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Interview: Amanda de Cadenet on Loving "Women's Women" Jane Fonda, Gwyneth Paltrow, and More

Tara Block — Thu, 03 May 2012 09:20:00 PDT

We explained why we love photographer and British TV personality Amanda de Cadenet and her new show The Conversation, and tonight is the second episode!

We chatted with the motorcycle-riding mom of three (who's married to a rocker, no less) about everything from sex positions to The Bachelor to the benefits of marriage, but what Amanda's really passionate about is the plight of today's women. On her new Lifetime show The Conversation, Amanda gets into some heavy topics with famous women like Jane Fonda, Kelly Preston, Zoe Saldana, Sarah Silverman, and Gwyneth Paltrow. And she couldn't help but gush about her ladies, who she says are "truly women's women," in addition to opening up about how our sex as a whole needs to start sticking together. Here's what she said:

TrèsSugar: What did you learn from doing these interviews?
Amanda de Cadenet: That women globally are addressing very similar issues in their lives, and that we're not actually that different. I've met so many good people, and that was really the overwhelming feeling: Wow, there are some good people on the planet.

TS: What part of a woman's life do you think we're most scared to talk about?
AC: I would say people have a lot of shame about their relationships. Most women who I know have stayed in a less-than ideal relationship for way too long, and they get embarrassed to say, "Yeah I'm still with this person because I just can't leave."

Or people are uncomfortable saying, "I hate the way my body looks." It's just not PC to be down on your body these days, but the truth is that most of us are. So I love that my ladies are very outspoken about their bodies and how they feel about them. There's been this kind of picture painted, a standard that's been set, by whom I don't really know, that to be a woman who's having a successful life you have to be OK with your body, be earning enough money, be in a relationship. If you're a woman of a certain age you're supposed to have children. You're supposed to be conforming to society's idea of what it means to be a successful woman. None of us are, by the way. And that's part of what The Conversation is about: Who created this notion of what it means to be a woman on the planet? Because none of us are living up to it. And the reality is what we're actually talking about on the show, which is that no one's doing it perfectly. We're all doing the best we can do. And Jane Fonda at 73 says, "I'm finally whole." Gives us all permission to be human, right?

For the rest of the interview and photos of Amanda with some of the women she interviewed, keep reading!

Photos courtesy of A&E Television Networks LLC

Kelly Preston Discusses Healing and Baby Benjamin in Health Magazine

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 05:31:05 PDT

It's been nine months since Kelly Preston and John Travolta welcomed lil baby Benjamin to their grieving family, and now the mama is speaking out. Appearing on the cover of the September 2011 issue of Health magazine, the actress and mom to Ella, 11, discusses how her religion helped her cope with the couple's son Jett's death two and a half years ago, the joy their new baby brings to their lives, and more. Kelly Preston told Health:

On how she got through the death of her son, Jett: "To be honest, [it was] the Scientology center. I don’t know if I would have made it through without it."

On yearning to be a mom: "I’ve always wanted to be a mother, ever since I was 11 . . . I was doing commercials for thousands of dollars, but I’d still babysit for $3 an hour just because I loved it."

On advice to her former self: "Don’t sweat the small things. Love your kids like it could be the last moment."

On the birth of her son, Benjamin: "We [had been trying] for quite a few years . . . When I found out I was pregnant, I was floored. I’d snuck out of bed and then came back and woke Johnny up in bed. We both started crying. It was wonderful."

On her surreal life with John Travolta: "I’ll be sitting there [in our Florida home] doing something really normal with the kids and then all of a sudden I hear, ‘Whoosh!’ and see the lights of the airplane, and he’s like, ‘Honey, I’m home!"

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John Travolta and Kelly Preston Show Baby Benjamin the Sights of Paris!

Allie Merriam — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 06:57:21 PDT

John Travolta and Kelly Preston beamed yesterday as they stepped out of the Ritz Hotel in Paris with their daughter, Ella, and young son Benjamin. The Travolta gang headed to the City of Lights to spend Father's Day there as a foursome. It was the latest stop on young Benjamin's busy itinerary - the 7-month-old is a frequent jet-setter between the US and Europe with his high-flying parents. John may have to stay put on set in the coming months. He's due to start shooting Gotti: In The Shadow of My Father, and Kelly apparently has a role in the picture, too.

