They say that you should begin a family as young as possible. Many celebrities disagree with this “rule,” having come into parenthood in many cases well past the 40-year mark. We have included celebrities who had children prior to turning 40 before deciding to put another bun in the oven, as well as those whose nests were empty until they reached maturity.
The 29 Celebrities Who Became Parents Past 40
1. Gwen Stefani
It was at 44 years of age that Gwen Stefani brought Apollo Bowie Flynn alongside former husband Gavin Rossdale into her world already filled with plenty of male offspring. Zuma and Kingston were birthed by Gwen throughout her 30s. Gwen Stefani was something of a pop sensation in the 90s and early 2000s, but today she is happily married and a mother to many children. She is a powerhouse of a woman and a business magnate.
Gwen Stefani
2. Rachel Zoe
The Zoe Report, Zoe’s personal connection to the world, revealed in 2013 that her second child was on his way, called Kaius Jagger. She had conceived Kaius with Rodger Berman, her husband.
“Before we head into the fashion season, we wanted to take a moment to officially confirm that we are expecting another child. We are so excited for Skyler to have a sibling and for us to fall in love all over again. We feel incredibly blessed,” Zoe said. Zoe is a fashion icon and makes sure that her children are always dressed to the nines, as you can see from their stylish pajamas.
Rachel Zoe
3. Tamron Hall
It was in April 2019 that Tamron Hall and husband Steven Greener welcomed their son called Moses into the world. It was only a month following their big reveal to the world. It was at nearly fifty years old that Moses was born, with Hall being 48.
The mother admitted that the pregnancy was hidden from the world due to a combination of her ripe old age, as well as certain medical factors. Doctors had warned her that her health could be risked with the birth, causing her a great terror that the pregnancy could have reached a tragic end. She would then have to go to all those well-wishers around the world with the terrible result.
Tamron Hall
4. Joanna Gaines
Although Gaines was already the mother to four kids prior to announcing her 2018 pregnancy, her new son Crew was successfully delivered on June 23, 2018, with Gaines aged 40. She told People that giving birth at such an old age had brought a youthful feel to the mother of five.
She continued by saying that her many years of experience with motherhood would allow this experience to be a relaxed one, with friends calling her “Fun Jo.”
Joanna Gaines
5. Eva Mendes
Esmeralda and Amanda are the young daughters of Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling, with Mendes having given birth to the children respectively at the age of 40 in 2014 and in 2016 at the age of 42. You will probably remember Mendes better from her many starring roles in comedy and action blockbusters like Hitch and The Fast and the Furious franchises. She is a stunning and charismatic individual, above all else.
Eva Mendes
6. Alyssa Milano
Milo Thomas was the son of Alyssa Milano already when she gave birth to her next child called Elizabella Dylan in 2014, at the age of 41. While we might not see much of Milano in the film and television worlds, it is clear that this mom is incredibly happy with her family and children. It takes a lot of responsibility to be a full-time mother. We take our hats off to her!
Alyssa Milano
7. Alanis Morissette
The aged artist brought Winter Mercy into the world on August 12, 2019, at the okay age of 45. Along with her husband Mario “Souleye” Treadway, the couple have Ever Imre, a son who was delivered in 2010, and Onyx Solace, a daughter who was delivered in 2016, with Alanis being 42 at the time. Morissette is a highly awarded singer and songwriter that dominated alternative music in the 90s.
Alanis Morissette
8. Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson was 50 years old when she brought her initial and only child into the world, a boy called Eissa. Jackson needs little in the way of introduction, being the former member of the Jackson 5 may not have been her claim to fame, but she made a fantastic musical career of her own nonetheless. She mourned her brother, Michael, along with her many other siblings and parents. A tragic loss to the world indeed.
Janet Jackson
9. Halle Berry
At the age of 41, Halle Berry had her initial child in March 2008 called Nahla Ariela Aubry alongside ex-partner Gabriel Aubry. Halle had this to say to Harper’s Bazaar regarding her pregnancy.
She said that it was an incredible experience. She was overjoyed the entire period, one where she was in high spirits, feeling like a superhero. She only wished that this feeling could have lasted her entire life.
Halle had turned 47 by the time her next birth happened, in 2013, with Maceo Robert. Her former husband Olivier Martinez was the father.
Halle Berry
10. Tina Fey
The hilarious actress and comedienne, Tina Fey, found the decision to become pregnant again rather challenging, especially following the 2005 birth of her first daughter, Alice Zenobia. As she described in her autobiographical work, Bossypants, Tina explained how she was afraid of not being fertile enough at such a late stage in her life, not to mention the effects it would have on her film career.
