In 1996, Lela Rochon made it to the ‘People’s 50 Most Beautiful’ list. Ronchon is an American actress best known for her role as Robin Stokes in the 1995 drama “Waiting to Exhale.” Lela married her partner in crime, director Antoine Fuqua, in 1999, and the pair are still together today after over two decades of marriage.
In 2004, when she was 40 years old, the star welcomed her and her husband’s second child together. Her son Brando Rochon Fuqua was born in the summer of 2004. The couple also share a daughter by the name of Asia Rochon Fuqua together. Asia was born in 2002, just before Lela reached the 40s club.
Lela Rochon - 40
In 1996, Lela Rochon made it to the 'People's 50 Most Beautiful' list. Ronchon is an American actress best known for her role as Robin Stokes in the 1995 drama "Waiting to Exhale." Lela married her partner in crime, director Antoine Fuqua, in 1999, and the pair are still together today after over two decades of marriage.
In 2004, when she was 40 years old, the star welcomed her and her husband's second child together. Her son Brando Rochon Fuqua was born in the summer of 2004. The couple also share a daughter by the name of Asia Rochon Fuqua together. Asia was born in 2002, just before Lela reached the 40s club.
Kris Jenner - 41
The matriarchal 'momager' Kris Jenner has a fine talent for creating gorgeous, model-ready girls. In 1997, when her final child, Kylie Jenner, was born, Kris was 41 years old. By now, Kris Jenner has gone on to become a grandmother to all her grandkids, from Kim, Khloe, Kourtney Kardashian, and even Kylie Jenner has two children of her own.
In 2015, Kylie launched the label "Kylie Cosmetics," which is valued at over $1 billion today. The life of the Jenner-Kardashian family has been highly publicized thanks to the reality TV show "Keeping Up With the Kardashians," which was broadcast from 2007 to 2021, as well as "The Kardashians" from 2022.
Marcia Gay Harden - 44
The Academy Award-winning actress Marcia Gay Harden was 44 when she and her husband, Thaddaeus Scheel, welcomed their twins, Hudson and Julitta Dee, in 2004. The pair also share a daughter together by the name of Eulala Grace, who was born in 1998. Harden met the filmmaker in the mid-90s when they both worked on the production of "The Spitfire Grill."
The pair got married in 1996 and stayed together for 15 years. Sadly, Harden filed for divorce in 2012. In the same year that Harden filed for divorce, she published her own memoir titled "The Seasons of My Mother: A Memoir of Love, Family, and Flowers," in which she details the bond of mother and daughter over time.
Joanna Gaines - 40
Joanna Gaines is best known for her work in the home renovation show "Fixer Upper," which she started co-hosting in 2013 with her hubby Chip Gaines. She is also a 'New York Times' bestselling author of several books that touch on topics of home design and cooking, and she's even authored children's books, too.
When Joanna announced her fifth pregnancy in 2018, she was already a mom of four. The Gaineses welcomed their youngest child, Crew, when Joanna was 40 years old. Having a child at 40 made her feel "young again," the star shared in an interview with People. Having a baby in your 40s seems to be the key to feeling youthful again!
Erin Andrews - 45
Erin Andrews is a renowned American sports and TV personality. She rose to fame when she joined the ESPN network in 2004. In 2012, she joined the Fox Sports network and evolved into the lead correspondent for the network's NFL broadcasting squad. She also co-hosted ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" show from 2014 to 2019.
Recently, the star welcomed her first child via surrogate at 45 years old. The news broke after Andrews endured a cervical cancer diagnosis and a lengthy decade-long IVF process with her husband, Jarret Stoll. "It was ten years of hell," Andrews stated in an interview with TODAY. We are so happy that Andrews and Stoll could get their happy ending after what seems to have been a tough road to conceiving.
Robin Arzon - 41
Robin Arzon is best known for being one of the head instructors and Vice Presidents of Fitness Programming at Pelaton, the workout streaming establishment. She and her current hubby Drew Butler had a baby when Arzon was 41 years old. The two welcomed their boy, Atlas Sage Arzon Butler, into their lives in the summer of 2023.
The power couple met at a speakeasy bar in Manhattan in 2016 and got married in 2019 in a gorgeous four-day ceremony. Their wedding extravaganza took place in Tulum, Mexico, and was inspired by their mutual adoration for the Black Rock Desert festival, Burning Man. They also share a daughter together by the name of Athena, who was born in 2021.
Michelle Duggar - 43
The TLC reality show star Michelle Duggar and her husband, Jim Bob Duggar, miraculously share 19 biological kids together. The pair from the reality series "19 Kids and Counting" welcomed their final 19th child, Josie, back in December 2009.
At the time of Josie's birth, Michelle was 43 years old, and sadly, the baby was born three months prematurely and only weighed in at about 1 lb, 6 oz at birth. The large family relocated to be closer to the Arkansas Children's Hospital in the first few months of the baby's life so that they could be near her as she got stronger and ready to enter the world without medical support.
Diana Jenkins - 49
The "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" icon Diana Jenkins met her current partner, Asher Monroe, more than a decade ago. The pair have since welcomed two of their own children into their lives — Eliyanah in 2020 and Elodie in 2023. At the time of Elodie's birth, Jenkins was on the cusp of turning 50 years old and had recently suffered a miscarriage, so the pair were over the moon when Diana delivered a healthy baby at 49 years old.
We are so happy that she and her partner could get the two bundles of joy that they've always wanted to share together. Besides these two tots, Jenkins shares two kids with her ex-husband, Roger Jenkins — Innis and Eneya, who are both well into their 20s.
