The 42-year-old actress has never disclosed the paternity of three-year-old Henry but now admits he was a writer on her former TV show `The Riches`.

She added to The Observer magazine: "I don`t need to protect him any more. He can fend for himself. He`s a grown-up.

"We weren`t together and he wasn`t directly in the business so I chose to protect him and not have a rain of publicity. He`s not famous. There`s no big story."

Minnie also admitted that the mystery man has now increased his involvement in their son`s life.

She added: "Is he a good dad? Sort of. He`s figuring it out... I mean, he hasn`t been that involved, his choice. But he is now."

The `Conviction` star has previously admitted she would like to have more children, but doesn`t think she could cope raising two kids on her own.

She has said: "Henry`s dad and I probably wouldn`t have any more together, but I would love to have more.

"But I couldn`t do another one without a partner; I couldn`t do two as a single mum, I really couldn`t. It would be too much."
sections: Celebrities