Brenda Song.Photo:Gareth Cattermole/Getty
Gareth Cattermole/Getty
Brenda Songis loving the stage of life she’s in but even she’s dealt with imposter syndrome from time to time.Speaking exclusively with PEOPLE about her latest role in Netflix’sRunning Point, the actress, 36, recalls going through a recent period of self-doubt about her place in the industry after getting her start at such a young age.“I feel like I still have imposter syndrome,” she admits to PEOPLE. “It’s so hard because I think for me, having grown up in this industry, it’s like you’re always going to go through phases. You understand evolution and changing and always trying to figure out who you are on top of just growing up and being a human.”She notes that she felt that extra strongly the past five years as her life changed drastically, including welcomingtwo childrenwith partnerMacaulay Culkin.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Macaulay Culkin and Brenda Song.Jessie Alcheh/NBAE via Getty“Becoming a mom, finding such fulfillment in my personal life has changed me so much,” she explains. “I feel like for the first time it’s truly that next phase in my life. And with that being said, my priorities changed. That was the big difference. I think that’s what I was struggling with is our society really tells us as women to follow your dreams, do what you got to do, go out there, do your thing, girl, but also be a full-time mom, make sure you’re at home and making dinner."“It’s like, I was like, ‘How do I do this? How do I figure this out?’ And withThe Last ShowgirlandRunning Pointas amazing as the actual projects are, I always say what has been the most important thing for me is the people that I worked with,” she says, reflecting onworking with empowering womenlike director Gia Coppola inThe Last Showgirland actressKate HudsononRunning Point.“And on top of that, being pushed in creatively in a way that I’ve never been pushed before,” she continues of her recent projects. “And to be working on a project where I never thought that I would be able to be a part of was so inspiring and really just reinvigorated my passion for the artistry of what I do and what I get to do.”Brenda Song and Kate Hudson in Running Point.Katrina Marcinowski/NetflixReflecting on the recent “Brendaissance,” as fans have dubbed it, theSuite Life of Zack and Codyalum notes the most rewarding part about this stage of her life is that she’s still getting to do what she loves.“I’m so happy to be continuously working and to be working on projects that I’m proud of, to be working with people that I admire and respect and I’ve only strived and never thought that I could actually be working with,” she says. “This business is so fickle. This industry is crazy. There’s so many highs and there’s so many lows. So I’m just trying to enjoy it because I feel very, very, very lucky and fortunate that I still get to do what I’ve been dreaming and I’ve been able to do for almost 30 something years.”As she balances her professional and personal life, she notes that none of it would be possible without her close-knit support system, including her parents, siblings and fiancé.Macaulay Culkin, Brenda Song and Dakota Song Culkin.Amy Sussman/Getty“That’s the only reason I’ve been able to continuously do what I do for as long as I have,” she says, noting how her mom, dad and brothers helped keep her grounded as she dealt with child stardom, whereas nowadays, they help support her as a working mom.“It’s just knowing that when I’m here, I know that everything is okay,” she says of her family’s support. “When you have kids, they’re always on your mind. And knowing that my mom and my dad who are so funny, they’re the ones watching my babies right now. I know Mac is working today. It’s very rare that we’re both working and he’s on set today, but I don’t even worry. I know that my parents are with my kids and it’s showing support in little ways. I’m so lucky. I have such a support system. I would not be here without the people surrounding me.”While both Song and Culkin grew upin front of the cameras as child actors, the couple has made a conscientious effort toshield their children from the spotlight. However, she wouldn’t stop them from becoming actors down the line if that’s what they truly wanted to do.“When I was a child actor many, many moons ago, 30 years ago, I think it’s so different in this day and age when it comes to social media and things like that,” she says about protecting her children’s privacy. “For me, my boys can do whatever they want to do. I just want them to go to school and enjoy their anonymity while they can because they didn’t ask for me and act to be their parents. So I want them to be able to make that choice on their own.”“But of course, for me, I had such an incredible experience as a child actor. The places I’ve gotten to see, the people I’ve gotten to meet, I would be so supportive if my kids wanted to be an actor,” she admits. “I mean, of course, I’d love them to be a doctor or lawyer or because I know how crazy this industry is, but I also want to be able to support them in any way possible.”Running Pointpremieres on Feb. 27 on Netflix.
