30 Celebrities Who Conceived In Their 40’s!
Let me guess, you’re getting closer to the big 4-0 and are curious if it’s still possible to conceive. Perhaps you followed your career and are finally ready to settle down. Maybe it took a little longer than you had expected to find Mr. Right and you’re wondering if it’s too late to start a family. I will tell you, I’ve been down the same Google rabbit holes, falling asleep with my iPad on my chest, searching for anything to give me hope that it’s not too late.
Guess what? It’s not!
Did you know that more than 100,000 women in their 40’s give birth each year. Yup! You read that correctly! So why is there such a stigma? Sure, there are health concerns and risk factors… But there’s risk involved with ANY pregnancy, even those that appear to be 100% “normal.” The reality is, women are waiting until later in life to start a family - And that’s okay!
One thing that helped keep my spirits up through my fertility journey, is knowing I’m not alone. Reading about women I admire and look up to who gave birth later in life encouraged me to keep trying. Let’s face it, when it comes to fertility struggles, we need all the encouragement we can get!
So here is a list of 30 ‘geriatric mamas’ who successfully conceived in their 40’s.
Cameron Diaz
My all time favorite celeb geriatric mama is Cameron Diaz. After retiring from acting, Diaz started a wine brand, married singer Benji Madden, and became a mother to her daughter, Raddix, at 47! The actress has been fairly tight lipped about how she was able to conceive in her ‘advanced maternal age’ and honestly… she doesn’t owe any of us an explanation. She made it happen - good for her! We love to see it!
2. Rachel McAdams
Star of Mean Girls and The Notebook Actress, Rachel McAdams, gave birth to her first child when she was 39, and her second child at 41!
“[People say] your life is not your own anymore. But I had 39 years of me, I was sick of me. I was so happy to put the focus on some other person. I waited a long time [for motherhood].”
I conceived my son at 38 and gave birth at 39. My husband and I would love to give Hayden a sibling, however, we’re not quite ready to start trying. Unfortunately, time is not on our side… I find Rachel’s journey extremely encouraging! It puts my mind at ease knowing we don’t have to rush right in.
Also, can we talk about how gorgeous she is?! 😍
3. Nicole Kidman
Star of Big Little Lies, Actress Nicole Kidman has been very candid about her struggles with infertility. While in her twenties, married to Tom Cruise, Kidman suffered a traumatic ectopic pregnancy; which led the couple to decide on adoption for their two children, Isabella and Connor. Unfortunately, Kidman also suffered a miscarriage at the end of her marriage to Cruise.
When Kidman married Keith Urban in 2006, she assumed she wouldn’t be able to conceive naturally. In 2008, she gave birth to their biological daughter, Sunday Rose, at the age of 41! In a 2012 interview with Australian magazine Who, reported by The List, she shared,
“I’ve done all the stuff you can possibly do to try to get pregnant. So, the way it just happened with Sunday was like, ‘What?’ The percentages were so low. It is the miracle in my life.”
Three years later, Kidman and Urban welcomed their second biological child, Faith Margaret, via surrogate. Despite everything she went through, Kidman has said she would still love to have more children.
We say, go for it mama!
4. Salma Hayek
Salma Hayek gave birth to her daughter, Valentina, when she was 41!
“I thought I was going to need help getting pregnant, and I didn’t.” The actress told WebMD in a 2009 interview.
Despite getting gestational diabetes and having a nauseous nine months, Hayek says she wouldn’t trade the timing of her pregnancy.
“I’m a more fulfilled human being now, and I probably wouldn’t have been 10 years ago. She gets a better mother for being born now.”
5. Hilary Swank
Star of Million Dollar Baby and P.S. I Love You actress, Hilary Swank, became a first time ‘geriatric mama’ to her twins when she was 48!
The Oscar winner announced her pregnancy on Good Morning America in 2022,
”This is something that Iv’e been wanting for a long time and my next thing is I’m gonna be a mom. And not just of one, but of two. I can’t believe it.”
6. Jennifer Love Hewitt
The overwhelming feeling of nostalgia I get when I hear the name, “Jennifer Love Hewitt” … The 90’s rom com, I Know What You Did Last Summer, beauty welcomed her third child, (a baby boy), at 42!
