EXCLUSIVE: Paula Patton: ‘Everything Happens for a Reason’
Paula Patton says life has been “challenging” recently, but says she’s grown.
— -- Actress Paula Patton say she’s getting through her highly publicized split from singer husband Robin Thicke by being grateful for the good in her life, and she says having her young son helps.
“The thing is you can't wallow in sadness or stay in bed when you have a child. And they're so full of life and wonder. And he brings me so much joy,” she said in an exclusive interview with “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts that aired Friday.
“I feel like everything happens for a reason. And then you have to move on and grow from there,” she added.
She and Thicke were married in 2009. Their son, Julian, is four years old.
Patton believes it’s easy to focus on the negative, saying “usually the positive in your life outweighs that. And you have to just be thankful for what you have right now.”
The “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol” actress separated from the 37-year-old “Blurred Lines” singer last year amid rumors of his infidelity. She filed for divorce some months after.
Patton, 39, says that she’s stronger as a result of what has happened.
“I'm doing really well,” Patton, 39, said. “I mean, the honest truth is it has been challenging, but it's been a year of growth … learning about all new things.”
She added: “My son's happy and I'm very -- you know, I feel like everything happens for a reason. And then you have to move on and grow from there.”
Patton is busy with new projects – including a clothing line collaboration with designer Ellen Tracy.
"It was kind of an amazing blessing," Patton said. "Ellen Tracy came to me and said, 'Would you like to be our brand ambassador?' And I looked at the clothing and -- amazing. It's really well made, classic clothing that's affordable. But what I liked about it was that you could, like, add your own twist to it ... you can make it as edgy or quirky as you want and add your personality to it."
The campaign is empowering and celebrating women, Patton said.
When Roberts asked Patton whether she thought she would ever be involved in such a venture, Patton replied: “You know what? I think that you always kind of dream about--I love clothes, I have fun with clothing. I think it's the way that we can kind of bring art to our lives.”
Patton also has another project lined up--as the lead in the ABC drama pilot, “Runner.” Patton portrays a woman whose good life suddenly falls apart, sending her deep into the world of Mexican drug cartels and illegal guns.
Patton said she was “really excited about the show.
“It's a pilot, so we don't know. But we -- we hope that it's going to be on ABC,” she said.