John Travolta and Kelly Preston Do Dinner With Baby Benjamin

Allie Merriam — Tue, 03 May 2011 08:27:26 PDT

John Travolta and his wife, Kelly Preston, grabbed dinner in LA last night with their young son Benjamin. The happy family have been all over in recent weeks, making the retail rounds on the West Coast and exploring restaurants in NYC. Kelly and John welcomed their bundle of joy in November, and he made his debut just two months later in a January issue of People. John's happiness at home with wife Kelly and kids Benjamin and 11-year-old Ella isn't stopping him from moving forward with a few new projects. He's clinched a role in a big-screen story about the famous Gotti crime family, starring alongside Lindsay Lohan, and also plans to join Blake Lively and his Pulp Fiction buddy Uma Thurman in a film called Savages.

Kelly Preston Shows Off Baby Benjamin in the Big Apple

Lauren Turner — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:38:23 PDT

Kelly Preston carried her son Benjamin Travolta to a waiting car in NYC this morning. The little guy was born in November, and Kelly and John debuted his sweet face on the cover of People just a few months later. Kelly and John made the trip to the East Coast for last night's TV Land Awards, where John and the cast of Welcome Back, Kotter reunited. Kelly joined her husband for the exciting evening, and today she and Benjamin took care of other business around town while the group made an appearance on Good Morning America.

Kelly Preston "Didn't Consider the Risks" of Getting Pregnant Older; Would You?

Heather Maddan — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 12:27:29 PST

John Travolta and Kelly Preston welcomed their third child, Benjamin, in December after three years of trying to conceive. The family's newest addition has helped the couple and their daughter, Ella, 10, cope with the loss of their teenage son, Jett, who died unexpectedly in 2009. During an interview with Natalie Morales, Preston said:

"I didn't (consider this risks). I just considered that it was difficult. I never thought that would be me at all. So, I think we're just really happy that we're so fortunate,"

While putting off pregnancy until later in life isn't uncommon, many women are concerned with the risks.

Celebrities Debut Babies in Bed: What Do You Think of the Photo Spreads?

Heather Maddan — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 10:45:13 PST

We've come a long way, baby! Remember when Mike and Carol Brady stirred up a scandal when they were filmed in bed together? That kissed the I Love Lucy days of his and her twin beds goodbye. While many parents conceive their children between the sheets, it's also now the hottest spot to debut baby! Celine Dion recently got comfy to show off her twin sons, Eddy and Nelson, and now John Travolta and Kelly Preston are the latest to be pillow propped. Wearing white loungewear, the proud parents introduced baby Ben on People's latest cover. While the lair setting is less posed and true to the postpartum lifestyle, what's your opinion of the picture-taking trend?

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John Travolta and Kelly Preston Introduce Baby Ben in People

Allie Merriam — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 06:22:11 PST

Kelly Preston and John Travolta welcomed baby Benjamin in November, and the little one makes his debut in this week's People! John shared about their special delivery, saying, "He's given the house a renewed spirit and purpose."

John and Kelly announced that they were expecting last March, and it was especially heartfelt after the tragic 2009 death of their son Jett. Pregnant Kelly and John made an appearance during the Summer's World Cup in South Africa, and he kept the jet-setting going recently when he piloted the plane that took Oprah's lucky guests on a trip to Australia. Kelly and John were on to something when they decided what to call their son, as you ranked Benjamin as the top boy's name of 2010.

Best of 2010: Benjamin Is the Favorite New Baby Boy Name!

LilSugar — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 04:00:00 PST

A bunch of boys were born in 2010! Several celebrities welcomed sons this year, and it turns out that when it came to naming, it's all about Benjamin! John Travolta and Kelly Preston's pick for their son was a standout winner with our readers getting 45 percent of the favorite vote. The male moniker is said to mean "son of the right hand." Sheryl Crow's son's name - Levi - came in at second place with 32 percent of the votes.

How Old Are These Celebrity Moms and Moms-to-Be?

Heather Maddan — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 21:30:00 PST

It's not polite to ask a woman her age, but no one says you can't guess! Hollywood is full of girls that decided to have their children young and other gals who waited. Take this quiz and test your mom knowledge!

Take the Quiz