Hollywood’s Oldest Moms: 25 Actresses Who Got Kids Later in Life

There’s no single ‘right’ time to become a mother, and many well-known actresses have had children later in life – in their forties and even fifties. They’ve used different paths to motherhood, including natural birth, surrogacy, and adoption, and these families include both first-time parents and those adding to existing families. Here’s a look at some notable examples and the details fans are most interested in.

Brigitte Nielsen

Brigitte Nielsen and her husband, Mattia Dessi, welcomed their daughter, Frida, in 2018 when Nielsen was 54 years old. The actress had previously shared her struggles with trying to conceive, making Frida’s birth a widely publicized event, and notable as one of the latest-age celebrity births. Nielsen is also a mother to four sons from earlier relationships.

Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson welcomed her son, Eissa, in January 2017 when she was 50 years old. Her husband at the time was Wissam Al Mana. She put her world tour on hold to prioritize her pregnancy and well-being. Following Eissa’s birth, she shared her experiences as a new mother through interviews and social media. Since then, Janet has successfully combined raising her son with continuing her music career.

Laura Linney

Laura Linney had her first child, a son named Bennett, in 2014 when she was 49 years old. She and her husband, Marc Schauer, chose to keep the pregnancy private and shared the news after he was born. Linney has talked about how becoming a mother later in life influenced both her parenting style and her career.

Hilary Swank

In 2023, Hilary Swank and her husband, Philip Schneider, welcomed twins when she was 48 years old. She announced the pregnancy while working on a TV show, saying it was a good time to expand their family. This came after she decided to take a break from some acting roles to prioritize her personal life. Since then, Swank has occasionally shared updates about life with her two new babies.

Rachel Weisz

Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig had a daughter in 2018 when Weisz was 48 years old. They chose to keep the details private, including their daughter’s name. Both actors have children from previous relationships – Weisz has a son, and Craig has a daughter – and they’ve been building their family life alongside their busy acting careers.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry is a mother to two children: Nahla, born in 2008, and Maceo, born in 2013 when she was 47 years old, to her then-husband Olivier Martinez. She’s spoken about how unexpected her later pregnancy was and how much effort it took. Berry continues to balance her career with protecting her children’s privacy.

Geena Davis

Geena Davis had her daughter in 2002, when she was 46, and twins in 2004 at age 48, with her then-husband, Reza Jarrahy. Becoming a mother later in life inspired her work championing better representation for all. The arrival of the twins quickly grew her family, and she continued to balance raising her children with her work through her institute.

Susan Sarandon

Susan Sarandon is a mother of three: Eva, born in 1985, Jack, born in 1989, and Miles, born in 1992 when she was 45 years old. She has spoken openly about difficulties with fertility and being diagnosed with endometriosis earlier in her life. Becoming a mother later in life happened alongside some of her most successful acting roles.

Kelly Preston

Kelly Preston and John Travolta welcomed their son, Benjamin, in 2010 when Preston was 48 years old. This came after the heartbreaking loss of their older son, Jett, and they were overjoyed to expand their family. They also have a daughter, Ella, who was born in 2000.

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have two daughters: Sunday, born in 2008, and Faith, born in 2010 with the help of a gestational carrier. Kidman, who was 43 when Faith was born, has openly discussed the challenges of getting pregnant and the various ways people become parents. She also has two children from a previous marriage who were adopted.

Eva Mendes

Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling have two daughters: Esmeralda, born in 2014, and Amada, born in 2016 when Eva was 42. The couple values their privacy and doesn’t often share photos or appear in public with their children. In the early years after becoming a mother, Eva Mendes prioritized family and focused on home and business ventures.

Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden have two children: daughter Raddix, born in late 2019 when Diaz was 47, and son Cardinal, born in 2024 when she was 51. The couple has chosen to keep their children’s lives private and doesn’t share photos of them. Diaz has said that being a family is now her biggest focus, which led to her decision to stop acting.

Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek and her husband, François Henri Pinault, welcomed their daughter, Valentina, in 2007 when Salma was 41 years old. Hayek has spoken about how much her family helped with raising Valentina, all while she continued to work on films and dedicate time to charitable causes. Valentina has sometimes appeared with her parents at events.

Marcia Cross

Marcia Cross and her husband, Tom Mahoney, became parents to twin daughters in 2007 when she was 45 years old. She had previously discussed using IVF to conceive. After the twins were born, Cross carefully considered when to return to her career. The family has also been open about their experiences with Mahoney’s cancer and has used their story to raise awareness about health issues.

Gabrielle Union

Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade had their daughter, Kaavia, in 2018 with the help of a surrogate mother, when Gabrielle was 46 years old. Gabrielle has openly discussed her struggles with getting pregnant and previous miscarriages. They decided on surrogacy after careful consideration and advice from doctors. Kaavia is known for her fun and energetic personality, and has become popular on social media.

Angela Bassett

Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance became parents to twins in 2006 with the help of a surrogate mother, after trying for years to have children. Bassett, who was 48 at the time, has said their successful journey to parenthood later in life was due to a strong relationship and careful planning. The twins have sometimes joined their parents on red carpets and at movie premieres.

Lucy Liu

Lucy Liu became a mother in 2015 when her son, Rock, was born through a gestational surrogate. She was 46 years old at the time. While she’s shared a few pictures of him, she’s also been careful to protect his privacy. Lucy has discussed the joys and challenges of being a single parent and how important it is to have a strong support system. She continued to work as an actress and producer while raising her son.

Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock became a mother through adoption, welcoming her son Louis in 2010 when she was 45 years old, and her daughter Laila in 2015 at age 51. She’s said that adopting her children completely changed her life for the better. To help them feel secure and maintain a normal life, Bullock often prioritized their needs and kept their family out of the public eye.

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron became a mother through adoption, welcoming her daughter Jackson in 2012 and her daughter August in 2015. She’s always known she wanted to adopt and is very thoughtful about how she parents, prioritizing her children’s privacy. Despite a successful career with many action-packed roles, she makes sure to balance work with family life.

Viola Davis

Viola Davis and her husband, Julius Tennon, adopted their daughter, Genesis, in 2011, when Viola was 46 years old. Balancing a successful career with motherhood has brought both happiness and difficulties, and Davis often emphasizes the value of having a strong support system and mentors. Above all, family is the most important part of her life outside of work.

Sharon Stone

Sharon Stone became a mother through adoption, welcoming her sons Roan in 2000, Laird in 2005, and Quinn in 2006. She built her family between the ages of 40 and 48. Stone is a strong advocate for adoption and supports causes related to children’s well-being. She often acknowledges the vital support she receives from her friends and family, especially during challenging times with her health and as a parent.

Helen Hunt

Helen Hunt had her daughter, Makena Lei, in 2004 when she was 40 years old, with her partner Matthew Carnahan. Hunt continued acting in movies and TV shows while raising Makena, and she’s talked about how important it was to carefully plan her work schedule to be there for her daughter. They haven’t often been seen together in public.

Uma Thurman

Uma Thurman had her daughter, Luna (Rosalind), in 2012 when she was 42 years old, with her partner at the time, Arpad Busson. She is also a mother to two older children. Thurman has chosen to keep most details about Luna’s life private, while continuing her career in movies and TV.

Brooke Shields

Brooke Shields and her husband, Chris Henchy, have two daughters: Rowan, born in 2003, and Grier, born in 2006 when Shields was 40 years old. Shields has openly shared her experiences after giving birth and emphasized the importance of getting support, which has helped start more conversations about women’s health after pregnancy.

Mena Suvari

Mena Suvari and her husband, Michael Hope, welcomed their son, Christopher, in 2021 when Mena was 42. She’s been open about her experiences with fertility and pregnancy. Since becoming a mother, Mena has focused on work projects that allow her to balance family life and continues to advocate for wellness and a healthy lifestyle.

2025-10-27 23:49