Eve - 42
Iconic rapper Eve and Maximillion Cooper first met at the Cooper Gumball 3000 launch party in 2010. The two got hitched in a lavish beachfront wedding in Spain just four years later. Seeing as Cooper is a London native and Eve is based in LA, the two share their time between their LA and London homes. In 2021, Eve and Cooper welcomed their first child into the world.
Eve may have won a Grammy and a Soul Train Award, but it seems like her greatest treasure so far has been the privilege of becoming a mother. Eve was 42 years old at the time of their son Wilde Wolf Fife Alexander Somers Cooper's delivery. Just weeks after the birth of her child, she stated that words cannot "describe this feeling."
Diane Keaton - 50
The Academy Award-winning star Diane Keaton has always been proud to rock her single mom status. She welcomed her two kids, Duke and Dexter, into the world when she reached her 50s. Keaton first adopted a girl in 1996, before Dexter celebrated her first birthday.
By now, Dexter is all grown up, and though she mostly stays out of the spotlight, we do know that she got to marry her partner in crime, Jordan White, in 2021. Duke was welcomed into Diane's world just a few months after his birth in 2001, also through adoption. Duke is trying to pursue a career in his mother's footsteps, though he has yet to land himself a role that is going to get him noticed.
Sarah Jessica Parker - 44
The two-time Primetime Emmy winner Sarah Jessica Parker has been espoused to her husband, Matthew Broderick, since 1997. The two first met in 1991 due to a shared passion for theater. When Parker gave birth to her first child in 2002, she was 37 years old.
The "Sex in the City" actress went for round two in 2009, but this time around, she used a surrogate mother and was blessed with twins. When the twins, two girls, Marion and Tabitha, were delivered, Parker was 44 years old. And just like that, the Parker-Broderick family grew from three to five members overnight.
Angela Basset - 48
Angela Basset and her husband, Courtney B. Vance, are undoubtedly one of Hollywood's power couples. The two met in the 80s when they were both enrolled at the Yale School of Drama. Their decades-long affair is one of the sweetest we've seen, and even though it wasn't love at first sight, it was acting that brought the two into each other's lives again a few years later.
After several years of dating, the two wed in 1997 and welcomed their twins, Slater Josiah and Bronwyn Golden, in 2006 when Basset was 48. The perfect pair continues to thrive and surprise in the show biz sector today with what seems to be an ever-lasting marriage.
Sheryl Crow - 48
In 2010, Sheryl Crow revealed that she had adopted another child. She took to her personal website to share the news with: "Wyatt has a new brother." Crow adopted her son Wyatt in 2007 when he was just two weeks old. Her second adoption of two-month-old baby Levi took place when Crow was 48 years old.
At the time of adopting her tots, Sheryl was single, following the break up to seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong. As a breast cancer survivor, Crow said that adopting as a single mom wasn't exactly part of her plan but claimed that it was the best decision, she has ever made regardless of all the struggles that come along with being a single parent.
Morena Baccarin - 41
In 2015, the Brazilian babe Morena Baccarin filed for divorce from her first husband, Austin Chick, for 'irreconcilable differences.' Baccarin and Austin have one son together, who was born in the fall of 2013 when the star was 34 years old. The actress met her now hubby, Ben McKenzie, on the set of the series "Gotham."
Not too long after they first met, the two welcomed their first child together in 2015. Two years later, the two married in a lavish ceremony in Brooklyn, New York, in 2017. Baccarin and McKenzie delighted the world in 2021 when they announced the birth of their second child together. Morena was 41 years old at the time of Arthur's delivery in 2021.
Kristen Davis - 46
In 2019, Kristen Davis opened up about the journey she's had to go through as a white mother adopting black children. The star had been keen on adopting for a very long time before she finally started the process with her first child. The "Sex and the City" icon first adopted her daughter in 2011 and her son in 2018 when she was 46 years old.
On an episode of Jada Pinkett Smith's show, "Red Table Talk," the star revealed that she wanted to be sure that her children would feel at home in the black community. The single mom claimed that raising black children has really shed some light on all the prejudice in the world and around her. Davis even enrolled in some classes about black culture, including a class that's solely dedicated to styling black hair. We love Kristen for that!
Sandra Bullock - 45 and 50
Sandra Bullock has had some major ups and downs in her life. In 2010, the star won an Academy Award for the best performance in a leading role in the flick "The Blind Side." The same year, the actress went through a horrible divorce from Jesse James, which was highly publicized.
A lot of big things happened to Bullock this year as she also decided to adopt her son Louis at the age of 45, for which she got a lot of scrutiny. The scrutiny obviously did not phase her one bit, as in 2015, when she was 50, she adopted another child. This time, it was a girl by the name of Laila.
Hoda Kotb - 52 and 54
In 2017, the "Today" show co-anchor Hota Kotb opened up to the audiences on her show that she had adopted her first child, a girl named Hayley Joy. Just two years later, in April 2019, the star and her then-fiancé, Joel Schiffman, told the world that they had adopted another girl named Hope Catherine.
Kotb has opened up about her struggles when trying to conceive in the past, as she had previously battled breast cancer and had undergone a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, which made having kids impossible for a long time. We're so happy that Kotb was ultimately declared cancer-free and that she eventually got the chance to become a mother.
Cameron Diaz - 47
The "Charlie's Angels" actress Cameron Diaz seems to be full of surprises. Several years ago, the star revealed that she didn't think marriage was worthy and even went as far as to call it a 'dying institution.' A few years later, in 2015, the star walked down the aisle to marry her now-husband, Benji Madden.
She had also stated in the past that becoming a mother was not really something that she was into, but as you can only guess, she changed her mind about that, too. In 2019, the couple welcomed their first child, a baby girl, Raddix, into their lives. We guess that love changes everything (especially when it comes to views on marriage and children.)
