Jessica Oyelowo was told by a TV producer that she was “stupid and annoying” after informing him that she was pregnant with her first child.
Jessica Oyelowo was insulted by a TV producer after telling him she was pregnant with her first child
The 46-year-old actress – the wife of Hollywood star David Oyelowo – explained that the incident occurred back in 2001, but she doesn’t feel that attitudes towards women in the industry are any different almost 25 years on.
Jessica is quoted by the Daily Mail newspaper as saying: “I didn’t know I was pregnant yet, but I got a job and I found out after I’d signed my contracts and started doing costume fittings.”
The Murphy’s Law star continued: “It was a job for TV – a few episodes on this TV show back in 2001.
“The first person I told was the main producer, ‘Look, I want to let you know, I’m pregnant. I’m very well, I’m very young. I’m very healthy. I just wanted to let you know so you could be prepared.’
“He said, ‘You women! You’re so annoying. You always ruin my projects with having babies. So stupid.’
“Things haven’t changed much (since).”
Jessica and David met as teenagers and got married in London in 1998, with the latter revealing that the pair have “non-negotiables” that make their marriage work.
He explained: “We made the decision early on never to be apart for longer than two weeks: 26 years married and we’ve only broken that rule once, by 11 hours, when my wife was in Sleepy Hollow.”
David added that the pair – who have children Asher, 25, Caleb, 20, Penuel, 17, and Zoe, 13, together – never go to bed angry with each other.
The Selma star said: “Never let the sun go down on your wrath. We won’t go to bed if a disagreement isn’t resolved – sleep makes it grow like cancer.
“Before you know it, you don’t remember why you were fighting, ego and pride becomes a factor, and then it starts to fall apart.”
Meanwhile, David previously revealed that his spouse was a member of Mensa – the society for those with an IQ in the top two per cent of the population – after her score was revealed to be “off the charts” in a test for ADHD.
He told the Guardian newspaper: “Our four children are neurodiverse, too. They have incredibly special attributes that they wear as superpowers. I’m in awe that I get to be their father.”