The Crown's Claire Foy has lamented the "weird" way in which women of a childbearing age are judged by society – particularly in the UK.
The 33-year-old actress, who will relinquish her role as the Queen to Olivia Colman in season three of the Netflix drama, told The Sunday Times: "When a woman gets to childbearing age, she has to disappear or not have children and then be judged – it's really weird."
The star argued that women aren't encouraged enough to return to the workplace, although she said she was lucky to have support when she went back to the set of The Crown four months after welcoming her first child with former husband Stephen Campbell Moore.
"Women find it incredibly difficult to go back to work after children," she continued. "It's not encouraged, especially in the UK. It's just not the norm."
Foy had auditioned for The Crown while five months pregnant with daughter Ivy Rose – who is now 2 – and breastfed Ivy in-between shooting scenes.
She added that she was "very fortunate [the production] supported me in doing that".
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Meanwhile, Foy recently announced her split from actor Campbell Moore after four years of marriage.
When asked by the publication whether "Campbell Moore was jealous of her career, much like the Duke of Edinburgh was in The Crown", she replied: "I can't speak for anybody else, but I've never been like that, and there's no way I could be in any partnership with anyone where that's the case."
Announcing their amicable split last month, Foy said: "We have separated and have been for some time.
"We do however continue as great friends with the utmost respect for one another."
The pair met in 2011 on the set of Season of the Witch.
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Naomi Gordon is news writer mainly covering entertainment news with a focus on celebrity interviews and television.