Eva Longoria - 43
A "Desperate Housewives" star who decided to become a mother in her 40s is Eva Longoria. Longoria and her husband José Bastón wedded in 2016 in Mexico. The pair got engaged just one year prior in Dubai and welcomed their son, Santiago, on June 19, 2018.
Bastón, the president of Televisa, already had three children prior to meeting Longoria, which makes her a stepmom to his trio of children from his previous partner. Santiago was Longoria's first child of her own, and since his birth, the star has noted that she has learned a lot about herself and about practicing patience on a daily basis.
Kirsten Wiig - 49
Star of "Wonder Woman 1984" and SNL, Kirsten Wiig has recently opened up about what it feels like to be a mother. She and her now husband, Avi Rothman, started seeing each other in 2016, and the pair got engaged after three years of dating in 2019.
In January 2020, just a few months after their engagement, the pair welcomed twins into their lives, a boy, Shiloh, and a girl, Luna, via a surrogate mother. Wiig told ET, "It's the best!" and despite what people may think, the star has stated that she feels a great sense of calm in her life with her two infants in it.
Mena Suvari - 42
Mena Suvari opened up to People in 2020 about how her whole experience of expecting had been extremely emotionally draining. Suvari and Michael Hope got hitched in 2018 and had been trying to conceive since 2020, which was followed by a lot of highs and lows and a great deal of disappointment, according to her.
The pair definitely got their happy ending, though. It all worked out in the end when the "American Beauty" actress and her hubby welcomed their first child into the world in 2021. Suvari was 41 years old at the time of her son, Christopher Alexander Hope's birth.
Olivia Munn - 41
Olivia Munn and the comedian John Mulaney have apparently known each other for over a decade, but the two only started linking romantically in 2021. The relationship moved along swiftly, as they had their first child together in the same year that they started dating. Munn was 41 at the time of her son's birth.
This was the first child of both stars, despite both having been in long-term relationships in the past. A few days after their baby's birth, the pair introduced their new arrival to the world around Christmas time. What a lovely Christmas present! Both Munn and Mulaney posted a picture of their sleeping baby, Malcolm Hiệp, on Instagram. Munn wrote: "My Golden Ox. Malcolm Hiệp Mulaney. Happy Holidays."
Christina Ricci - 41
It feels as though just a few years ago, Christina Ricci was the child star who portrayed Kat in the cult classic "Casper," which aired in 1995. Since then, Ricci has gone on to star in a whole lot of productions, including a recent one, the award-winning "Wednesday." In 2015, the star welcomed her first child into the world with her then partner James Heerdegeen.
The two split in 2020 after a seven-year relationship, after which Ricci started seeing Mark Hampton. In 2021, when Christina was 41 years old, she and Hampton welcomed a baby girl, Cleopatra, into the world. Ricci was overjoyed with her baby girl as she posted a video of her with a caption that read, "We're so in love with her." Naw, baby love!
Michelle Williams - 42
The "Dawson's Creek" and "Brokeback Mountain" star Michelle Williams gave birth to her first child in 2005 when she was 25 years old. Her first baby's daddy was Heath Ledger, who sadly passed away three years after the baby's delivery.
In 2019, when Williams and Thomas Kails both worked on the set of "Fosse/Verdon," it was pretty much love at first sight. The two got engaged in the same year and welcomed a baby just a few months later. In the summer of 2020, Williams, who was 42 at the time, and her hubby Kail welcomed their first baby boy into the world.
Paris Hilton - 42
The hotel heiress Paris Hilton started the year 2023 off with a bang! The star announced that she and her hubby, Carter Reum, welcomed their first baby together through a surrogate mother in January 2023. The pair's whole world changed when their boy, Phoenix Barron Hilton Reum, entered their lives.
Before the birth of her child, Hilton had been open about wanting to start a family and the desire to become a mother but never had the opportunity before settling down with her current husband. Reum and Hilton got engaged in 2021 after a year of dating and finally exchanged "I do" in a three-day wedding celebration in November 2021 at the Barron Hilton Bel-Air estate.
Maria Menounos - 44
In February 2023, the American TV personality, mostly known for presenting on E! News, opened up about her journey to conceiving her first child. The star was relieved when she had finally fallen pregnant after trying for a long, treacherous ten-year period. She added that she had tried every method under the sun, including IVF, but conceiving was a really challenging thing for her and her husband, Keven Undergaro.
The whole journey was rather frustrating, she claimed, but they are so happy that it all worked out in the end. The star became pregnant just a few months after undergoing surgery for pancreatic cancer, so we are beyond happy that she finally got the baby that she always wanted!
Hilary Swank - 48
Hilary Swank, the American actress and film producer, got her moment of glory in 1994 when she starred in "The Next Karate Kid." Swank married Philip Schneider in 2018, and just four years later, the two had a massive surprise for the world.
In October 2022, Swank publicly announced that she was pregnant with twins. The twins, a boy and a girl, were born in April 2023, and the star took to Instagram to show off her cuties in a sunset post. "It wasn't easy. But boy (and girl!) was it worth it," she commented, adding that she was reporting "from pure Heaven." Naw, too sweet!
Uzo Aduba - 42
Uzo Aduba married her kindred soul, filmmaker Robert Sweeting, in a secret ceremony in New York. Since the two kept their relationship pretty low-key, it's not clear when they met, but they tied the knot in 2020. The "Orange Is the New Black" and "In Treatment" actress took to Instagram to reveal that she and her husband would be expecting at some point in 2023.
At the age of 42, this would be her first child that she would be delivering. Aduba stated that she and her hubby were so happy and beyond excited to enter the next phase of life with the new baby that was entering theirs. She added that she was beyond excited to get to be someone's mommy.
