Natalie Portman's son made her realise being a mum is 'real work'

It's not going to come as a surprise to any parent out there that another Hollywood star has seen the light and realised that however much money and fame you have, being a parent is hard work.

Natalie Portman has revealed in an interview with ELLE UK that it wasn't until she had her own son, Aleph, now two, that she considered the work that mums do every day bringing up their children 'real work'.

It's a common misconception - how many times have we been jealous of our friends on maternity leave or who have become full-time stay-at-home-mums (SAHM), thinking they live the life of Riley?

But if you're a mum yourself, we're willing to bet there have been times when you're glad to go to work for 'a rest'?

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Natalie, 32, told the magazine:  "I love being a mum, but it’s much more intensive work than being an actress – going to work feels like you’ve got a day off.

"Not that I want a day off from being a mum, it’s just perhaps I had this impression before that mums don’t work. But they work more than anyone."

She's faced some scorn for her comments, from people who had this epiphany long before they welcomed their own children into the world.

Koa Beck on Mommyish wrote: "Newsflash but everyone from SAHMs, SAHDs to full-time working parents are working their a**** off (especially those who are not privileged). And bottom line? Thirty years old [the age Natalie was when she gave birth to Aleph) is way too old to be this stupid."

Do you feel your work as a mum is undervalued or do you feel those around you understand the challenges of being a full-time mum? Tell us on Twitter.

Full interview appears in the November issue of ELLE UK, on sale Wednesday October 2 2013. Also available as a digital edition.

For the behind-the-scenes video of ELLE’s Natalie Portman shoot go to www.elleuk.com/elle-tv