Marg On Family

Marg (on Hughie at the sets): Before Hughie was five, I could take him to work with me. Now, though, he has sports and lessons and friends, and it’s not fair to remove him from his whole life.

As for Rosenberg’s own metamorphosis, he says he wouldn’t have become a successful actor without the help of his wife. “Margie is the smartest, most focused, most practical person I know,” Rosenberg says. “Watching the way she worked really helped truly helped me kind of mature and focus on my work. She grounded me.”
Helgenberger smiles, then returns the compliment. “A couple of years ago, Alan said to me—it was very romantic—he said, ‘Margie, if any guy comes after you and wants you, you know they will never win.’”
“That was romantic?” Rosenberg asks. “That’s scary.”
“No, what it translates to me is, ‘Nobody will fight as hard as I do for you’. — US Interview 2001

Marg (on her wedding): I’m Catholic, he’s Jewish, and it was just easier to elope.

Marg (on her father): I miss his calmness. I sort of went through this chubby phase thinking, “Eeeenough, I’m so ugly.” And he would always say, “You just wait. Your cheekbones will come in.”

Int: Is it harder to be sexy when you’re single or married?
Marg: Probably when you’re married. My single friends have a totally different life than I do. There’s certainly a lot more sex. A lot more sex with various partners. Being single, you have complete freedom and independence. I have a child, and he’s obviously the first responsibility. But I certainly don’t feel like I’m stifled in any way. — Playboy
Marg (on her life in 1983): Eventually, I’d like to get married, have children. But basically, what I really want is just to be able to understand—to be a wise and caring person. I guess I’ve got a long way to go yet. — Daytimers, March 1983

Marg (on her father): To the end he was such a believer in the human spirit. He never complained.

Marg (on her son, Hughie): My baby puts everything else into perspective. He’s the cutest baby in the world and the most precious thing to me is his well-being and happiness. I have this great desire to go skydiving but if there’s a chance that the chute won’t open, I won’t take that risk because I’m also his mother and need to be there for him for a long time.

Marg (on home and fishing): When I think of home, I think of fishing with my dad. We’d go to a sandpit loaded with bluegill and bullheads.

Marg (on having more children): We would love to have other children. It hasn’t happened. We haven’t been lucky enough.

Int: How do you keep romance alive when you and Alan travel so much?
Marg: Once you have a family, you have to make sure you and your husband go out alone together once in a while. I was being pretty diligent about that prior to CSI, but since then I’ve wanted to include Hughie because I’m away from him so much now. But I think it’s time for me and Alan to have a date. [Laughs] Now I just have to figure out a time! — Redbook

Marg described how they ended up living together. She was new in L.A. and living in cheap hotels and Alan had his own little house so, “Alan’s cute little house became my cute little house”. — Biography

Marg (on Alan): He’s my best friend. He’s a very kind, caring supportive person. But also very funny.

Int: What’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever done for your partner?
Marg: I bought Alan a guitar when we first got together. He loves to play and sing. He’s a little troubadour, my husband. — Redbook

…isn’t the only mother who sees her life in delightful disarray.
“Trying to juggle all the balls isn’t easy,” admits Marg Helgenberger, mother of one. “Sometimes I drop one. I try not to feel guilty.” — Redbook

Int: What kind of mother are you? Relaxed? Hands-on? Hands-off? Nervous?
Marg: Gosh, I strive to be relaxed. I try to have a sense of humour, because kids will test you and push you and provoke you. That’s all part of being a teenager. I guess it’s important not to take it seriously and to be on top of it. You don’t let them get away with everything, because they obviously want and need boundaries. — Redbook

Int: How helpful is your partner?
Marg: (laughs) Well, let’s see. He’s a guy, you know what I mean? So around the house he’s not particularly helpful. Though with Hughie he is very helpful and very supportive of me. He is a good and passionate soul. — Redbook

Int: What’s the most romantic thing your partner has ever done for you?
Marg: Alan got me a 1971 Mercedes Benz 280SL for Mother’s Day a couple of years ago—one of those beautiful, butter-colored vintage cars. I was speechless. — Redbook
Int: What’s your most secret indulgence?
Marg: Massages. — Redbook

Int: How did you lose your baby weight?
Marg: This was so long ago, but I do recall being on some kind of fairly awful, boring non-fat diet. — Redbook