In a recent interview with PEOPLE, the 60-year-old actress, currently starring in the off-Broadway play Still, shared how she spends her time off-stage with her children and grandchildren.
Gilbert married actor Timothy Busfield in 2013. She has two biological sons: Dakota, from her first marriage to Bo Brinkman, and Michael, from her second marriage to Bruce Boxleitner. Additionally, she is a stepmother to five children—Boxleitner’s two children, Sam and Lee, and Busfield’s three children: Samuel, Daisy, and Wilson. Together, they are grandparents to eight grandchildren.
Gilbert expressed her delight about her growing family, saying, “All these babies. All these grandchildren. They’re so delicious, fun, and funny.” She added that her eldest grandchild, Lulabelle, just turned 10. “Lulabelle Boxleitner is just so much fun to hang out with,” she said.
The family spent Christmas in Albuquerque, where Busfield is producing The Cleaning Lady. Gilbert shared that Lulabelle stayed with them, having sleepovers in their room and even getting a teepee set up. “We had the best time with her,” she said.
Gilbert’s love for her grandchildren is clear as she continues, “They’re just so much fun to hang out with, these fantastic little people.” She mentioned other grandkids like Ruby, Eli, Ripley, Rosemary, and baby Casper. “I keep telling the kids, ‘Give us more! Give us more! We want more.'”
As for her work, Gilbert said any project that brings her closer to one of her children’s homes is appealing. She emphasized that having grandchildren hasn’t changed her approach to choosing roles. “I’m more determined to continue bringing stories to light that affect the way people interact with one another,” she explained. “I want to smooth the way for these kids to grow up in a more loving world.”
After Still finishes its run in March, Gilbert joked about enjoying “a nice, long nap.” She’s also excited about her growing business, Modern Prairie, and remains open to new opportunities, including a possible next season of When Calls the Heart. “I’m having the time of my life, and every day is a new adventure,” she said. “Whatever comes, comes. And if it takes me to a town closer to one of my grandkids, that’s even better.”
