Actress Natascha McElhone was determined to give birth to her third child alone - so she could adapt to life as a single parent following her husband Martin Kelly's death. The Californication star was pregnant with the couple's third child when plastic surgeon Kelly collapsed and died from a sudden heart attack outside their London home a year ago.

And in an effort to face up to the realities of her future, McElhone insisted on delivering baby son Rex with no family or friends present.

She tells Hello! magazine, "It just felt right somehow. If Martin couldn't be there, I couldn't replace him with someone, as that would have felt very strange. I wanted to be on my own because that was the way it was going to be. I was going to be my baby's only parent so I may as well get used to it. But I was fortunate to have the most brilliant obstetrician. He knew Martin, so he was wonderful."

But, despite going solo into the delivery room, McElhone credits her close pals with helping her overcome the tragedy of Kelly's death: "I am lucky to have the most amazing friends. Without them, I'd be lost."

In recent news we reported that McElhone plans to carry on the charity work that her late husband started.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)