Michelle Keegan has enjoyed a romantic weekend in Paris watching Celine Dion perform alongside her husband Mark Wright, after dropping out of a major ITV drama to spend more time with her family.
The 39-year-old actress and her radio host husband spent quality time together in the French capital without their 18-month-old daughter, Palma.
Keegan stepped back from her upcoming role to remain at home with Palma, choosing to prioritise family life alongside her busy acting schedule.
Paris getaway and Celine Dion residency
Mark Wright shared photographs from the couple's French getaway on Instagram, capturing their dining experiences and sightseeing around Paris. The couple enjoyed dinner at Lapérouse, a landmark restaurant located in the French capital, where Keegan wore a black crop top paired with a satin taupe lace skirt and boots, while Wright coordinated in a smart shirt and black trousers.
The pair also tucked into lunch overlooking the Eiffel Tower and took a walk around the famous Parisian landmark in the sunshine. During the trip, Keegan attended a concert by Canadian singer Celine Dion as part of the vocal superstar's five-week residency in Paris.
Showing Keegan smiling in the audience during the performance, Wright posted a photo on social media with the caption: "A weekend in Paris with a Celine super fan @michellekeegan."
Keegan is an English actress who first rose to prominence on the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street before starring in television series including Our Girl, Brassic, and the Netflix thriller Fool Me Once. Wright is a television presenter and Heart FM radio host who gained national fame on reality series The Only Way Is Essex. The couple married in 2015.
Public scrutiny and family boundaries
The trip follows previous comments from Keegan regarding the intense public interest surrounding her personal life. Speaking to Grazia magazine last year, the actress discussed the scrutiny she and Wright faced regarding their plans to start a family, as she did not become pregnant until ten years after their marriage.
"Around the time we got married, I was open about the fact that I wanted to have a family," Keegan told Grazia in the interview. "But then because we didn't choose to have children within a certain time, there was lots of speculation."
She explained how the constant media commentary affected her family life. "And we can handle that but, at one point, there was a story every week. My family was asking me about it, so I made the decision to not talk publicly about that side of my life," she said. "I'm going to be 38 this year and, as I've got older, I feel more confident about my boundaries."
ITV drama withdrawal and recast
Keegan's devotion to motherhood became clear recently when she pulled out of an upcoming ITV drama just months before filming was scheduled to start. She had committed to playing a working-class barrister in the series, but stepped back before signing a contract due to concerns about being away from home for extended periods.
Following Keegan's departure, former Doctor Who and Broadchurch star Jodie Whittaker, 44, was cast in the lead role. Television insiders described Keegan's withdrawal as a "huge blow" to the production, as a filming schedule had already been agreed.
A source told The Sun on Sunday that the demanding schedule was the primary reason for Keegan's decision. "Michelle was really keen to take on the meaty role, but the heavy filming schedule would take her away from daughter Palma for too long," the insider stated.
"The hours were quite intense and the project was starting straight after her Netflix drama The Woods and she just couldn't commit," the source added. "She is dedicated to her acting career, but like all working mums has to prioritise being there for her family, juggling work, parenting and being present for Palma."
New drama release
While stepping back from the unnamed ITV series, Keegan is currently promoting her latest television project, the drama series The Blame, which is scheduled to premiere on September 20.