7. Joanna Gaines
HGTV’s, Fixer Upper star, Joanna Gaines welcomed her fifth child, Crew, at 40! After welcoming baby Crew, Gaines says he’s changed her in ways she never could have imagined.
“I kid with people, if you ever want to feel young again, have a baby at 40.” Gaines shared with PEOPLE. “It’s brought this whole new thing for me where I’m a lot more laid-back. People joke that I’m the ‘Fun Jo’ now.”
Those who know me know I’m a HUGE fan of Jo! Hearing about her pregnancy success at 40 is definitely giving me life!
8. Meryl Streep
The Devil Wears Prada star, Meryl Streep, welcomed her third child, Louisa, when she was 42. Clearly she’s a powerhouse in many aspects, not just in Hollywood!
9. Madonna
Madonna became a first time mom at 38 when she gave birth to her daughter, Lourdes. Four years later, she welcomed her son, Rocco, at 42 with then-husband, Guy Ritchie.
When she was 48, Madonna adopted another son, David from Malawi. Three years later, she adopted another child from Malawi, her daughter Mercy. At 59, she adopted twins, Estere and Stella, also from Malawi.
Material Girl turned geriatric mama!
10. Uma Thurman
The Kill Bill actress welcomed her daughter, Luna, at 42. A decade after having her son, Levon, and 14 years after having her daughter, Maya Ray.
11. Janet Jackson
Probably the most iconic geriatric mama we have on our list, Janet Jackson; (Ms. Jackson, if you’re nasty!). Just weeks before her 50th birthday, Jackson announced she was pregnant with her first child, a baby boy!
“I feel most beautiful when I’m with my son, because of the gift that God has given me and that he allowed me to do so at that age.” - Janet Jackson to InStyle
“love is limitless […] day after day and night after night, holding my baby in my arms, I am at peace. I am blessed. I feel bliss. In those moments, all is right with the world.” - Janet Jackson to Billboard
Well Ms. Jackson, all we can say is… That’s the Way Love Goes!
12. Halle Berry
Award-winning, A-list actress, Halle Berry, welcomed her first child, Nahla, at 41. Six years later, she gave birth to her son, Maceo, at 47!
In an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Berry revealed that her second pregnancy was a total surprise.
”I was, you know, on my way… this is probably way TMI, but I was really, you know, kinda premenopausal so to have this happen was a huge [shock].”
13. Susan Sarandon
Known for her iconic role in Thelma and Louise, Susan Sarandon gave birth to her first child when she was 39. Three years later, she had her son, Jack, at 42, and then her son, Miles, at 45.
In an interview with Time Out New York, Sarandon shared,
“I wasn’t in a hurry, but I actually had a medical condition and was told I could never be a mother.” [Sarandon had been diagnosed with endometriosis]. “It was just such a freak [thing] that I got pregnant that I thought I can’t ignore this. And so I jumped.”
14. Tina Fey
Star of Baby Mama and 30 Rock actress, Tina Fey, welcomed her second child, Penelope, at 41.
”My husband and I really decided that we felt rather than risk having 30 Rock end in several years and feeling like part of our family is missing that we were going to prioritize our family.”
Shortly after welcoming Penelope, the actress and producer of 30 Rock was ready to get back to work… or so she thought!
“We started shooting probably a little too soon. We started shooting when the baby was only 8-weeks-old,” … “Watch the show, I look like maybe I should still be in the hospital. Jut a little inflamed and kind of swollen. You want that lady to lay down for a minute.”
15. Rachel Zoe
Famous celebrity stylist and business woman, Rachel Zoe, gave birth to her first son Skyler at 40. Two years later, her second son, Kaius, was born.
“Every day I ask my husband, ‘is it possible to over kiss your child?’ I literally think I kiss him 200 times in a day. It’s not normal!”
Rachel Zoe, we’re here to tell you… IT IS NORMAL! Never stop kissing on those babies! 🥰
16. Mariah Carey
Grammy-winning recording artist, singer, songwriter, record producer, and geriatric mama! Mariah Carey was 41 when she was pregnant with twins, Moroccan and Monroe.
