Jennifer Connelly is desperate to adopt an African child - but fears it could unsettle her relationship with nine-year-old son Kai. The 36-year-old actress spent a lot of time at a Sierra Leone orphanage while shooting new movie Blood Diamond in the country and has discussed the idea of adopting a child with actor husband Paul Bettany.

But Connelly fears the move would take its toll on Kai, who has already had to deal with his mum's separation from photographer dad David Dugan.

She explains, "We absolutely considered adopting. We have a son who went through a separation of his parents and then a new stepfather and a new sibling. He's had a lot of change so of course I really have to be sensitive to him.

"One of the kids I became close to was older than him. What would that mean to my family? Would my son feel displaced, all of a sudden having an older sibling who didn't speak the language and would need so much more time and attention?

"These are all concerns of mine and reasons why I didn't come home with a child even though, believe me, I would call Paul at night when he was away. I'd say, 'There's this baby and I don't know what to do and I love him so much and if I leave him here he might die.' It's complicated, but we are still considering."

- Jennifer Connelly pictures

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)