Celebs Who Welcomed Children After 40

Motherhood was worth the wait for these stars, who welcomed their kids through surrogacy, adoption and more

Naomi Campbell attends the 2024 EE BAFTA Film Awards on February 18, 2024 in London, England. ; Gwen Stefani at the live finale of 'The Voice'. ; Janet Jackson attends the Christian Siriano SS24 Runway Show on September 08, 2023 in New York City.
Naomi Campbell; Gwen Stefani; Janet Jackson. Photo:

Samir Hussein/WireImage; Casey Durkin/NBC/Getty; Jamie McCarthy/Getty

For women who yearn to be moms, motherhood is a blessing at any stage in life — and as celebrity mommies like Naomi Campbell, Hilary Swank and Da Brat have proven, age is just a number.

As Campbell, who welcomed her second child at age 53, wrote on Instagram in 2023 when announcing her news, "It’s never too late to become a mother 🙏🏾."

Here, see other stars who've welcomed children when they were older than 40.

01 of 22

Naomi Campbell

Naomi Campbell attends "BOSS X NAOMI - Naomi Campbell's Birthday Party" hosted by Daniel Grieder during the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Villa Julia on May 22, 2023 in Cannes, France.
Naomi Campbell attending her birthday party, hosted by Hugo Boss (BOSS X NAOMI), on May 22, 2023, in Cannes, France.

Sylvain Lefevre/Getty

The supermodel announced a second surprise baby, a son, on June 29, 2023, two years after welcoming a daughter in a similar fashion.

"My little darling, know that you are cherished beyond measure and surrounded by love from the moment you graced us with your presence. A True Gift from God 🙏🏾, blessed! Welcome Babyboy. 💙🍼✨ #mumoftwo ❤️💙," she wrote on Instagram.

02 of 22

Da Brat

Da Brat pregnancy reveal
Da Brat posing for pregnancy photoshoot. Photography by Derek Blanks with crowdMGMT

In February 2023, the "Funkdafied" rapper, then 48, announced that she and wife Jesseca "Judy" Harris-Dupart were expecting their first child together. They welcomed son True Legend that July.

"It's been quite a journey," Da Brat exclusively told PEOPLE in 2023, admitting, "There's a lot of stuff we learned about women over the age of 40."

The couple's journey to motherhood inadvertently started around the time they tied the knot in February 2022. Harris-Dupart is the CEO of Kaleidoscope Hair Products and was in the midst of launching a new line inspired by Da Brat and her iconic braids and protective hairstyles.

"It started as a joke. We were like, 'We're extending our family!' " she said of the tongue-in-cheek marketing tagline for their collaboration. "But then we got a huge response. It was like, 'Oh my God, do we want to actually have kids, and if we do, girl, we better hurry up!' "

03 of 22

Hilary Swank

Hilary Swank Shares Cute Pregnancy Update: ‘Oven’s Heatin’ Up, Dough’s Beginning to Rise!!’
Hilary Swank showing her baby bump in a candid pregnancy Instagram photo in 2023.

Hilary Swank/Instagram

In October 2022, the Alaska Daily star made the surprise announcement that she and husband Philip Schneider were expecting twins. The Oscar-winning actress, then 48, shared the news during an appearance on Good Morning America.

"This is something that I've been wanting for a long time and my next thing is I'm gonna be a mom," Swank said. "And not just of one, but of two. I can't believe it."

She went on to rave about her exciting baby news saying, "It's so nice to be able to talk about it and share it."

Swank welcomed twins, daughter Aya and son Ohm, in April 2023. "It wasn't easy. But boy (and girl!) was it worth it. 👼🏼🤍👼🏼,” she captioned a photo of her holding her newborn babies on each shoulder while looking out at a sunset across the water.

04 of 22

Chloë Sevigny

chloe sevigney
Chloë Sevigny in candid photo with her husband, Siniša Mačković, and their newborn son, Vanja, in 2020. chloe sevigney/instagram

In January 2019, a rep for Chloë Sevigny, then 45, confirmed to PEOPLE that she was pregnant with her first child.

