Joely Richardson clarifies earlier adoption statements

Contrary to what she appeared to suggest in early May, Joely Richardson says that she has no immediate plans to adopt a child from Africa.  A recent trip to Malawi as part of the Be Water Wise with Ariel campaign clearly had a lasting impact on the 43-year-old actress — but she said that the timing, and the circumstances, aren’t quite right for an adoption.  For starters her daughter Daisy is 16, which left Joely wondering "is this a time to start all over again or is this a time to realize those child-rearing years are over?"  Furthermore, Joely recently told the Sunday Mirror that,

I spoke to a woman who works at an orphanage and she said that they encourage as much help and support for the orphanage as we can give, but ideally they like a child not to be taken out of their natural environment. And that stuck with me. I just think it’s about what’s in the child’s best interests. There are exceptions, obviously, as in Madonna’s case, when you have a great support system and can reinvest a lot into a country, the way she has done.

Daisy’s dad is movie producer Tim Bevan.

Source:  Sunday Mirror; Photo by WENN

Comments

sheba on June 3rd, 2008

An orphanage is a natural environment? 5 million mother and fathers dead or dying from AIDS is a natural environment? Give me a break. I’ve been to Malawi. That country is a mess. And while the mission I work with goes back every year providing services, I will never return to Malawi. It’s a country run by corrupt officials who could give less than a flying fig about their orphaned children.

blackrose on June 3rd, 2008

i totally agree with u sheba..having a loved mother and father is much better than living in an orphanage no matter where and who..

Aura on June 3rd, 2008

I think she’s referring to their home country – And taking them another nation that is very different in culture to their home country. It saddens me that every time I come onto this site, people are cristizing celebs for all the statements they make. Joely is clearly to work out what’s best for her and what’s best for children in dire situations, and doesn’t need others slamming her statements or what she says.

sheba on June 3rd, 2008

I was talking about this woman she spoke to which she refers to in her statement. I didn’t know I needed to be specific being that it is obvious I wasn’t referring to Joely. What that woman said is some such nonsense. Malawi is not capable of taking care of their 1 million orphans, if they were I would have no problem with them insisting these children stay in their country.