Kelly Preston - 48
Actress Kelly Preston had three children with her actor husband, John Travolta. Their first child, Jett, was born in 1992, eight years before their daughter Ella Bleau was born. Unfortunately, their son passed away in 2009 after hitting his head in the bathtub during a seizure. In addition to being autistic, Jett had Kawasaki Syndrome, which caused the attacks. The couple was shocked to learn that Preston was pregnant the following year.
Benjamin was born in 2010 when the actress was 48-years-old! She described how she learned she was expecting, saying that when she found out she was pregnant, she was floored. She snuck out of bed and then woke Travolta up, they both started crying with joy. Preston recently passed away in 2020 after battling breast cancer for two years.
Nancy Grace - 48
TV journalist Nancy Grace has been known to stir the pot when a big story hits the news. However, these days she’s busy raising two teens. Grace never thought she’d get married after the tragic death of her fiance; however, that all changed in 2007. After keeping in touch with a friend from college for years, it became clear that the two had a deeper connection.
Grace married her former classmate, Atlanta investment banker David Linch, in a spur-of-the-moment ceremony in 2007. That same year she gave birth to twins, John and Lucy, at the age of 48!
Geri Halliwell - 44
Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell has come a long way since her days on tour. Today she has two children. Her first is with her ex-boyfriend, screenwriter Sacha Gervasi. Together they have a daughter named Bluebell Madonna, born in 2006 when Halliwell was 34 years old.
She later began dating Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull Racing Formula One in 2014. The couple was married just over a year later and didn’t wait long to try for kids. With the help of IVF, Halliwell gave birth to her second child, a son named George, in 2017. She was 44 years old at the time.
Audra McDonald - 46
Broadway actress Audra McDonald has two children under her belt. Her first, daughter Zoe, was born in 2000 during her marriage to bassist Peter Donovan. The two split in 2009, and just a few years later, McDonald married a fellow theater actor, Will Swenson in 2012, and the pair are still cohabitating and doing the parenting thing together to this day.
The couple was ecstatic to learn that they were expecting a child together. In 2016, McDonald gave birth to another daughter, Sally James, at the age of 46. Swenson also has two children from a previous relationship, making them quite the modern family!
Donatella Arpaia - 40 & 47
Food Network alum and celebrity chef, Donatella Arpaia, was ready to give up on expanding her family when she got pregnant in her forties. She and her husband, cardiac surgeon Allan Stewart, had their first child in 2011. Allesandro was born on his mom’s 40 birthday, but it would be five more years before the chef would give birth again.
After many failed rounds of IVF, Arpaia admitted to being on the brink of giving up. She and her husband began considering other options like adoption but gave IVF one last shot. It was then that she became pregnant with twins. Noah and Emma were born in 2018 when Arpaia was 47 years old!
Tamron Hall - 48
The host of "Today," Tamron Hall, announced she and her husband were expecting their first child in 2019. Hall is married to music executive, Steven Greener. The pair met in 2017 and married just two years later, the same year that they expected their first child. The broadcast journalist gave birth to a boy named Moses in April of the same year at 48 years old.
She announced the arrival of her son on Instagram writing: “Moses & Mama!! I can’t wait to introduce y’all to my #sonshine. Photo credit: Dad, who can’t stop crying tears of joy. Thank y'all for the love and support. It got us here.”
Kenya Moore - 47
"The Real Housewives of Atlanta" alum, Kenya Moore, announced that she was expecting her first child in 2018. She and the restaurant owner, Marc Daly, used IVF to conceive. As difficult as it was for them to get pregnant, the nine months before their daughter was born was no walk in the park. Moore was diagnosed with preeclampsia, which caused her to gain 17 pounds.
It also required her to have an emergency cesarean section. Fortunately, it all worked out. The couple welcomed a girl named Brooklyn in November of that year when Moore was 47 years old. She was named after the city where the two met!
Chloë Sevigny - 45
Model and actress Chloë Sevigny is often drawn to roles in independent films, allowing her a successful career in Hollywood. She began dating art gallery director, Sinisa Mačković, in 2018. Just two years later, they were expecting their first child. In May 2020, she gave birth to a son named Vanja at the age of 45.
Sevigny made sure to go out of her way to thank the staff at Mt. Sinai East. She wrote on Instagram, “Thank you to all the staff at Mt. Sinai East for your bravery, perseverance, and kindness, especially the nurses for being so gentle and patient. Blessings to all the other families giving birth during this time.”
Rachel Weisz - 48
British-American actress Rachel Weisz first started dating filmmaker and producer Darren Aronofsky in 2001. While they got engaged in 2005, they never made it down the aisle. However, they did have a son, Henry, in 2006. Even though the couple announced their split in 2010, they remained close friends and co-parents.
Just one month after the public learned of Weisz’s split from Aronofsky, she started dating actor and long-time friend Daniel Craig. They then worked together on the 2011 film "Dream House" and ultimately got married that same year. In 2018, Weiz gave birth to a daughter at the age of 48.
Holly Hunter - 45
Holly Hunter is an award-winning actress known for her roles in "The Piano," "The Firm," and "Thirteen." She was first married to cinematographer Janusz Kamiński in 1995, but their relationship didn’t last. The couple split just six years after tying the knot in 2001.
After her divorce, Hunter started dating British actor Gordon MacDonald. They met during the production of "By the Bog of Cats" in which the two played lovers. Their on-screen romance transpired into an off-screen one. While they never walked down the aisle, Hunter gave birth to twins in 2006. Claude and Press were born when Hunter was 45 years old!
Diane Kruger - 42
Actress Diane Kruger is best known for her roles as Helen in "Troy," and Dr. Abigail Chase in "National Treasure." Between 2001 and 2006, she was married to French actor and director Guillaume Canet. The couple did not have children together.
