After welcoming baby daughter Palma in March, Michelle Keegan is well and truly back in the swing of work. Announcing her role in ITV’s new crime thriller The Blame, Michelle, 38, will star in the six-part drama as DI Emma Crane, who is investigating the death of a teenage figure skater. Promising a ‘tangled web of lies, institutional cover-ups, and moral compromise,’ filming is taking place in London this summer.
And for first-time mum Michelle, getting back into work was always the plan – with husband Mark Wright, 38, more than happy to take over baby duties at their home in Essex.
Our source reveals, ‘Michelle loves being a working mum now that she’s back to full-time filming, and Mark’s in his element – he’s the ultimate doting dad. For Mark, supporting his wife is everything. He’s beyond proud of her and her career, and he knows Michelle would go stir-crazy if she turned down opportunities like this. Acting is her passion, and she needs to be out there. Mark would never expect her to be a stay-at-home mum.’
And our source adds that, although Michelle was worried about being away from Palma, it couldn’t have been a smoother transition thanks to the baby’s love of routine. ‘Like any first-time parents, having a baby was overwhelming for both Mark and Michelle at first. They’ve gone from just the two of them to three and of course it takes over your entire life,’ we’re told.
‘Adapting was a big thing for Michelle, but she feels like she’s done the hardest part, since Palma is in such a great routine now. It’s eat, sleep, cuddle, repeat. Michelle likes routine, so no one is surprised Palma is in a good schedule, and it makes it easier for Mark now.’
After giving birth in March, Michelle was happy to head back into the world of acting. In May, the former Corrie star was spotted filming scenes for the last-ever series of Brassic, with Mark and Palma joining her on set. In June, Michelle signed a six-figure deal to become the face of Sky, and has also jetted off to film mystery projects in both Bulgaria and Paris. It comes after an incredible few years for the star, who achieved huge success in Netflix’s Fool Me Once, with the series amassing record-breaking figures and catapulting Michelle to worldwide fame.
And despite initially saying she planned to take it easy – revealing while pregnant, ‘I’m going to take a good chunk of time off to enjoy being a mum’ – our source says Michelle is at a point in her career where she doesn’t want to turn down amazing opportunities.
We’re told, ‘She was never going to give up everything that’s so important to her – going back to work was always a non-negotiable for Michelle. She’s worked so hard to get where she is. Michelle says being an older mum and sticking to her career goals was the best decision she made, and she hopes she can be an inspiration to other women out there.
‘Having said that, nothing is more rewarding for her than coming back to Mark and her baby girl after a long day on set. Of course, she gets jealous of Mark being home with Palma, and she has a terrible fear of missing out, especially on any firsts. But she FaceTimes and keeps in constant communication, so that even if she’s not there physically, she’s there as support.’
And Mark – who presents a Saturday breakfast radio show with close pal Olly Murs – is more than happy to spend quality time with Palma. The source shares, ‘The first few months were very much mum and baby time, but now he’s got the reins, and he’s amazing at it. Mark has taken to parenting like a duck to water, and he’s loving the house husband role. He’s not doing this single-handedly, though, as he’s got back-up with adoring grandparents and godparents on standby.’