Joy Bryant ‘annoyed’ by questions of real-life Parenthood

Actress Joy Bryant has no plans to turn Parenthood into a reality.
The actress, 41, portrayed a mother-of-three on the acclaimed U.S. drama series, but recently penned a passionate essay for Lena Dunham’s Lenny newsletter detailing her exasperation over the constant baby talk she encounters.
“I’m really f**king annoyed,” Joy wrote. “If one more person asks me if and when I’m going to have children, or tries to convince me that I should, or offers their unsolicited advice, I’m gonna, I’m gonna – Exhale. I’m going to politely tell them to mind their own business. What I choose to do or not do with my womb should be of no concern to anyone but my husband.”
Joy, who has been married to stuntman Dave Pope for seven years, adds, “While he would like to have kids, he loves and respects me enough to understand and accept my decision: that I don’t want to be a mother, that I don’t want to have children, that I don’t have the need to breed.”
The star adds she is often surprised by how often other females feel the need to comment on her choice not to procreate, writing people will say to her, “‘But you’ll have beautiful children!,’ ‘But you’ll be such a good mother!’, ‘It’s so much fun!’, ‘But you were such a good mom on Parenthood!'”
Joy also divulges on her own relationships with the maternal figures in her life, noting her mum “made s**tty choices that deeply affected me”, while her grandmother served as loyal force in her life who “put the needs of her kids and then me ahead of her own.”
Despite the fact the actress has portrayed a mother onscreen five times, she insists the best part about the job is going home without those children in tow.
“The best thing about being a ‘parent’ is I get to play mom for the day and, when the day is done, give the kid back and go home… Playing mom didn’t make me want to be a mom.”
And she is adamant the role is not one she’s gunning for, despite the persistence of outside influences, adding, “Motherhood, in all its beautiful significance, is a job I do not want. I don’t need to be a mother in order to be fulfilled in my life.”
She concludes, “My womb doesn’t belong to the world. It doesn’t even belong to my husband. It is mine and mine alone, and my womb should be free to live life as MY nature intended.”