Jessica Alba recalls growing up in 'survival mode'

‘I thought, this is bulls**t’: Jessica Alba recalls growing up in ‘survival mode’ within a cash-strapped family – as she details the lack of diversity in Hollywood

Jessica Alba has spoken out about living in ‘survival mode’ as her family endured money struggles during her childhood.

Detailing that her parents would live from ‘paycheck-to-paycheck’, the 41-year-old described the situation as ‘bulls**t’, realising that she wanted more than that for her own family.

The actress also opened up about the lack of diversity in Hollywood, describing Marvel as ‘very Caucasian’.

Survival mode: Jessica Alba, 41, has recalled growing up in ‘survival mode’ within a cash-strapped family in a new interview with Glamour 

In a new interview with Glamour Magazine, Jessica recalls of her Californian childhood: ‘I grew up in survival mode. It was almost sort of what I was born into. My parents didn’t have a safety net, they were living paycheck to paycheck.

‘They were just like, “Here’s your life.” And I was like, “This is some bullsh*t. I want a better life than that. I don’t want to be in survival mode all the time.”‘

Jessica continued that there were ‘no expectations’ for her to do well, meaning it was impossible to fail.

Read the full interview in the GLAMOUR UK July/August Digital Issue online now

Beginning acting at age 11, there were more hurdles to cross during her childhood, as she suffered from chronic allergies, bouts of pneumonia, and partially collapsed lungs.

The star later suffered a reaction to a laundry detergent designed for babies, prompting her to found The Honest Company, which creates safe baby and beauty products.

Further in the interview, Jessica references the lack of diversity in Hollywood, explaining that she was often labelled ‘exotic’ as a woman of Latin heritage.

‘Even if you look at the Marvel movies – that’s the biggest driver of fantasy and what’s happening right now in entertainment, because it’s sort of the family thing – it’s still quite Caucasian,’ explains the star.

Upbringing: Jessica recalls of her Californian childhood: ‘I grew up in survival mode. It was almost sort of what I was born into. My parents didn’t have a safety net, they were living paycheck to paycheck (pictured with her parents)

Family: Jessica has been married to film producer Cash Warren since 2008, with the pair sharing three children; Honor, 13, Haven, ten, and Hayes, four (pictured together)

Describing herself as a feminist, she continued: ‘50% of the population are women, but if 90% of the people in charge don’t look like us, they’re just going to continue to do the same.’

Jessica has been married to film producer Cash Warren since 2008, with the pair sharing three children; Honor, 13, Haven, ten, and Hayes, four.

Often spotted on loved up family vacations and sharing snaps to social media, the family of five are tight-knit.

Eloping while Jessica was pregnant with their eldest child, Honor, she told the publication: ‘We eloped and I think I was nine months pregnant! It wasn’t planned. It was literally, “Honey, do you have anything to do this morning?” And he was like, “No.”‘

Her husband has since jested on Instagram that the ceremony was ‘laughably awkward. Standing under an arch of dusty plastic flowers in the courthouse chapel’.

Read the full interview in the GLAMOUR UK July/August Digital Issue online now. 

Sweet: Often spotted on loved up family vacations and sharing snaps to social media, the family are tight-knit (pictured with youngest son Hayes)

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