Samantha loves her 'rainbow family'

I love this article which appeared in the Star 11 May 2009.

I was especially thrilled when she said:

“I fell in love immediately with this beautiful thing in my arms; who cares about her skin colour?” said Samantha of her daughter Jodie, who is of Indian parentage.

Those are the sentiments that should be the mantra in everyone's life, more so in these troubled times. I am always naïve and the eternal optimist in that sense, believing humanity will be able to see that we are all one big family. I still nurture a hope that love will triumph and peace will prevail.

The full article:

Samantha loves her ‘rainbow family’

By LOONG MENG YEE

KUALA LUMPUR: When actress and former Miss Malaysia Samantha Schubert was “expecting” in 2004, she and hubby could not care less if the baby was black, white, brown or yellow – all they wanted was a girl.

“We were thrilled when the Welfare Department called about a week-old baby girl up for adoption.

“I fell in love immediately with this beautiful thing in my arms; who cares about her skin colour?” said Samantha of her daughter Jodie, who is of Indian parentage.

Two years later, Samantha and husband Oliver Knott again adopted a baby. This time an Indian boy they named Harry.

Samantha is herself an adopted child of Datuk Paddy Bowie, a business consultant and writer.

The Knotts had resided in England after their marriage, but the traumatic loss of their first child seven years ago brought them back to Malaysia to be close to Bowie.

Last year, Samantha gave birth to Thomas.

The couple play it fair with all three children.

“There is no difference between them. Jodie is the only daughter I have known, and I am the only mother Harry has ever known. In turn, they are the only older sister and brother Tommy knows,” she said.

If Jodie and Harry want to search for their biological parents when they are old enough, Samantha is cool with that as well.

Samantha said her life had been blessed many times over having been bestowed with a “multicultural, multiracial, multi-everything” family.

“Jodie and Harry are not my blood, but together with Tommy, they are my life,” said Samantha.