Brenda Songis loving the stage of life she’s in but even she’s dealt with imposter syndrome from time to time.
Speaking exclusively with PEOPLE about her latest role in Netflix’sRunning Point, the actress, 36, recalls going through a recent period of self-doubt about her place in the industry after getting her start at such a young age.
“I feel like I still have imposter syndrome,” she admits to PEOPLE. “It’s so hard because I think for me, having grown up in this industry, it’s like you’re always going to go through phases. You understand evolution and changing and always trying to figure out who you are on top of just growing up and being a human.”
She notes that she felt that extra strongly the past five years as her life changed drastically, including welcomingtwo childrenwith partnerMacaulay Culkin.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Macaulay Culkin and Brenda Song.Jessie Alcheh/NBAE via Getty
Jessie Alcheh/NBAE via Getty
“Becoming a mom, finding such fulfillment in my personal life has changed me so much,” she explains. “I feel like for the first time it’s truly that next phase in my life. And with that being said, my priorities changed. That was the big difference. I think that’s what I was struggling with is our society really tells us as women to follow your dreams, do what you got to do, go out there, do your thing, girl, but also be a full-time mom, make sure you’re at home and making dinner."
“It’s like, I was like, ‘How do I do this? How do I figure this out?’ And withThe Last ShowgirlandRunning Pointas amazing as the actual projects are, I always say what has been the most important thing for me is the people that I worked with,” she says, reflecting onworking with empowering womenlike director Gia Coppola inThe Last Showgirland actressKate HudsononRunning Point.
“And on top of that, being pushed in creatively in a way that I’ve never been pushed before,” she continues of her recent projects. “And to be working on a project where I never thought that I would be able to be a part of was so inspiring and really just reinvigorated my passion for the artistry of what I do and what I get to do.”
Brenda Song and Kate Hudson in Running Point.Katrina Marcinowski/Netflix
Katrina Marcinowski/Netflix
Reflecting on the recent “Brendaissance,” as fans have dubbed it, theSuite Life of Zack and Codyalum notes the most rewarding part about this stage of her life is that she’s still getting to do what she loves.
“I’m so happy to be continuously working and to be working on projects that I’m proud of, to be working with people that I admire and respect and I’ve only strived and never thought that I could actually be working with,” she says. “This business is so fickle. This industry is crazy. There’s so many highs and there’s so many lows. So I’m just trying to enjoy it because I feel very, very, very lucky and fortunate that I still get to do what I’ve been dreaming and I’ve been able to do for almost 30 something years.”
As she balances her professional and personal life, she notes that none of it would be possible without her close-knit support system, including her parents, siblings and fiancé.
Macaulay Culkin, Brenda Song and Dakota Song Culkin.Amy Sussman/Getty
Amy Sussman/Getty
“That’s the only reason I’ve been able to continuously do what I do for as long as I have,” she says, noting how her mom, dad and brothers helped keep her grounded as she dealt with child stardom, whereas nowadays, they help support her as a working mom.
“It’s just knowing that when I’m here, I know that everything is okay,” she says of her family’s support. “When you have kids, they’re always on your mind. And knowing that my mom and my dad who are so funny, they’re the ones watching my babies right now. I know Mac is working today. It’s very rare that we’re both working and he’s on set today, but I don’t even worry. I know that my parents are with my kids and it’s showing support in little ways. I’m so lucky. I have such a support system. I would not be here without the people surrounding me.”
While both Song and Culkin grew upin front of the cameras as child actors, the couple has made a conscientious effort toshield their children from the spotlight. However, she wouldn’t stop them from becoming actors down the line if that’s what they truly wanted to do.
“When I was a child actor many, many moons ago, 30 years ago, I think it’s so different in this day and age when it comes to social media and things like that,” she says about protecting her children’s privacy. “For me, my boys can do whatever they want to do. I just want them to go to school and enjoy their anonymity while they can because they didn’t ask for me and act to be their parents. So I want them to be able to make that choice on their own.”
“But of course, for me, I had such an incredible experience as a child actor. The places I’ve gotten to see, the people I’ve gotten to meet, I would be so supportive if my kids wanted to be an actor,” she admits. “I mean, of course, I’d love them to be a doctor or lawyer or because I know how crazy this industry is, but I also want to be able to support them in any way possible.”
Running Pointpremieres on Feb. 27 on Netflix.
source: people.com