Despite her fears, Tina still delivered her next child in 2011, another beautiful daughter named Penelope Athena, despite being 41.
Tina Fey
11. Kim Basinger
While Basinger was still wedded to Alec Baldwin, the couple brought Ireland, their first daughter, into the world on October 23, 1995, with Kim aged 31. Ireland detailed this incredible picture with a nostalgic message during 2018’s Mother’s Day, saying, “Thank you for birthing me. Thank you for loving me. Thank you putting sunscreen on me. You are too cool. I am not worthy.” She is something of a woman, that is for sure!
Kim Basinger
12. Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman (alongside former husband Tom Cruise) had mothered Connor and Isabella, but it was in 2008 at the age of 40 that she brought her initial biological offspring into the world, called Sunday Rose. Kidman had this to say about birth past 40:
“I raised 2 kids when I was in my 20 years old, but that was so different. I was a kid too and still so young emotionally and mentally — a different mom. There is something different about mothering late in life. A lot of it is I want to stay alive for Sunday. There is plenty of deep emotion and fear. Sunday has healed an enormous amount in me. It’s a very private thing, but she just has.”
Kidman’s next daughter (parented with husband Keith Urban), named Faith Margaret, was delivered in 2012 by way of a gestational surrogate.
Nicole Kidman
13. Mariah Carey
2011 saw the thrilling birth of Mariah Carey’s twins at 42, named Monroe and Moroccan. Nick Cannon is the father, but they are not married anymore. Carey continues to maintain her queenly reign over the world of pop, with the years having done little to diminish her phenomenal energy and talent for songwriting, singing, and performing. Add a beautiful family into the mix and we have a top-tier recipe for a happy life.
Mariah Carey
14. Uma Thurman
Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman parented Levon and Maya during their failed marriage. Rosalind Arusha Arkadina Altalune Florence Thurman-Busson was the third child to be born to the 42-year-old Uma in July 2012. Thurman has enjoyed a stunning acting career, most notably recognized for her iconic yellow jumpsuit in Quentin Tarantino’s epic action flick, KillBill. She and Tarantino are firm friends, and he loves to visit the family as much as possible.
Uma Thurman
15. Julianna Moore
Liv was the second child of Julianne Moore who came to life in April 2002 when the actress was 41. Caleb was her initial child, who was born five years prior to Liv. When it comes to Hollywood royalty, you may as well hand the crown to Moore, who has continued to dazzle audiences with acting chops from decade to decade without fail. Balancing an acting career with raising a family is no small feat!
Julianne Moore
16. Naomi Watts
The stunning actress made her family at 39 years old with former husband Live Schreiber throughout 2007 when they welcomed Sasha into the world. Kai would become the latest addition the family when Watts turned 40, arriving in December 2008. Watts is one of those rare kinds of actresses that has enjoyed a film career that switches between hard-hitting independent dramas and mainstream comedies. Her children must have had an incredibly colorful upbringing!
Naomi Watts
17. Kelly Preston
Following the devastating passing of son Jess during 2009 at just 16 years old, John Travolta and Kelly Preston declared that a new hope was on the way during 2010. It was not long before Kelly – at the 48 – brought a jolly and hale little boy called Benjamin during November. Kelly and John have Ella Bleu to call their own too, having come into the world during 2000.
Kelly Preston
18. Marcia Gay Harden
Julitta Dee and Hudson were the gorgeous twins which then 44-year-old Marcia Gay Harden birthed during 2004 in April. Eulala Grace came to be six years prior in 1998 – placing Harden at 39 at the time. Their father is Harden’s ex-husband, Thaddaeus Scheel. You can expect to enjoy an interestingly unusual upbringing when you are the children of such an exemplary and famous individual like Harden. They are bright and lively children.
Marcia Gay Harden
19. Salma Hayek
2007 was a big year for the then 40-year-old Salma Hayek, where Valentina Paloma Pinault was born to her and her husband, Francois-Henri Pinault. Hayek recently came out as a strong feminist when she took on one of the most controversial figures in Hollywood, Harvey Weinstein. With this kind of role model by her side, you can bet that her daughter is going to be raised with a strong and independent flair.