She started dating "The Walking Dead" actor, Norman Reedus, after meeting him on the set of the film "Sky" in 2015. Their relationship became official the following year, and Kruger quickly became pregnant. She gave birth to a baby girl in 2018 at the age of 42! The couple is extremely private and hasn’t yet released the name of their daughter.
Brigitte Nielsen - 54
Danish model and actress Brigitte Nielsen shocked the world when she announced that she was pregnant with her fifth child in her fifties. No stranger to the tabloids, Nielsen has been married numerous times over the years. She had her first son, Julian, with husband Kasper Winding in her twenties. Her second son, Killian Marcus, was born in 1989 and fathered by her ex-fiance, former NFL player Mark Gastineau.
Nielsen and her fourth husband, Raoul Meyer, had two sons together. Douglas Aaron and Raoul, Jr. were both born in the nineties. It was over a decade later when Nielsen finally got a baby girl. She married producer Mattia Dessì in 2006 and got pregnant more than ten years later. She gave birth to a daughter, Frida, in 2018, when she was 54-years-old!
Alanis Morissette - 42 & 45
Singer Alanis Morissette has been known to find inspiration for her music in her dating life. After a failed engagement to Ryan Reynolds, she went on to marry rapper Mario "Souleye" Treadway in 2010. They welcomed a son that same year and named him Ever Imre.
Morissette gave birth to her second child in 2016. Onyx Solace was born just weeks after the singer’s 42 birthday. Their little family wasn’t complete just yet, though. The couple welcomed a third child in 2019. Morissette gave birth to a son, Winter Mercy, at the age of 45! All three of her pregnancies forced her to overcome postpartum depression, which she has been incredibly open about with the public.
Milla Jovovich - 44
Model-turned-actress Milla Jovovich met her current husband, film writer Paul W. S. Anderson, on "Resident Evil’s" set in 2002. He proposed the following year, but their relationship was on and off for several years after that. Ultimately they reconnected and had their first child in 2007, a daughter named Ever Gabo.
The couple’s second daughter, Dashiel Edan, was born in 2015 while Jovovich was still in her thirties. After experiencing an unfortunate miscarriage, the actress was nervous when she learned that she was pregnant at 43. Even though she spent a lot of time in doctor’s offices waiting on test results, the baby was born happy and healthy. The couple’s third daughter, Osian Lark Elliot, was born in 2020 when Jovovich was 44 years old.
Jill Wagner - 41
Jill Wagner made her mark in Hollywood when she became a regular sketch performer in Ashton Kutcher’s comedy series “Punk’d.” In 2017, "Teen Wolf" alum Wagner married former pro hockey player David Lemanowicz. Just two years later, the couple stated that they were expecting their first child. Their daughter was born in April of 2020 when Wagner was 41 years old.
Motherhood seems to have altered Wagner’s perspective on life. After she welcomed her daughter to the world, she said that she no longer felt her twenties were the best years of her experience. Wagner is confident that her best years are still to come.
Mary Stuart Masterson - 43 & 45
Actress and director Mary Stuart Masterson met her husband actor Jeremy Davidson when they starred together in Cat’s 2004 stage production on a Hot Tin Roof. They were married in 2006 and continued to work together both in front and behind the cameras.
This was her fourth marriage, but we’re guessing the one that brought the most joy since the couple has three kids together. Their son Phineas Bee was born in 2009 when Masterson was 43-years-old. They learned that they were expecting again and announced the pregnancy just 17 months later, to the couple’s surprise-twins Wilder and Clio in 2011 when the actress was 45.
Molly Ringwald - 41
80s child star, Molly Ringwald, who got her claim to fame in the movie “The Breakfast Club,” married her second husband, Greek-American writer, and book editor Panio Gianopoulos, in 2007. Together they have three children. The couple’s daughter Mathilda was born in 2003 when Ringwald was still in her thirties.
Getting pregnant again proved to be difficult for Ringwald as she experienced some health issues that needed to be addressed. After having surgery to remove several fibroids, Ringwald was able to get pregnant again. This time she wound up giving birth to twins, Adele and Roman, in 2009 at the age of 41.
Geena Davis - 46 & 48
Actress Geena Davis appears to be unlucky in love. It wasn’t until her fourth marriage in 2001 to neurosurgeon Reza Jarrahy that she gave motherhood a shot. The couple has three kids together. Their daughter Alizeh was born in 2002 when Davis was 46-years-old. Then two years later, she gave birth to twin boys, Kaiis and Kian.
While some would consider this relatively late in life to start a family, Davis has said that it was perfect timing for her. Others may have had things figured out in their thirties or early forties, but Davis admits that it took her a bit longer. Jarrahy ultimately filed for divorce in 2018. However, Davis responded with a petition claiming the two were never legally married.
Janet Jackson - 50
Janet Jackson’s third marriage was to businessman Wissam Al Mana. The couple tied the knot in 2012 and welcomed a son five years later. Eissa was born in 2017 when Jackson was 50 years old. It’s unlikely the pop singer was able to conceive naturally. Reports claim she used donor eggs and IVF to get pregnant, but neither has been confirmed.
Jackson had a safe and healthy delivery and now has a toddler on her hands. In interviews, she has said that her whole day revolves around her son now, requiring patience she never knew she had. Unfortunately, Al Mana and Jackson split the same year their son was born.
Kim Basinger - 41
Former model and actress Kim Basinger was briefly married to Alec Baldwin from the years 1993 to 2002. The couple initially met on the set of the film "The Marrying Man," in which the two played lovers. Their on-screen romance quickly transitioned to their real lives, and they tied the knot three years later.
