Far removed from the dramatic and often complicated characters she brings to the screen, Annette Bening appears to find her greatest sense of peace in the simplest parts of everyday life. At 68, the accomplished actress has built a quiet routine around her home, her husband Warren Beatty, and her 97-year-old mother, Shirley Bening. Rather than looking for excitement after demanding days on set, Bening says she prefers to return home, slow down, and spend time with the people closest to her.

That peaceful routine has become especially meaningful while she has been filming her latest project, the Apple TV thriller Lucky. The series gives Bening the opportunity to step into another intense and complicated role, playing Priscilla, a formidable crime boss. While taking on such characters can be creatively rewarding, Bening admits that stepping away from the emotional intensity of filming is an important part of returning to herself.

“It’s very cathartic, getting to do some of these things,” Bening explained, reflecting on the experience of playing such a demanding character. “I really enjoyed it.” Still, after a long day of shooting, she does not look for a glamorous night out or an elaborate way to unwind. Instead, her favorite place is home.

Bening described a particularly comforting evening routine that involves watching baseball with her mother. Shirley has lived with Bening and Beatty for several years, making their home a multigenerational space filled with familiar routines and companionship. After work, Bening can simply sit with her mother, watch a game, enjoy a glass of wine, and spend time with her husband.

Her mother has her own established evening ritual. At exactly 5:30 p.m., Shirley enjoys a martini, although Bening jokingly makes sure she sticks to just one. Bening herself does not have a martini because she says she cannot handle it, choosing a glass of wine instead. The two can relax together, with Shirley enjoying her drink and potato chips while Bening takes pleasure in the quiet company.

“I go home, watch baseball with my mom, who’s 97 and has a martini at 5:30,” Bening said. “Now, I don’t have a martini, because I can’t handle it. But I have a glass of wine, sit, hang out, see my husband.”

For Bening, this kind of evening is more than a way to recover from a difficult day at work. It reflects the life she has intentionally created away from Hollywood’s spotlight. She explained that when filming ends, she likes to take it easy and remain at home, especially after spending hours immersed in an emotionally demanding story.

“My mom’s lived with me for a few years, and she’s a wonderful person,” Bening shared. “So just kicking back, especially after that kind of a day. But that’s been the case for so many years.”

Bening has spoken warmly about her mother before, making it clear that their relationship is an important part of her life. During a previous appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, she described Shirley as an “incredible person” and spoke about the remarkable life her mother has lived.

Shirley was married to Bening’s father for 73 years before his death several years ago. Bening has expressed admiration for the strength and character her mother has shown throughout her life. Now, Shirley lives with Bening and Beatty, spending her days in comfortable pajamas, working on crossword puzzles, reading extensively, and even looking over some of her daughter’s scripts.

The arrangement seems to bring Bening a special kind of comfort. Despite her decades-long career, international recognition, and numerous dramatic roles, she appears to value these ordinary moments just as much as any professional achievement. There is something particularly touching about the image of the celebrated actress returning home after a demanding day to watch baseball beside her elderly mother.

Shirley’s personality also adds a playful element to their household. Bening has joked about her mother wanting a second martini but being limited to one at 5:30 p.m. The routine, complete with a drink and potato chips, has become one of those small family traditions that make home feel like a place where Bening can completely relax.

That sense of comfort may be especially valuable while she takes on Priscilla in Lucky. Based on Marissa Stapley’s bestselling novel, the Apple TV series follows Anya Taylor-Joy’s character, Lucky, after a multimillion-dollar heist goes wrong. The thriller also features Timothy Olyphant, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Clifton Collins Jr. and Drew Starkey, who portrays Priscilla’s son, Cary, and Lucky’s love interest.

Bening said the project immediately caught her attention because of its stylish and intriguing quality, as well as the impressive group of actors involved. She knew Taylor-Joy would bring a powerful screen presence to the role and was equally intrigued by the opportunity to work alongside performers such as Ellis-Taylor and Olyphant.

“It’s all about the people really,” she said of what attracted her to the series.

Yet while Bening may spend her working hours surrounded by suspense, crime and complicated characters, her life away from the cameras seems intentionally different. Her idea of decompression is not extravagant. It is a baseball game, a glass of wine, her husband nearby, and her mother sitting comfortably at home.

That contrast between her dramatic professional life and her quiet personal routine makes the actress’s story particularly heartwarming. On screen, Bening can disappear into powerful and complex roles. At home, however, she seems happiest simply being Annette — relaxing with family, sharing an evening with her mother, and enjoying the peaceful familiarity of home.