“Everyone was always saying to me, “oh but it’s all worth it.’ And I was like, ‘yeah well it’s easy for you to say when you’re not the one whose feet are this big’”
“My body went through so much - you have to keep those twins in as long as possible, but it’s a sacrifice you make for them. I was literally 47 weeks pregnant.”
17. Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani gave birth to her third child, Apollo, when she was 44. After several rounds of failed attempts at IVF, and a devastating miscarriage, rumor has it the now 53-year-old singer is about to be a geriatric mama of 4 with now husband, Blake Shelton. However, Neither Stefani or Shelton have officially announced the news. Fingers crossed the rumors are true.
There’s No Doubt her fans will be elated!
18. Eva Mendes
Eva Mendes was 40 when she gave birth to her first child with Ryan Gosling, a daughter they named Esmeralda. Two years later she welcomed her second daughter, Amada.
While on The Ellen DeGeners Show, Mendes shared:
“Really, I am so incredibly tired” … “I thought I was tired before at times, but no. Nothing like this… but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
19. Brooke Shields
Super model and actress, Brooke Shields, was 40 when she had her second child. Before welcoming her daughter, Shields went through several cycles of IVF for her first child, Rowan, in 2003 when at the age of 38.
20. Celine Dion
“Queen of Power Ballads,” Celine Dion, was 42 when she gave birth to her twin boys, Eddy and Nelson, in 2010 with the help of IVF. Dion shared with Oprah,
“I never gave up!”
I can relate all too well! After going through multiple failed cycles of IUI and IVF treatments, I kept pushing forward and never gave up. I knew in my heart I was meant to conceive a child, so I kept going. Each failed cycle meant we try again next month and increase our chances.
I knew in my heart of hearts we’d become pregnant one way or another. I guess that’s The Power of Love!
21. Salma Hayek
Star of Frida, Salma Hayek, gave birth to her daughter, Valentina, at 41.
In an interview with Glamour Magazine, Hayek shared,
“I gained so much weight, I got an opportunity to see myself completely disfigured in many different ways - for a very good reason - and I don’t regret it for a second.”
22. Jane Krakowski
30 Rock star, Jane Krakowski, was 42 when she welcomed her son, Bennett. In an interview with People magazine, Krakowski shared that she was so smitten.
”Bennett is an amazing, healthy sweet boy and we are both just crazy in love with him.”
23. Julianne Moore
Actress Julianne Moore gave birth to her son, Caleb, in her late 30’s. Five years later, Moore gave birth to her daughter when she was 41.
24. Jennifer Connelly
Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning actress, Jennifer Connelly, had her third child, daughter Agnes Lark, when she was 40.
In an interview with Allure, Connelly shared,
“I knew that we were going to be done after number three. That’s enough for us!”
25. Helen Hunt
Mad About You star, Helen Hunt, was 40 when she had her daughter, Makena. Hunt then went on to write the movie, Then She Found Me, about a middle-aged woman who desires to be a mother against all odds. Hunt said her inspiration for the film came from her own “wish to have a daughter.”
26. Naomi Watts
Award-winning actress, Naomi Watts, was blessed with her son, Sasha, when she was 39. A year later she gave birth to her second son, Kai, when she was 40.
The actress has been fairly candid about her journey to motherhood. At 36, Watts began feeling perimenopause symptoms while trying to conceive- making her first pregnancy an emotional experience.
Appearing on the cover of InStyle’s special World Menopause Day issue, Watts shared the challenges she faced trying to conceive.
“I knew that there are changes to the body around the age 35, but I didn’t know that it was a really late time to start thinking about getting pregnant.”
Watts shared with InStyle that doctors had floated the idea of donor eggs in light of her poor test results
“For whatever reason, there’s still a societal stigma around not conceiving naturally. So that kicked off a whole world of secrecy and shame, and I started looking into other possible alternative routes I could take.”
Watts said she wasn’t a candidate for IVF and tried different methods to boost her fertility, including wheatgrass shots and Chinese herbs.
I find Watts’ story extremely relatable. Having tried almost everything imaginable to become pregnant, hearing her journey brought up a lot of heavy emotions!
