London: Veteran actress Helen Mirren says she never wanted her own children, but there was a moment when she cried her heart out for missing out that phase in her life.

She added that she got over it soon.

‘The Queen’ star opened up on why motherhood never appealed to her in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, reports mirror.co.uk.

The actress, 70, is a Hollywood star and has been with director Taylor Hackford since 1986. They married in 1997. But having children has never appealed to Mirren, who has two stepchildren from husband Hackford's previous relationship.

‘I love children, they are so funny and so sweet, but I never wanted my own. I have never had a moment of regret about not having children. Well, I lie. When I watched the movie, 'Parenthood', I sobbed for about 20 minutes,’ Mirren said,

She added: ‘It was about the whole story of being a parent and how it never stops, even when you are a grandparent. I realised I would never experience that, and for about 20 minutes, I sobbed for the loss of that and the fact that I never experienced it.

‘Then I got over it and I was happy again.’