Warren Beatty’s transgender son is a ‘hero’

Warren Beatty has described his transgender son as a "hero".

The 79-year-old actor – who has children Stephen, 24, Benjamin, 22, Isabel, 19, and Ella, 16, with his wife Annette Bening – has admitted he is very proud of his oldest child, who was born Kathlyn but transitioned at 14 years old, and believes Stephen is a "revolutionary" because of his decision to change gender.

Speaking to Vanity Fair magazine about his brood, the Hollywood star said: "He’s a genius, and my hero, as are all my children."

And Warren – who met his spouse on the set of ‘Casanovas’ – has also praised his 58-year-old partner who he credits as a "perfect" woman.

Speaking about a conversation he had with late director Mike Nichols about his plans to wed, he said: "Well, there’s one thing you should know about her … She’s perfect."

And the ‘Rules Don’t Apply’ star has admitted his life has been "taken over" by his brood, but he enjoys fatherhood, and has revealed being a parent is "more wonderful" than he had previously anticipated.

He said: "Sometimes life just takes over, as it has taken over with four kids, in a way that has been more wonderful than I could have imagined at an earlier age."

Meanwhile Warren is grateful he has not been inundated with "movie after movie" and hasn’t had to "grind" out a large number of films without any breaks in between, because he has been able to enjoy his life and not be over-worked.

He explained: "I think I’ve been lucky enough not to have to do movie after movie for financial reasons. I’ve been able to live my life, and also make movies.

"I didn’t have to grind them out. I could go long periods where I was living life, rather than tripping over cables."