Together, the couple has one child. Their daughter, Ireland, was born in 1995 when Basinger was 41 years old. She has followed in her mother’s footsteps working as both a model and actress over the years. Basinger and Baldwin ultimately split in 2000 and finalized their divorce in 2002.
Jennifer Connelly - 40
Actress Jennifer Connelly first met her husband and fellow actor, Paul Bettany, on the set of "A Beautiful Mind.” They held a private wedding ceremony in Scotland in 2003. Before their relationship, the actress dated photographer David Dugan. Together they have a son, Kai, who was born in 1997.
Connelly went on to have two more children with her husband, the first being a son named Stellan the same year they were married. The couple’s third child, a daughter named Agnes, was born in 2011. Connelly was 40 years old at the time and knew it would be her last baby. In an interview with Allure, she said, “I knew that we were going to be done after number three. That's enough for us." Three is more than enough for most people!
Annette Bening - 42
American actress Annette Bening married filmmaker Warren Beatty in 1992. Together they have four children, most of whom were conceived while Bening was in her thirties. Their first child, Stephen Iran, was born in 1992, followed by Benjamin in 1994 and Isabel in 1997. It was their youngest who was born after Bening reached her forties.
The actress welcomed her daughter Ella in 2000 when she was 42 years old. While she thought that her children would spend their lives learning from her and her husband, it seems the roles have been reversed! "You thought you were supposed to be the one who knew [everything], and that's turned all around. Now they are teaching me every day about life,” Bening said in an interview.
Alyssa Milano - 41
Child actress turned activist, Alyssa Milano, got engaged to agent David Bugliari just one year into their relationship. They got married the following year in 2009 but didn’t immediately have children. Like most women in the entertainment industry, Milano chose to wait until later in life before starting a family.
The couple welcomed a son Milo in 2011, followed by their second child, Elizabella Dylan, two years later. Milano was 41 years old by the time she had her daughter, and she wouldn’t change it for anything. She has said numerous times that she loved waiting a long time to be a mom and taking advantage of the free time she had to do what made her happy.
Garcelle Beauvais - 40
Actress turned reality star, Garcelle Beauvais, gave birth to her first child in her twenties. Oliver was born in 1991, which the Beverly Hills housewife has claimed was far more stressful than her second pregnancy. “I'm not as stressed as when I had Oliver 16 years ago,” she explained while pregnant. “My career was just starting, and I was younger, so I was a little nervous about that. Now, I think, because people have embraced babies and going back to work, I'm more at ease with it all."
Beauvais welcomed twin boys while she was married to her second husband, talent agent Michael Nilon. Jax and Jaid were born in 2007 when the actress was 40-years-old. While the couple split in 2011 after rumors of him cheating, they manage to co-parent their kids successfully.
Naomi Watts - 40
The British-born actress and producer Naomi Watts found herself in a relationship with actor Liev Schreiber. The pair met in 2005 at the Met Gala, and the two hit it off instantly. During that time, they had two children together.
They first welcomed their son Alexander Pete in 2007 when Watts was in her late thirties. Just a year later, she was pregnant again. Samuel Kai was born in 2008 when Watts was 40-years-old. Sadly, the pair split after an 11-year relationship together. The star has opened up about motherhood to People, stating that she wished she had started her family earlier than she did.
Laura Linney - 49
American actress and singer Laura Linney had a child later in life when most women have long since begun menopause. She married her second husband, Marc Schauer, in 2009, and after many years of trying, she finally got pregnant. Together they have a son, Bennett Armistead.
Born in 2014, Linney gave birth to Benett at the age of 49. She was able to conceal her pregnancy well and even skipped significant award shows to keep her baby bump hidden. While she doesn’t suggest becoming a parent late in life, she’s incredibly grateful for the opportunity to raise a child. She often refers to her experience as life-changing!
Salma Hayek - 41
Actress Salma Hayek married French businessman François-Henri Pinault in 2009. Before that, the actress gave birth to a daughter, Valentina. Since she was focusing on her career for most of her twenties and thirties, Hayek was 41 years old by the time she started a family. She has often noted in interviews how pregnancy helped her fall in love with her body.
"I gained so much weight,” Hayek explained. “I got an opportunity to see myself completely disfigured in many different ways — for an excellent reason — and I don't regret it for a second.” She learned that the parts of her body that she would often criticize held a purpose, and they weren’t as bad as she had initially thought. While Hayek feels her childbearing years have come to an end, you never know these days!
Eva Mendes - 40 & 42
Actress Eva Mendes had often said in interviews that she didn’t want to have children, but all of that changed when she met her current husband. Considering she’s married to Ryan Gosling, we can all understand her change of heart. Who wouldn’t want to procreate with a man who looks like that?
Mendes has explained that after falling in love with Gosling, she wanted nothing more than to have his children. They welcomed their first child, Esmeralda Amada, in 2014 when Mendes was 40 years old. Their second daughter, Amada Lee, was born two years later in 2016 when the actress was 42.
Rachel Zoe - 42
Fashion designer and reality star Rachel Zoe was already a mother when she learned that she was pregnant in her forties. She and her husband, Rodger Berman, welcomed their second child in 2013. Their son Jack was born when Zoe was 42 years old and was a massive surprise to the couple.
While the pregnancy may not have been planned, their son was a blessing nonetheless. In an interview, Zoe expressed their gratitude saying, "We are beyond excited for Skyler to have a sibling and for us to fall in love all over again. We feel incredibly blessed." Too sweet!
Christie Brinkley - 40 & 44
Over the years, Christie Brinkley has been married four times, three of which resulted in children. She had her first child when married to a famed musician, Billy Joel. Alexa Ray was born in 1985 when Brinkley was barely 30-years-old. Nearly a decade later, Brinkley welcomed her second child, Jack. Born in 1995 during her marriage to real estate developer Richard Taubman, the former model was 40 years old.
