Ava DuVernay Shares Why She Decided Not to Get Married or Have Children: 'I Just Don't Want To' (Exclusive)

Ava DuVernay is opening up about her decision to not get married or start a family.

PEOPLE is sharing an exclusive preview of Origin filmmaker DuVernay's appearance on Kenya Barris and Malcolm Gladwell's new Audible interview series, The Unusual Suspects with Kenya Barris and Malcolm Gladwell.

Asked if she would "make a different choice" were she offered the chance to start her career over again, the Selma director, 52, said, "No. I've never been a... he's speaking of the fact that I am not married and I don't have children."

"I am the oldest of five. I've have had a lot of small children in my life for a long time, so I never felt like I wanted to have kids," she continued. "My family, my mom, would always say, for a little while before she realized I was serious, 'You'll change your mind.' I don't feel like I would be a good mother for a child. I don't want to do that and I think in the most ideal scenario, you should want to do that. I just don't want to."

While DuVernay added that she has enjoyed "a really beautiful relationship and relationships over the course" of her life, she noted that she feels marriage would constrict her "to behave in a traditional way."

"And me being gone so often and me being on top of a mountain in New Zealand shooting with a helicopter — these are not traditional things for a woman," she added.

Related: Ava DuVernay on the 'Dark Void' She Felt After Father's Death and How That Influenced Origin (Exclusive)

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

When DuVernay was asked if her career path and disinterest in getting married or starting a family has made romantic relationships difficult for her, she said, "No, because I'm not asking for that. If you're looking for a husband to stand by while you're off doing these things, I think you're going to have a harder time, but if you're not looking for a husband, companionship, partner. . ."

Ucoming episodes of The Unusual Suspects will feature businesswoman Ursula Burns, Jimmy Kimmel, basketball star Sue Bird, politician Wes Moore, chef David Chang, as well as one episode in which Barris and Gladwell interview each other. 

The Unusual Suspects interview series is available to stream exclusively on Audible now.

Read the original article on People