Los Angeles, Sep 10 (IANS): Hollywood actress Cate Blanchett says taking time out from her career has been a "luxury and a necessity", but she is still looking forward to returning to work.

She told Red magazine: "We adopted our little girl 17 months ago so that's been my focus really. It's been really important to make sure everyone is all together, on the right ship, and taken care of.

"There was a time when I was doing things back to back - working, running the company with Andrew (husband Andrew Upton) - and it all felt very squeezed, but I was afraid to slow down and say yes to what I really wanted.

"What has been great has been saying yes to slowing down, to reclaiming time for myself and my family. It has been a luxury and a necessity."

However, the "Carol" star isn't giving up work for good as she needs the "mental space" away from her hectic family life, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

"It doesn't mean I'm not looking forward to going back to work. In a way, that's a mental space for me away from the need or the cacophony of kids. Which I absolutely love," she added.