Brinkley’s marriage to Taubman was short-lived, though, and the model married her fourth husband, architect Peter Halsey Cook, in 1996. Their daughter, Sailor Lee, was born just two years later through the use of IVF when Brinkley was 44. She and Cook split in 2008.
Jane Kaczmarek - 41, 44 & 46
Actress Jane Kaczmarek is best known for playing a control freak parent on "Malcolm in the Middle." Like many actresses, she waited until later in life before starting a family. She married fellow actor Bradley Whitford in 1992, and the two waited five years before starting a family. By this time, Kaczmarek was already in her forties.
The couple’s first daughter, Frances Genevieve, was born in 1997 when Kaczmarek was 41 years old. They then had a son, George Edward, in 1999 and a second daughter, Mary Louisa, in 2002. Kaczmarek has discussed in interviews how difficult and stressful it was for her career to take off during the same decade she chose to have kids. It just goes to show how unpredictable jobs in Hollywood are!
Jane Seymour - 44
British-American actress Jane Seymour has four biological children and one stepchild. Her first two were conceived during her third marriage to businessman David Flynn. Katherine and Sean were born when Seymour was in her early thirties. A decade later, she walked down the aisle with actor James Keach in 1993. Despite already being in her forties, the two decided they wanted to try to have kids.
After several attempts at IVF that all ended in miscarriage, the couple was ready to give up. Seymour was in the middle of filming "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman," and referred to this time in her life as incredibly stressful. Fortunately, they didn’t stop trying, and in 1995 she gave birth to twins. John and Kristopher were born when Seymour was 44 years old!
Marcia Cross - 44
This desperate housewife didn’t meet her special someone until later in life. When Marcia Cross married stockbroker Tom Mahoney in 2006, she was already in her forties. For this reason, the two decided to start their family right away. Using IVF, Cross was able to get pregnant immediately. She gave birth to twin girls, Eden and Savannah, in 2007 shortly before her 45th birthday.
According to "People," the actress was nervous about having daughters at first; however, she soon discovered what a strong bond she could have with them. She added: “I wish I'd met my husband earlier. It's sad having kids so late, because you want to be alive for as long as possible for them. It's simple maths, you know.” Rather late than never!
Iman - 45
Somali fashion model had her first child with ex-husband and professional basketball player Spence Haywood. Their daughter Zulekha was born in 1978 when the star was in her early 20s. However, the model eventually met her love later in life. When Iman met famous musician David Bowie in 1990 in Los Angeles, the two quickly fell in love and tied the knot just two years later.
They both wanted to conceive and after trying IVF for many years, Iman eventually got pregnant. She gave birth in 2000 to a daughter, Alexandria, at the age of 45. Unfortunately, Bowie died of liver cancer in 2016.
Madonna - 41
Over the years, Madonna has adopted four children and given birth to two. The pop star gave birth to her first child while in a relationship with a personal trainer and actor Carlos Leon. Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon was born in 1996 when Madonna was in her late twenties. She then adopted four children, a boy named David Banda, and three girls, Mercy, and twins, Estere and Stelle.
Madonna shocked the world when she got pregnant again later in life. While married to Guy Ritchie, she gave birth to Rocco at 41 years old. Despite being in her sixties, the icon has said that she’s open to adopting more kids in the future.
Jane Krakowski - 42
Hilarious actress Jane Krakowski got engaged to British fashion designer Robert Godley in 2009. Even though the two never wound up getting married, their relationship did result in a child. In 2011, Krakowski gave birth to a redhead, Bennett Robert, at the age of 42! While the couple split in 2013, they’ve been able to remain amicable for their son.
She once said, “as a mother, now everything in life gets marked by my son’s age.” Many have wondered how Bennett got his gorgeous head of hair, as neither of his parents is a redhead. As it turns out, Godley’s grandparents both had red hair! Aren’t genetics incredible?
Beverly D'Angelo - 49
Actress Beverly D’Angelo may be best known for starring in "National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation," but she also dated the one and only Al Pacino. Twelve years her senior, the two never walked down the aisle. However, the actress referred to their six-year relationship between 1997 and 2003 as a journey that came with struggles to start a family.
Using IVF, the couple was eventually able to finally conceive. D’Angelo gave birth to twins Anton and Olivia at the age of 49. While the actors split just two years later, they were able to work together as co-parents until the kids became adults.
Tina Fey - 41
The hilarious Tina Fey married composer Jeff Richmond in 2001 after meeting in a theater group. They had their first child, Alice Zenobia, in 2005 when Fey was in her 30’s. She has already begun following in her mother’s footsteps, playing a 7-year-old Liz Lemon on "30 Rock."
The couple later had another daughter in 2011. Fey gave birth to Penelope Athena at the age of 41! The actress has often commented on what life is like juggling motherhood and a Hollywood career, especially when the public scrutinizes her every move. “Being a mom has made me so tired. And so happy.”
Halle Berry - 41 & 47
As one of the strongest women in Hollywood, it should come as no surprise that Halle Berry is on this list. The actress waited until later in life to have both of her children, but it appears that neither was planned. Berry first got pregnant while in a relationship with model Gabriel Aubry. She gave birth to their daughter, Nahla, in 2008 at 41 years old.
Five years later, Berry married French actor, Oliver Martinez. She quickly gave birth to their son Maceo at the age of 47 in 2013. Unfortunately, Berry’s marriage to Martinez didn’t last, and they were divorced in 2016.
