Mindy Kaling Speaks Out About ‘New Mom’ Expectations

‘I thought I would go into everything with a real source of like, deep Yoda knowledge about being a mom’

Mindy Kaling

by Phoebe Parke |
Updated on

Mindy Kaling is known for her ability to write, direct and act in hilarious TV and film projects. She’s worked on The Office, The Mindy Project, Ocean’s 8, and is currently filming Hulu miniseries Four Weddings and a Funeral.

While she has an enviable confidence on screen, in her personal life she’s been opening up about all the expectations on her as a new mother, after giving birth to baby Katherine in December 2017.

‘I thought I would go into everything with a real source of like, deep Yoda knowledge about being a mom,’ she told Glamour Magazine in an interview. ‘That has not ended up being the case.’

In reality Kaling says she feels a lot of guilt about not being with her baby enough, because she’s a working mother.

‘I work with another mom on Four Weddings and a Funeral who has a one-year-old, and the thing that we always feel frustrated about is Mommy and Me classes always take place on like a Tuesday at 11 A.M. We just are never there.

‘Getting over the guilt that I have to send someone else to take my child to a class that I’d like to go to is on-going, but I’m kind of relieving myself of those guilty feelings. That has been my New Year’s resolution—moving forward it’s the kind of change I want to make for myself.’

READ MORE: The Incredible Fashion From The Ocean's 8 Press Tour

Gallery

Oceans Eight Press Tour Fashion - Grazia

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Oceans Eight Press Tour Fashion - Grazia

Posing on the red carpet, it wasn't just the fashion that had us gawking. The cast are clearly a close-knit bunch, confirmed by Mindy Kaling who said 'I learned a lot about parenting from seeing Cate and Sandy bring their kids to set. I was very excited to tell everyone that I was pregnant, and they were so happy for me.' However, two cast members were notably missing, Rihanna and Helena Bonham Carter. We can only imagine what fabulous look Rihanna would have rocked at the event.

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Oceans Eight Press Tour Fashion - Grazia

Awkwafina's Topshop suit stole focus for many, rocking the budget item with that arms-out-of-the-sleeves sass. The striped linen suit will likely fly off the shelves now, but you can be the first to grab one for yourself here.

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Oceans Eight Press Tour Fashion - Grazia

Sarah Paulson wasn't just a shining star in the trailer, but on the red carpet too. She wore a gold sequined top and skirt by Alberta Ferretti rocking a strong contoured look with her pulled back hair.

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Oceans Eight Press Tour Fashion - Grazia

Cate Blanchett looked as stunning as ever in her Gucci suit. Pairing it with gold jewelry, the cream jacquard set stood out for it's 70's rock icon vibe.

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Oceans Eight Press Tour Fashion - Grazia

Anne Hathaway's sleeveless embellished gown by Bottega Veneta stopped just before her ankles, revealing her gold platform stilettos. The studded dress was complimented by her muted make-up look and gold hoop earrings.

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Oceans Eight Press Tour Fashion - Grazia

Sandra Bullock not only leads the cast in the film, but in fashion too with this fabulous look. The beautiful purple metallic kimono by Johanna Ortiz was paired with leather leggings and studded heels.

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Oceans Eight Press Tour Fashion - Grazia

Looking as Mindy Kaling as ever, the hilarious actor went for a black and white, lace Stella McCartney dress. Her shoes alone are a cause for envy, never mind the classic Mindy blow-out that would make even Meghan Markle -queen of loose curls- jealous.

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Oceans Eight Press Tour Fashion - Grazia

The entire cast looked as glamorous as ever for their photocall at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Temple of Dendur, with their signature style represented perfectly yet coming together as one cohesive, incredibly fashion-savvy cast.

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Oceans Eight Press Tour Fashion - Grazia

Sarah Paulson opted for a Michael Kors 'lewk' (as she puts it), wearing the oversized collar trend oh so well. Awkwafina's jumpsuit featured the summer cut-out midsection everyone is loving right now, and Sandra Bullock wore an Ellie Saab jumpsuit with wide legs.

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Oceans Eight Press Tour Fashion - Grazia

Queen of suits aka Cate Blanchett looked incredible in Ferragamo, contrasting the bold purple colour with red slingbacks. Mindy Kaling went slightly off-brand with her Stella McCartney wrap dress that was embellished with pearls. Anne Hathaway looked almost angelic with her understated makeup and Toni Maticevski dress.

