Sandra Bullock has revealed that her two children were the driving force behind her decision to return to the big screen for the long-awaited sequel to Practical Magic. The Oscar-winning actress, who adopted Louis, 16, and Laila, 12, later in life, explained that their schedules were a key factor in her commitment to the project.
"I’m not going to sacrifice my time with my kids," Bullock stated during a recent panel at CNBC’s Changemakers Summit. "They’d be happy if I was gone, I would not."
The 61-year-old actress emphasized that the sequel—which reunites her with co-star Nicole Kidman—was only feasible because production aligned with her children's school breaks. She admitted that her performance suffers when her family needs her attention, noting, "I do not do my best work if my children are struggling or if they need something and I can’t facilitate it."
Bullock acknowledged her privilege in being able to tailor her work around her family's needs, expressing empathy for parents who don't have that flexibility. "I understand that grief and that angst," she shared, "when you are at work, going, 'I’m not where I need to be right now.'"
The actress, who became a mother in her late 40s, reflected on how her perspective on life has shifted since starting her family. In a 2022 interview, she described her pre-children years as feeling like "rushing to a destination that didn't exist," while now she's content being exactly where she is.
Practical Magic 2 marks Bullock's first film in four years, continuing the story of the Owens sisters from the 1998 cult classic. The project's timing demonstrates how the actress has successfully balanced her Hollywood career with her priority of motherhood.