27. Julia Stiles
Star of Save The Last Dance and 10 Things I Hate About You actress, Julia Stiles, was 40 when she had her second child.
28. Mindy Kaling
Star of The Mindy Project, Mindy Kaling, welcomed her second child at 41. With the help of COVID quarantine, Kaling was able to keep her pregnancy a secret and give birth without knowledge to her fans!
“I would occasionally have meetings. So from here up, I would have to look nice, but I was just kind of like pregnant and no one saw. And I just thought, ‘what if I could get away with this?’”
29. Eva Longoria
Star of Desperate Housewives, Eva Longoria had her first child, son Santiago, when she was 42.
“Santi was meant to be with me at this stage in my life. I’m patient, I don’t work as much - even if it doesn’t seem that way! It’s the right time.” - Eva Longoria, Parents Latina
Kourtney Kardashian on the cover of Health Magazine, April 2020
30. Kourtney Kardashian
Last but certainly not least, the woman we’ve all been talking about this month… Kourtney Kardashian! Kourtney has provided her fans with a front row seat to her fertility journey with husband, Travis Barker.
Fans watched the couple’s IVF journey and witnessed their heartache after receiving the disappointing news that the fertility treatment had not resulted in a pregnancy. After the most recent failed attempt, The Blink 182 drummer, 47, and the 44-year-old reality TV star made the decision to be “officially done with IVF.”
“We would love a baby more than anything, but I just really believe in what God has in store for us. If that’s a baby, then I believe that will happen.” - Kourtney shared on a recent episode of The Kardashians.
The power couple’s IVF treatment followed egg freezing, which Kourtney revealed she had undergone in the beginning of their relationship in late 2020. While the process retrieved seven eggs, most “didn’t survive the thaw” and “none of them made it to an embryo.”
“The freezing of the eggs isn’t guaranteed. I think that that’s a misunderstanding. People do it thinking that it’s like a safety net and it’s not.” - Kourtney continued
The Poosh founder switched gears from modern medicine, to a more holistic approach - One in which included steaming her vagina! (No, that wasn’t a typo!) In June of 2022, Kourtney raved about a Yoni steam and Panchakarma cleanse, telling her mom, Kris Jenner, and sisters that it was “so good” for her vagina.
“I did a Yoni steam and I want to buy you all a Yoni steam. It’s so god for your vagina, you put roses and stuff in there.” - Kourtney shared with her mom and sisters in an episode of The Kardashians
“I did this cleanse 10 years ago, I kept telling Travis about this and it’s the one thing we haven’t tried that he’s heard me talk about.”
Kourtney also had a ginger foot bath, which is said to bring warmth to the womb.
On June 17th, 2023, Kourtney revealed the couple’s pregnancy news at a Blink 182 concert in Los Angeles, referencing the “All the Small Things” music video by holding up a “TRAVIS I’M PREGNANT” sign from the crowd. As a die hard Kardashian fan, I’ll admit that I teared up a little when I heard the news! 😭
This will be Kourtney’s fourth child and Travis’s third.
Kourtney’s journey to motherhood is extremely relatable to me. Modern medicine and science didn’t work for me. Holistic medicine is what my body responds to best. A treatment that works for some isn’t necessarily one that works for all. Every woman’s body is unique and responds differently. My advice is to keep trying, be open to new and unique remedies regardless of how off the wall they may sound. You never know what treatment, diet, herb or supplement will shift your body into gear. Perhaps all your body needs is a good vagina steam! LOL.
These are just 30 celebrities in their 40’s who have successfully conceived that I hand picked to share. Through my research, I uncovered that there are MANY more! Bottom line, you are not alone. Infertility isn’t prejudice. It doesn’t matter how much money you have, how many awards you’ve won, how famous you are… if it’s meant to be, it will happen. Yes, money does help with expensive treatment costs. However, it’s not always the most expensive treatment that’s the most successful.
Check out our post on Holistic Fertility Treatments for more info on various new-age treatments that are available.
Related Article:
‘Advanced Maternal Aged’ Celebrity Mamas & Their Journeys to Geriatric Mama-hood!
