12 Stars Who Didn’t Care About Stereotypes and Became Mothers Only When They Wanted To

Today, more and more often, people have children no matter how old they are. Women become mothers after 40, busting popular misconceptions. In this article, we have collected successful women who had children and didn’t care what people thought.

We at CHEERY, just like these celebrities, respect women’s right to choose when to have children.

1. Salma Hayek

The actress had her first child, daughter Valentina, at the age of 41. Salma said about the time she was pregnant, “I wouldn’t trade this for anything in the world.”

2. Naomi Watts

Naomi became a mother twice: at 38 and 40 years old. In 2022, the actress posted a moving message on Mother’s Day. She thanks her children for choosing her to be their mother.

3. Nicole Kidman

The actress first had a daughter when she was 41. Kidman said that she couldn’t get pregnant for a long time, and the chances of giving birth herself were almost zero, but a true miracle happened.

4. Meryl Streep

The Oscar-winning actress has 4 children, and she had her youngest, Louisa at the age of 41. In a recent interview, Louisa, who is already 30 years old, said that her mom still tenderly calls her “Pickle”.

5. Jennifer Connelly

In her marriage with Paul Bettany, the actress had 2 children, and the youngest one in 2009, when the actress was 40. Connelly honestly said in her interviews that she often takes her to the sets, and her daughter even gives her acting advice.

6. Julianne Moore

Julianne Moore first became a mother at the age of 37 and for a second time when she was 42. The actress always tried to devote enough time to her family and even talked about it in an interview, “I think anyone will tell you that the thing that’s hardest and most rewarding for any of us is family life. My relationship with my husband and my relationship with my children is the thing that takes primary focus in my life and is the most involving and rewarding.”

7. Iman

The model and David Bowie became parents when Iman was 45 years old. She talked about problems with conception and failed I.V.F attempts, but a miracle happened, “I began to think of adoption, and then I got pregnant. It was definitely a miracle.”

In 2000, the couple had a daughter, Alexandria. Iman still cares a lot about her and when model agencies call Alexandria offering her to work for them, Iman gives her stern looks and says, “I know why they wanted her to model — it’s because she is David Bowie’s daughter.”

8. Rachel Weisz

In 2018, when the actress was 48 years old, she had a daughter from the star of James Bond movies, Daniel Craig. For Weisz, it was her second child, and in 2006, she first became a mother in her first marriage with director Darren Aronofsky.

9. Rachel McAdams

The star of Mean Girls and the love of the main character in The Notebook first became a mother at 39. She kept her pregnancy in secret. After having a son, the actress said that she had waited a long time for motherhood and did it when the time was right.

10. Kim Basinger

The actress had her only daughter, Ireland, from Alec Baldwin, at the age of 41. Ireland is pursuing a career as a model, musician, and she is also a vocal advocate for animal rights.

11. Gwen Stefani

In 2022, the signer celebrated the 8th birthday of her son, Apollo. She had him when she was 44 years old. Gwen has 3 children.

12. Halle Berry

The actress had her first child, a daughter, when she was 41, and 6 years later, she also had a son. On The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Berry said she couldn’t believe she would get pregnant at 47.

What do you think about motherhood after 40? And what about after 50?