專訪｜5 Kids & No Nanny: How Chris O'Donnell Does It－BELOVED

5 Kids & No Nanny: How Chris O'Donnell Does It
Chris O'Donnell first hit the Hollywood scene as the perfect Boy Next Door: those sparkling blue eyes, that quiet confidence, that unpretentious ease. Yes, this was definitely a guy you could get hot and bothered about — and bring home to Mom. Well, that boy is all grown up now and has five kids of his own. And you know what? He might just be even dreamier.

By Laurie Sandell

At the REDBOOK photo shoot in Venice, CA, Chris O'Donnell has one kid hanging off each arm, one in his lap, another with her arms around his neck, and a fifth — yes, a fifth — tugging at his feet. And no nanny in sight. That's right: The former teen heartthrob has matured into the ultimate family man. After smaller roles in films like 1990's Men Don't Leave and 1991's Fried Green Tomatoes, Chris landed his breakout role opposite Al Pacino in 1992's Scent of a Woman, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe. From there, his career took off: He romanced Minnie Driver in 1995's Circle of Friends, played Robin the Boy Wonder in Batman Forever, and was even offered the lead in 1997's Men in Black but turned it down to focus on his family. (The role ultimately went to Will Smith.) Now starring on CBS's latest addition to the hit NCIS franchise, NCIS: Los Angeles, Chris still manages to attend every one of his kids' weekend sporting events. His only regret: that his busy schedule means he can't coach their teams anymore.

He's got the dad thing down, but what really makes this humble 39-year-old from the Chicago suburbs hunk material is his devotion to his wife of 13 years, Caroline. "The first time I kissed her, I was like, Wow," Chris recalls. "But she was the sister of a good friend, so my next thought was, Oh, God — Andrew's going to be really pissed off!" Today, the couple lives a laid-back existence in Los Angeles, where they host backyard barbecues and run the neighborhood flag football games. Chris says it's his warm if sometimes chaotic home life, not the whirl of stardom, that feels most comfortable to him: "I'm the youngest of seven, so I didn't know any different," he laughs. Read on for a peek inside one of the busiest households — and most rock-solid marriages — in Hollywood.

Here you are in REDBOOK's "Hot Husbands" issue. What's it like to go from teen heartthrob to sexy leading man?

Oh, God, that's funny. [Laughs] The only time it got really crazy was during Batman. Anywhere I went in the world, people knew who I was. I was being offered these huge films that would have taken my career to a different level, and I decided to put on the brakes. I knew if I continued on that track, I probably wouldn't have gotten married.

And marriage and a family had always been important to you?

I knew when I got into this business I couldn't have it both ways: I could live the playboy lifestyle, which is not a bad thing to do, or have a traditional family life, which is how I grew up. And that was more important to me.

How did you and Caroline meet?

I lived in the same building as her brother Andrew. She came to visit and we had a little smooch. I knew there was something special about her from that moment, but we didn't see each other again for three years. One night I was out with Andrew and said, "What is that little sister of yours up to? Let's give her a call." So we did, and she was like, "Why are you calling me?" I didn't really know why, except that I had never forgotten her. And we started talking.... We dated for three years and got married when I was 26.

That's pretty young for a guy who's at the height of his fame.

I was in the right place earlier than I thought. I would think to myself, Could I imagine not marrying her? And there was just no way.

What is the glue of your marriage?

Our families have the same values and traditions, and I think that goes a long way, because when the excitement and heat of romance wears off, those are the things you fall back on.

Let's talk about all those kids of yours: What's it like to have five?

I love it. I don't have as much time with Maeve and Finn as I did when Lily and Chip were their age, and that makes me feel a bit bad. But they're having a different experience; the kids create their own fun. One of my sisters has four kids and they live in our neighborhood. They're all inseparable.

Source: RedBookMAG.com

Chris O’Donnell: I Chose Family Over Fame

After appearing as Batman’s sidekick Robin in the 1995 film, Chris O’Donnell‘s acting career was on the brink of a major breakthrough.

However, the then 25-year-old quietly stepped away from the spotlight to focus on starting a family.

"I was being offered these huge films that would have taken my career to a different level, and I decided to put on the brakes. I knew if I continued on that track, I probably wouldn’t have gotten married,” O’Donnell reveals in Redbook‘s June issue.

Now celebrating his 13th anniversary with wife Caroline, the couple has welcomed five children — Lily Anne, 10½, Christopher ‘Chip’ Eugene, 9½, Charles McHugh, 6½, Finley, 4, and Maeve Frances, 2.

The NCIS: Los Angeles star is relishing fatherhood — even if neither he nor Caroline rush to tackle the challenges that accompany the job!

"Maeve starts crying at 6:45 a.m. and [we will] start kicking each other under the sheets: ‘Maeve is crying. Get her,’” O’Donnell, 39, laughs.

"Or you’ll do that fake pretend sleep, where as soon as the other person gets up, you’ll say, ‘Oh, are you going to get her? I’ll stay here then. I didn’t even hear her.’”

And while O’Donnell has starred in a handful of other major roles since his days as Robin, his brood always manage to keep those memories alive.

"I used to try to be really low-key on airplanes, with my hat pulled down. Now I pre-announce to the people around us, ‘I want to apologize in advance,’” he jokes.

"When Chip was 3, as soon as we sat down, he said, ‘My dad was Robin in the Batman movie.’ I was like, ‘Oh my God. How are you guys doing?’ I give up.”