HELEN Flanagan has admitted she “constantly suffers” with mum guilt – even when her three kids are spending time with their father.
The former Coronation Street star spoke candidly in an exclusive interview with The Sun, and told us she has to force herself to “look at the bigger picture”.
Helen, 35, who has locked horns with ex-fiancé Scott Sinclair in a series of public clashes, spoke about the raw emotional pull she feels while working away.
Helen and Scott split after 13 years together in 2022. They share three kids Matilda, 10, Delilah, seven, and Charlie, four.
Speaking to the Sun on behalf of Paddy Power, she said: “I feel mum guilt all the time.
“It’s something I deal with constantly. But I try to remind myself that I’m working for my children, so it’s ultimately for them.
“When they’re with their dad, I also see that as encouraging their relationship, which is important.
“I do still feel guilty, but I try to reframe it and look at the bigger picture.”
Helen previously said she now takes jobs she usually wouldn’t do to pay the bills.
The former soap star played the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Liverpool‘s M&S Bank Arena over the festive period.
It came as her ex looked after their brood at Christmas last year and again during the recent Easter holiday period.
Dressed up in character this month, the panto star shared: “I am princess Jill today. I’m really, really loving this theatre tour so much.
“I miss my kids today. I’ve been away from them now for about a week as they are at their daddy’s for Easter.
“I definitely don’t think it gets easier sharing your children, it really doesn’t, but there’s so many of us that are in these situations and it can be really tricky.”
Helen’s comments about her former partner — and the positive nature of him spending time with their kids — seem to hint the pair have built bridges.
Their most recent explosive spat saw her clash with Scott after he missed their son Charlie’s nativity play because he was in Abu Dhabi for the F1.
She branded him a “piece of s**t” as he lived it up in the UAE instead.
It also seems Helen is setting her sights to her future after selling her family home and split with former boyfriend Robbie Talbot.
On the prospect of her signing up for more dating shows, she told us: “My children just find it funny.
“My daughter and I are very close. She just sees it as me working and doing different things – we have such a close bond, so it’s all very normal to her.
“I’m very open-minded about it.
“I don’t think there’s an age where you suddenly have to stop doing things like modelling or dating shows.
“You can still feel beautiful and confident at any age, so I don’t think you can put a limit on it.”