Emma Thompson

Emma Thompson

Emma Thompson feels very lucky to have a rock solid relationship with Greg Wise.

The 'Saving Mr. Banks' actress, who has daughter Gaia, 14, and adopted son Tindyebwa Agaba, 26, with her husband of nine years, says he is "a great aesthetic pleasure" and admits she can't imagine her life without the actor, whom she met on the set of 'Sense and Sensibility' in 1995.

She said: "He is the only luxury I can't imagine ever being able to give up. Because he can cook, wash up, clean, entertain children, understand maths homework, put up shelves, take them down and put them up elsewhere and repair the little holes left behind, garden with a purpose, drive sensibly but very fast on motorways and lets me get on with my life."

The 55-year-old star recently put her career on hold to spend more time with her family.

She told the MailOnline: "I wanted to spend more time with my family. A year off was my birthday present to myself. I didn't actually act or write. I was just a mum. I taught drama at my daughter's school, cooked meals and had fun."

She added: "I highly recommend others to do the same if they can afford it."

Emma no longer believes that it's possible to always juggle a career and parenthood.

She said: "Sometimes in life you'll have some things, at other times you will have other things. You don't need it all at once, it's not good for you. Motherhood is a full-time job.

"The only way I could have continued working would have been by delegating the running of the home to other people. I never wanted to do this as I find motherhood profoundly enjoyable."