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Oceans Eight Press Tour Fashion - Grazia

When would we expect Rihanna to show up to a press tour for a movie she's starring in? Only at the actual premiere of course. The legend joined the rest of the cast for the New York film opening on the 5th June. And boy did everyone step their game up...

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Oceans Eight Press Tour Fashion - Grazia

One way to steal focus from Rihanna? We're fluorescent lime green. Sarah Paulson stole the show in a daringly vibrant Prada dress, with muted makeup and a simple fuchsia lip to finish the look. We're obsessed with her drawstring bag...

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Oceans Eight Press Tour Fashion - Grazia

If Elie Saab is the secret to Sandra Bullock's amazing fashion on this tour, we're ready to snap up their entire collection. The embellished gown is bespoke, of course, but we wouldn't expect anything less.

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Oceans Eight Press Tour Fashion - Grazia

In a showstopper Jean Paul Gaultier gown, Anne Hathaway combined zebra and geometric prints for the Ocean's debut.

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Oceans Eight Press Tour Fashion - Grazia

As amazing as ever, Rihanna's Givenchy dress was perfectly complimented by her dark makeup look. The purple couture gown looked incredible with her 'barely there' heels. The entire look oozes perfection.

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Oceans Eight Press Tour Fashion - Grazia

It may be the most simple look of the night, but it might just be our favourite. Mindy Kaling's beautiful black Prabal Gurung gown looked incredible paired will ALL THAT CARTIER. Fitting for a movie about a jewelry heist...

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Oceans Eight Press Tour Fashion - Grazia

Never out of a vibrant pant suit, Cate Blanchett upped her co-ord game with this embellished Missoni suit. The deep-V is yet another signature of hers, and we're loving it...

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Oceans Eight Press Tour Fashion - Grazia

Always one to bring her fashion A-game, Awkwafina's Reem Acra jumpsuit was incredibly elegant. Looking supremely angelic, she very much switched up her image for the red carpet premiere.

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Oceans Eight Press Tour Fashion - Grazia

Rihanna may have showed up for the UK premiere (she was over an hour late, but still), but the rest of the cast seemed to disappear for the big event! The only group shot from the London premiere was of Mindy, Helena, Sarah and Sandra. Although tbh, we're not complaining, these ladies bring enough fashion a-game for the entire cast...

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Oceans Eight Press Tour Fashion - Grazia

Sarah Paulson's bold layered dress with caped sleeves managed to top her previous premiere dress, the neon feathered Prada look. She paired the eye-catching gown with a muted beauty look, with scraped back hair and a beautiful pink lip.

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Oceans Eight Press Tour Fashion - Grazia

Mindy looked as sophisticated as ever in her black Alberta Ferretti sheer gown. Styled by Jason Bolden, she killed it yet again with a dark red lip, glamorous curls and enough cartier diamonds to pay our mortgage for the entire year. We're obsessed...

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Oceans Eight Press Tour Fashion - Grazia

What else would Cate Blanchett rock other than a fabulous combination of black straight leg trousers and a FEATHERED top? We have so many questions. Were the feathers responsibly sourced? Where can we buy those earrings? How do we become pant-suit connoisseurs like Cate?

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Oceans Eight Press Tour Fashion - Grazia

With her signature falling off the shoulder look, Rihanna wore a liquid gold dress by Poiret. We've already picked apart what this dress is really saying, but we're still sat here staring at how unreal she looks. A golden goddess always shining from within, HOW do we also master the constant dewy glow?

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Oceans Eight Press Tour Fashion - Grazia

Wearing a Zuhair Murad sequin jumpsuit, Sandra was a stand out at the premiere. The entire look is so simply yet so glamorous, and her hair and makeup is as flawless as ever. Sandra really has bossed this entire press tour with her style choices.

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Oceans Eight Press Tour Fashion - Grazia

Helena Bonham Carter chose a Vivienne Westwood Couture off-the-shoulder gown with her hair in her signature up-do. Rocking it with a bold red lip, she glistened in silver.

You wouldn’t think that Kaling has any doubts about her parenting skills from following her on Instagram. Her stories contain step by step details of her prepping meals for her daughter (just tap on the ‘Baby Food’ highlight above her feed. But when it comes to her own meals, Kaling isn’t as well-prepped.

‘I wish I could be one of those Instagram food stylists who spends three hours on Sunday preparing sweet potatoes and sautéing broccoli so they can make healthy bowls and put them in Tupperware,’ she says. ‘I’m just not that person and I’ll never be that person.’

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