It came as a shock when Mary-Louise Parker, who was seven months pregnant at the time in 2003, learned that the father of her child, Billy Crudup, was leaving her for Clare Danes, whom he met on the set of their film, Stage Beauty.
In an interview with Howard Stern, Danes, 36, opened up about her controversial relationship with Crudup and whether she regrets it.
The Homeland actress said the public backlash over the romance was difficult.
“That was a scary thing,” said Danes. “That was really hard. I didn’t know how to not do that. I was just in love with him and needed to explore that and I was 24… I didn’t quite know what those consequences would be.”
Claire Danes gets candid about dating Billy Crudup after he left pregnant Mary Louise Parker: http://t.co/whsOigdALv pic.twitter.com/nAA9oJXqgG
— E! Online (@eonline) October 6, 2015
Danes and the 47-year-old Almost Famous actor remained in a relationship for four years until she moved on with her future husband, Hugh Dancy.
Claire Danes, Billy Cudrup Affair: Actress Comes Clean On Billy Leaving Pregnant Mary… http://t.co/hmOn6yXUwk pic.twitter.com/0dT9YEEdEe
— Inquisitr Showbiz (@IQShowbiz) October 5, 2015
Danes said she is good with what transpired with Crudup.
“But it’s okay. I went through it,” said Danes, adding that they remain friends today.
“We’re friendly, we’re friends.”
Claire Danes talks about Billy Crudup leaving Mary-Louise Parker for her & if she regrets it. http://t.co/KLntFHIeTF pic.twitter.com/vZy1XztUTl
— The Insider (@TheInsider) October 5, 2015
As for the Weeds actress, who has said little about the affair over the years, will likely address her feelings about that time in her life in her upcoming memoir, Dear Mr. You.
Set to hit shelves on Nov. 10, the book will include a series of letters Mary-Louise Parker wrote to the men in her life — undoubtedly, among them, Crudup, the father of her 11-year-old son William.