In the new issue of Closer Weekly, an insider close to actress Helen Hunt opens up, revealing that Helen is feeling optimistic about her personal and professional life after a rough year. Helen broke things off with House of Lies producer Matthew Carnahan, the father of her daughter, Makena, 13, after 16 years together. “She’s still upset about Matthew,” the insider tells Closer, but now she’s looking ahead to new opportunities.

While Helen, 54, is “pragmatic,” the insider says, and not prone to get overly excited about playing her Mad About You character Jamie Buchman again in a reboot opposite Paul Reiser until it’s a reality, “That role rocketed her to fame on a national scale and she loved that,” says the insider. “She wants to get back to being at ‘the top of her game,’ as she often says.”

Helen and Matthew in 2005.

Helen may also be ready to find love again. But Helen is “more cautious than ever about letting her guard down,” so will take any new relationship slowly. More than anything, “Helen’s a devoted mom,” the insider tells Closer, and she puts Makena first. Raising her, Helen says, “is the greatest pleasure I’ve known.” In other words, she’s mad about motherhood!

For more on Helen Hunt, pick up the latest issue of Closer Weekly, on newsstands now — and be sure to sign up for our newsletter for more exclusive news!

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