Mariah Carey - 42
Tabloids had a field day when the infamous Mariah Carey started dating television host and rapper, Nick Cannon. Eleven years her junior, no one expected the couple to last. They shocked us all, however, when they tied the knot in 2008. It wasn’t long before rumors began to swirl that Carey was expecting!
The singer gave birth to fraternal twins, Moroccan and Monroe, in 2011 at the age of 42. Unfortunately, their marriage didn’t last, and the couple split in 2016. Many were surprised to learn that it was Cannon who filed for divorce. Their marriage was officially over in 2018.
Helen Hunt - 40
Another celebrity who had trouble conceiving was actress Helen Hunt. She got her claim to fame in the sitcom “Mad About You,” for which she earned multiple awards for. She and producer Matthew Carnahan started dating in 2001 and quickly decided to have a child together. The task proved to be more challenging than either of them had imagined, and the couple nearly gave up.
Fortunately, Hunt got pregnant and gave birth to Makena Lei in 2004 at the age of 40. Hunt had talked about her fertility struggles publicly and even acknowledged that she and Carnahan were considering adoption when they learned she was expecting. The couple later split in 2017.
Celine Dion - 42
Celine Dion made headlines when her relationship with talent manager René Angélil went public. Twenty-six years her senior, it was even more surprising to the public when the two tied the knot in 1994. After trying to conceive naturally with no results, the couple sought help from a fertility clinic to improve their odds of having a child. Their efforts quickly proved to be successful, and they welcomed a son, René Charles, in 2001.
It wasn’t long before Dion and Angélil wanted more children. Unfortunately, it was much more difficult the second time around. It took nine years and five rounds of IVF, one of which resulted in a miscarriage, but they were again successful. Twins Eddy and Nelson were born in 2010 when Dion was 42 years old! While her marriage lasted, Angélil passed away in 2014.
Brooke Shields - 40
Not all celebrities who have kids later in life have a comfortable journey. Brooke Shields married TV writer Chris Henchy in 2001 and had their first child just two years later. The couple’s daughter, Rowan Francis, was born in 2003 when Shields was 38 years old. It wasn’t long before they decided they wanted a second child; However, the actress wasn’t able to naturally conceive.
After years of giving IVF a try, the couple was ready to give up. Thankfully they didn’t, though, as Shields got pregnant after many months of trying. She gave birth to another daughter, Grier Hammond, in 2006 at the age of 40!
Nicole Kidman - 41 & 44
Like Sarandon, actress Nicole Kidman became a mother in her 30’s. She adopted two children with her former husband, Tom Cruise, in the ‘90s. Isabella Jane was born in 1992, and Connor Antony was born in 1995. After her divorce from the actor, Kidman fell for the Australian singer and songwriter, Keith Urban.
The lovebirds got married in 2004 and went on to have two biological children of their own. Kidman gave birth to her daughter, Sunday Rose, in 2008 at the age of 41. Their second child, Faith Margaret, was born in 2010 via surrogate when the actress was 44 years old.
Susan Sarandon - 42 & 45
Actress Susan Sarandon gave birth to her first child in 1984 with Italian filmmaker Franco Amurri. Their daughter Eva Amurri is a film and television actress who appeared on-screen with her mother in "The Banger Sisters." Sarandon later got met actor and director, Tim Robbins, who was her partner for 23 years.
Together, Robbins and Sarandon had two children. To their surprise, their first son, John “Jack” Henry, was born in 1982 when the actress was 42 years old. They were astonished even further when they had another son, Miles, several years later when Sarandon was 45! Sadly, the couple ended up splitting in 2009.
Julianne Moore - 41
Julianne Moore started a relationship with director Bart Freundlich back in 1996. Just a year later, they welcomed their first child Caleb. In 2002, Moore gave birth to their second child, Liv, at 41 years old! Their family was complete, but there was one thing missing. Moore and Freundlich tied the knot in 2003!
The couple has made a point to ensure their children lead a life that is as close to normal as possible. In an interview with "Harpers Bazaar," Moore described how her success has little effect on their children. Both she and her husband manage to keep their kids grounded and are prepared to enter the real world despite being raised in a well-off home.
Uma Thurman - 42
Actors Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke got married in 1998. While they ultimately divorced seven years later in 2005, their marriage resulted in two children. Maya was born shortly after their wedding, while their son Levon was welcomed in 2002, both while Thurman was in her 30s.
After her split with Hawke, she entered a relationship with French financier Arpad Busson. The two were on and off for years. While they never made it down the aisle, their relationship resulted in a daughter in 2012. Thurman had Rosalind Arusha Arkadina Altalune Florence Thurman-Busson, or Luna for short when she was 42 years old.
Meryl Streep - 41
In 1978, actress Meryl Streep married American sculptor Don Gummer. They welcomed their first child, Henry Wolfe, the following year when Streep was 30 years old. The couple went on to have three more children, Mary Willa, Grace Jane, and Louisa Jacobson.
Their youngest child was born right before Streep’s 42 birthday. According to the award-winning actress, juggling her career with motherhood is all about balance. Never mind the fact that she has a ton of acting accolades behind her name. In an interview with "ET," she referred to her life as a balancing act between her family and her demanding job, which both consume most of her time.
Gwen Stefani - 44
Before Gwen Stefani graced us with her presence as a judge on "The Voice," she was the lead singer of No Doubt. After bumping into the lead singer of Bush, Gavin Rossdale, in 1995, the two began a whirlwind romance.
While it ultimately ended with a scandalous divorce, their relationship produced three children. Stefani gave birth to her two eldest children, Kingston and Zuma Nesta Rock Rossdale, in her 30s. Her youngest, Apollo Bowie Flynn, was born in 2014 when Stefani was 44 years old! The little guy was such a surprise to both her and her husband that they referred to him as their miracle baby.