Elizabeth Edwards: I Want to "Reclaim" Myself Like Sandra Bullock
Credit: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images; Rick Diamond/Nashville Rising/Getty Images
Elizabeth Edwards feels a special kinship with Sandra Bullock.
"I'm not just a cuckolded wife," the cancer-stricken ex of politician John Edwards tells The Today Show's Matt Lauer in a new interview. Elizabeth and John legally separated in January after over 30 years together; the former North Carolina senator had recently admitted that he'd fathered a baby girl, Quinn, with mistress Rielle Hunter.
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"I think about Sandra Bullock -- who I don't know at all -- what an incredible year she's had," Edwards, 60, says of Bullock, whose divorce from Jesse James was finalized on Monday. "She won the Academy Award for an incredible performance, and more than that, she took that story and integrated that into her own life in this healthy happy way."
(The Blind Side's Bullock, 45, had secretly adopted her son Louis back in January.)
"And yet, the stories you hear are not about all those great successes, but about the failure of her marriage," Edwards continues.
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"That's not who she is...I assume she wants to reclaim who she is in the same way I want to reclaim who I am."
Edwards also admits to Lauer that she watched at least "some of" Rielle Hunter's sit-down interview on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Her blunt take on her husband's videographer mistress: "I still think this person is so completely unlike me that it's hard to imagine the same person could marry me and be attracted to that -- to that woman, as well."
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Of John -- whom she will likely divorce next year -- she says, "I think I did marry a marvelous man...he changed over time. He's no longer the person who I married. I still admire an enormous number of things about him." She and the politician had four children together (their eldest son, Wade, died in a 1996 car crash).
VIDEO: Rielle opens up to Oprah
Fighting metastatic, stage-four breast cancer, she says she can't think about her younger kids (Emma, 12, and Jack, 10) growing up without a mom. "I don't let my head go that place...I want to live at a normal cadence with my children."
An updated paperback version of her book Resilience: Reflections on the Burdens and Gifts of Facing Life's Adversities -- featuring a new chapter that addresses the split -- hits bookstores June 29.
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50If all the women would just come together and stop hurting one another, we can seriously rule the world. Chris Rock said it best, a guy introduces his new girlfriend to the boys and they go, "That's a nice girl. I need to get a girl like that." But if a woman introduces her new boyfriend to her girlfriends, they go, "I WANT HIM!" Of course men are equally guilty in extramarital affairs but we all know they do not think with the right head so it's up to the women to think straight. So to the likes of Ms. Edwards and Ms. Bullock; RECLAIM YOURSELF for all the goodness that you are. Those who wronged you do not know what they've lost.
Young, the aide who wrote the Politician has sold rights for this to be made into a movie (tv probably, not big screen). This is a bit much...
I admire her courage and I hope that she does divorce him at some point. However her attitude towards her husband's daughter with Ms. Hunter is not good. She should support him financially supporting his daughter. This child did not ask to be born and is a biological sibling of her children like it or not. She should be living the exact same lifestyle as her brothers and sisters. Anyway,I'm amazed that she's still standing after being hit by one thing after another. I don't know if I could be as strong as she is.
Be strong, stay strong. You probably never realized how selfish your ex was all this time. His actions are despicable, especially with that, that horrid woman.
hey poor poor pitiful me- when did you meet her and get to know her? how do you know she's no saint? you are an a**hole
He's a smuck but this woman is no saint;-)
To those of you that would shame her for going on the Today Show...SHAME on you!!! YOu have no idea what she is dealing with and what she is doing may very well be impowering her and allowing her to put the issue where it belongs. Some of you are so full of self rightiousness that you can sit in judgement. She has dealt with way more then just her pig of a husband lest you all forget.
Why is she on the Today show talking publically about this again? What will her kids think when they hear it-now or later in life? Take the kids to therapy to work out the family issues and move on. Why lower yourself? Why watch the other woman's interview? It's a personal family matter and the kids should be first. Don't waste what little timeyou have left on such an unhonorable man/woman. Thought she would have more class than this.
Stand up straight, keep your pride and walk away. Rehashing the horrible mess that your husband created is not good for your children. Stop wasting precious time wallowing in self pity and give your children memories of a mother that spent her time protecting them and loving them in spite of her pain.
I wish her well. It's good that she relates to Sandra Bullock as she may decide to approach her situation as Sandra has. I wish she had as much time as Sandra.
She is a strong woman. May she continue to be strong.
I wish her all the luck. She deserves much better than John Edwards.
Every woman (or man) who has been cheated on and discovered that their spouse has impregnated or been impregnated by someone else deserves to vent!!!!! HOWEVER, I do feel that Elizabeth Edwards does not have to re-live her humiliation time and time again. Perhaps she is a social woman who is comfortable and confident speaking in public. Regardless, by talking about the same thing again and again, she is devoting too much time to two people who don't deserve it!!! Folks don't seem to get it; affairs don't seem to make happy, substantial relationships. I guess John and Rielle will learn this the way they should, the hard way!!!!!!! Hey, all those stupid people who put advertisements for shoes or clothing or dating, STOP!!! Get your own website!
If she wants to be more like Sandra Bullock, then maybe she should do want Sandra has done and keep her mouth shut! All she wants is the pity and the attention.
u go girl, john & rielle deserve each other along with those who tried to cover up their secret, its all sick & twisted, i wish u well elizabeth
I just love her. I read her book..and John is such a schmuck...how is he living with himself????
Being in her shoes is very very hard. Dealing with her illness and all the situation that come with her husband cheating , fathering a child while he is still married to her as the same time is horrible. I feel for her.She might even feel she can't show the world like Sandra because Sandra is not sick with life treating illness. For those of you who say she needs to stop talking please she is a lot better than Jennifer Aniston who still talks about her divorce after 6-7 years when everytime she needs attention and has been with men in the middle.This woman doesn't have that kind of legsuire he is a poltical figure not an actor things are different.
My heart goes out to Eliz & if anyone has a heart, you would feel the same way. Why attack her? That's like kicking someone when they're down & the only people who'd do things like that are cruel & bitter cowards. The woman's husb. cheated on her after knowing she's was diagnosed with a terminal illness. She has 2 minor kids who love & need her. I think it's great she's able to find any strength in her life; if it's through Sandra or anyone else who makes her smile. God bless her & God forbid any one of u is affected by this awful disease. Let her be.
Elizabeth Edwards knows her young children will be raised by a total jacka$$ and as Jade at 10:19 put it, some gross skank. That is exactly what is going to happen to her children. Neither will love her children. That alone would kill me if I were Elizabeth Edwards. I know EE isn't perfect, lives in that 28,000 mansion, etc. But no one deserves to die knowing their children won't be the priority. Quinn, John's 5th child will be the priority. The conniving wicked witch will see to that. However, have you seen how great Elizabeth Edwards looks now? They have released pictures of her interview tomorrow? She's such a great beauty, classy and high educated. Too bad he destoryed his life for some gross skank. Rielle Hunter belives in Karma. She must be well aware what is going to happen to her and/or and Quinn.
All Elizabeth Edwards is a feel sorry for me wife of a loser politician. Of long standing. Loser wise. Does she really think she is akin to Sandra Bullock - a woman of independence and professional worth - who never was defined solely as the pretty substanceless wife on her hubby's arm. As Elizabeth like to "play" it in order to promote her venereal acting hubby. Just so she could aspire to live in an obscenity of a mansion (one of many) with 28,000 square feet. Elizabeth Edwards - slither off please. I am soooo unimpressed with you.