in such a deeper way.” As a family, they planned a vacation to the Bahamas after James expressed his desire to visit a beach where his sandcastle wouldn't wash away.
Dunst also discussed her upcoming film, Roofman, co-starring Channing Tatum. The film tells the story of an escaped convict who hides out in a Toys R Us store. Dunst plays Leigh Wainscott, a newly divorced employee who finds herself falling in love with the convict. She describes the film as having a Hal Ashby movie feel. She also shared that she and Plemons kept turning to each other during a screening, amazed at how good the film was.
Dunst also mentioned an incident where her son, Ennis, got into a fight with Jimmy Kimmel's son at school, revealing a glimpse into the everyday challenges of balancing motherhood and a successful acting career.
Kirsten Dunst's Balancing Act
Despite the challenges, Dunst continues to navigate her career and family life with grace. Her openness about her son's health scare and the emotional toll it took provides a relatable perspective for other parents facing similar situations.
More on 'Roofman'
- Co-stars Channing Tatum
- Story based on real events
- Dunst plays a divorced store employee