Kirsten Dunst Shares Brave Update on 4-Year-Old Son After ‘Challenging’ Health Scare

Juggling work and motherhood is never easy, and Kirsten Dunst discovered just how overwhelming it can be while filming abroad. While shooting for her upcoming movie, “The Entertainment System Is Down” in Budapest, earlier this year, the actress revealed her younger son, James, faced what she described as a “serious health scare.”

Dunst, who shares sons Ennis, 7, and James, 4, with husband Jesse Plemons, told Town & Country that the family had relocated to Hungary for the six-month shoot.

(Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)

They rented a home and enrolled Ennis in school, but their plans took an unexpected turn when James became seriously ill.

Jesse Steps In for Family Support

(Photo by ETIENNE LAURENT/AFP via Getty Images)

As the situation escalated, Plemons returned to Los Angeles with both children to lean on their extended support system, leaving Dunst in Budapest to continue filming. The actress admitted to Town & Country in an interview published August 20, it was a difficult period, though she managed a short trip home in April to reunite with her family.

While Dunst kept the details of James’ illness private, she confirmed that “everyone is fine now.” Still, she described how frightening it was to be away from her children while one was sick, comparing the feeling to imagining worst-case scenarios.

“It’s like Final Destination, where you’re imagining all the things that could go wrong, worst case scenarios happening to your child,” Dunst explained. “I have never seen that movie. But I know the concept. That’s how it feels to be a mother at times.”

A New Perspective on Family

With time to reflect, Dunst said the experience ultimately deepened their family bond. “It brought us together as a family in such a deeper way,” she shared.

As a way to heal and celebrate moving past the scare, the family planned a special vacation “anywhere James wanted to go.” His choice was simple: a beach where his sandcastle wouldn’t wash away. The family honored his wish and headed to the Bahamas.

A Glimpse Into James’ Personality

Though she usually keeps her personal life private, Dunst has occasionally shared glimpses of her children. On Jimmy Kimmel Live! in April 2024, she joked about James’ spirited personality.

“He’s almost three and when he’s bad we call him Jimmy,” she said at the time. “He’s out of control. We actually call him baby Chris Farley because of the way he walks around and he’s just hilarious. He’s a crazy little dude.”

For Dunst, the health scare was a reminder of how precious family time is, despite the demands of Hollywood schedules.