Salma Hayek
20. Susan Sarandon
Eva Amurri is the initial daughter of Susan Sarandon, having come into the world in 1985 when Sarandon was 39. Sarandon would birth Jack Henry at 42 and then Miles Guthrie at 45. From 1975’s The Rockie Horror Picture Show to 1991’s Thelma and Louise, to 2012’s Cloud Atlas, Sarandon has led a fantastic acting career spanning many years and many fantastic films. Her sons are proud of their heritage and are fine and upstanding gentlemen.
Susan Sarandon
21. Brooke Shields
Not all births are happy, with Brooke Shields’ life being turned upside-down when she brought Rowan Francis, her initial daughter, in 2003. Following the completion of her 2005 written accounts of her issues, called Down Came the Rain, Shields would later bring another wonderful girl into the world in 2006 at 41 years of age called Grier Hammond. Shields led something of a troubled life, coming into controversy more than often with one scandal after another.
Brooke Shields
22. Celine Dion
Celine Dion has really had a difficult time when it comes to family rearing. Following various attempts at IVF and a single crushing miscarriage, Nelson and Eddy finally came to be while Dion was 42 in 2010. Back in 2001, Celine and the sadly passed husband of hers called René Angélil introduced the world to their initial child in 2001.
Dion openly spoke to Us Weekly about her intense apprehensions regarding the complicated second pregnancy. She was, however, committed to doing everything that it took to make sure that the twins would be brought into the world healthily. Dion followed her doctor’s instructions carefully and led a highly inactive lifestyle. She would happily put everything else on hold until the babies were born.
Celine Dion
23. Molly Ringwald
It was at 42 that Molly Ringwald brought twins Adele Georgiana (seen in the picture on top) and Roman Stylianos to life during 2009. Molly had Mathilda Ereni, her 2003 baby, to call a daughter. When you see the picture provided, you can tell that Ringwald is raising her daughter with as much freedom of expression as possible. We hope that her twins make the most out of their diverse lifestyles and priveleges.
Molly Ringwald
24. Helen Hunt
Makena Lei Gordon Carnahan came to life thanks to Helen Hunt when the actress had turned 40 during 2004. Helen spoke on the difficulties of her pregnancy to Ladies’ Home Journal.
This was a particularly challenging attempt at fertility for Hunt. She had attempted falling pregnant various times, over an extended period, to no success at all. This situation would become Hunt’s greatest trial and desire. She and her partner were completely determined to become parents, promising that they would have adopted if nothing else had worked. Thankfully, their efforts came to fruition in 2003 when Helen finally fell pregnant.
Helen Hunt
25. Geena Davis
Alizeh Keshvar would be birthed by the then 46 years old Geena Davis during 2002. Davis was not finished there, incredibly, as only a couple of years passed before she welcomed twins Kaiis Steven and Kian William at 48 in 2004. What a sweet family Davis has, and what cute boys! They look absolutely enthralled with the Hollywood experience and we hope to see them on the stage or in front of the camera one day too.
Geena Davis
26. Meryl Streep
Here we have a real “throwback” with Meryl Streep having brought her fourth daughter into the world just days prior to turning 42. The child was called Louisa Jacobson Gummer, having been born in 1991 on June 12. Streep is the empress of Hollywood and one of its elite circle’s most prominent and well-respected figures. She has elevated the position of actresses incredibly with her outspoken, no-nonsense attitude against the injustices of the world.
Meryl Streep
27. Marcia Cross
It was just a year following their 2006 marriage that Tom Mahoney and Marcia Cross were blessed in February 2007 with twin females named Savannah and Eden. Marcia was almost 45 at the time. She was also quite aware that the likelihood of an ordinary pregnancy was slim. The pair then went straight into the in vitro process after tying the knot, rather than embarking on a fantastically wonderful honeymoon.
Marcia Cross
28. Jennifer Connelly
To break the trend of male offspring, Connelly finally brought a girl called Agnes Lark to the boys’ club in May 2011. Connelly was aged 40 at the time, and Agnes joined Stellan and Kai as siblings. Connelly has never shied away from bringing her parenting methods into the limelight, saying that she respects and nurtures her children’s interests and passions as best she can. She will do anything to see her children come into their own as individuals.
Jennifer Connelly
29. Mary Stuart Masterson
Phineas emerged when Mary Stuart Masterson was 43, being cared for jointly by her husband, the actor Jeremy Davidson. The pair would later be greeted by Wilder and Clio, twins, throughout late 2011 when Mary turned 44. At the age of 45, during late 2012, child number four would enter the stage. What a naughty looking bunch of tikes! We hope that Masterson has mastered her brood, as they look like quite the handful, wouldn’t you say?
Mary Stuart Masterson