Joshua Jackson became a father when Jodie Turner-Smith gave birth to their daughter last year, and the actor says it’s had a “magical” impact on his outlook on life ever since.
Speaking to Us Weekly, the Dawson’s Creek alum said that fatherhood has opened him up to a “world of new things.” He added that it’s challenged what he thought he was capable of. “It just expands every single day,” Joshua said. He said that, as an actor, his life completely influences his decisions.
Joshua has been busy promoting his new series, Dr. Death. The show’s first two episodes will debut on July 15th. It’s based on the life of Dr. Christopher Duntsch, who draws attention after his patients keep winding up dead or disabled.
The actor told Us Weekly that had he been offered the titular role any earlier, he would’ve turned it down due to his wife’s pregnancy. Dr. Death originally cast 50 Shades of Gray actor Jamie Dornan as the lead, but he ultimately had to pull out. The role was then offered to Joshua.
While the former teen star says he would’ve said no to the role if it interfered with Jodie’s pregnancy, he feels there was a reason it all worked out, describing it as “cosmically the right job.” He added his wife was supportive of his taking on the role despite having a then-newborn at home.
Jodie originally gave birth to their daughter, now 14 months old, in April 2020. A representative for the couple confirmed that both mother and baby were healthy at the time. Joshua and Jodie have still not publicly shared their baby’s name.
The couple later revealed they opted for a home birth. While the coronavirus pandemic played a part in their decision, Jodie explained that it was largely motivated by systemic racism. Citing the statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the actress told Vogue that the risk of a Black woman dying in labor is three times greater than white women.
The Queen & Slim star said it was importance for her to have “full agency in determining my birth support.”
During the same interview with Vogue, Jodie touched on Joshua’s involvement with her pregnancy. She explained they both witnessed their mothers struggling to raise their families, so it was important for him to be as present as possible. The new mom said there was no moment he dared to miss.
Jodie and Joshua were married in December 2019 after first becoming romantically linked the year prior.
Sources: Us Weekly, Vogue, Just Jared,