That same month, the Oscar nominee and her now-husband, Siniša Mačković, were spotted on a stroll in New York City, smiling with each other as Mačković embraced her baby bump before sharing a kiss. TMZ first reported the news of Sevigny's pregnancy.

The couple welcomed a son, Vanja Sevigny, on May 2, 2020. “Blessings to all the other families giving birth during this time," the Feud: Capote vs. The Swans actress captioned a photo on Instagram of her holding her newborn alongside Mačković. "#ilovemyboys 🐣."

05 of 22

Tamron Hall

Tamron Hall Instagram
Tamron Hall posing with newborn son, Moses, in 2019. Tamron Hall/Instagram

On April 25, 2019, Tamron Hall, then 48, announced the birth of her first child — a baby boy named Moses — with husband Steven Greener.

She shared the exciting news on Instagram, posting a photo of herself wearing a hat adorned with the baby's name while she held him.

"Moses & Mama!! I can't wait to introduce y'all to my #sonshine," the Tamron Hall Show host wrote. "Photo credit: Dad who can't stop crying tears of joy. Thank y'all for the love and support. It got us here."

Hall first announced her pregnancy in March 2019, revealing she was 32 weeks along.

06 of 22

Alanis Morissette

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvcOdtzBRUh/Alanis Morissette/Instagram
Alanis Morissette with a baby bump in a black-and-white photo from her home recording studio in 2019. Alanis Morissette/Instagram

Alanis Morissette, at age 44, announced her third pregnancy in a pretty black-and-white Instagram post in March 2019.

"So much NEWness… ❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻," the Canadian singer-songwriter captioned the reveal, showing her baby bump while recording music at home.

In August 2019, Morissette, then 45, and her husband, Mario "Souleye" Treadway, welcomed a son, Winter Mercy. “He’s here. ✨🙌🏻🙏🏻❤️ Winter Mercy Morissette-Treadway. #8/8/19,” the “Hands in My Pocket” singer wrote on Instagram. “#mywholelifeidreamedoflovingyouthree #😭❤”

07 of 22

Brigitte Nielsen

Brigitte-Nielsen
Pregnant Brigitte Nielsen showing her baby bump in an Instagram photo in 2018. Brigitte Nielsen/Instagram

In May 2018, Danish model Brigitte Nielsen, then 54, announced her fifth pregnancy on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), showing off her baby bump in a curve-hugging gray dress. "Family getting larger #me #family #brigittenielsen #babybump," Nielsen captioned her photo.

The actress and husband Mattia Dessi, who wed in 2006, welcomed their first child — and Nielsen’s fifth — daughter Frida, on June 22, 2018.

We are overjoyed to welcome our beautiful daughter into our lives,” the proud parents, who underwent 13 rounds of IVF before Nielsen gave birth to Frida, told PEOPLE at the time. “It’s been a long road, and so worth it. We’ve never been more in love.”

08 of 22

Donatella Arpaia

32631673_2223806087637033_4344525201346658304_n
Celebrity chef Donatella Arpaia preparing hotdogs and hamburgers on a grill. Donatella Arpaia/Instagram

In May 2018, Donatella Arpaia announced during a Today show segment that she and her husband, Allan Stewart, were expecting twins.

According to the then-mom-to-be, the couple had struggled to conceive another baby but was inspired by then-new mom Hoda Kotb — who had welcomed her daughter Haley Joy through adoption in February 2017 — to consider other options to expand their family. After one final round of IVF, however, the celebrity chef became pregnant at age 47, welcoming boy-girl twins, son Noah Christian and daughter Emma Mariella, in October 2018.

09 of 22

Kristin Davis

kristin-davis
Kristin Davis at Marie Claire's third annual Image Maker Awards, held at Delilah on Jan. 11, 2018, in West Hollywood. Jim Smeal/REX/Shutterstock

At 53, Sex and the City star Kristin Davis welcomed her second child by adoption — baby boy Wilson — journalist Marc Malkin exclusively announced on Facebook in May 2018. "Now she's blessed times two!" he wrote. "Congrats!" (A rep for Davis did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment at the time.)

The And Just Like That actress became a mother through domestic adoption in 2011 when she welcomed daughter Gemma Rose.

10 of 22

Rachel Weisz

'The Mercy' World Premiere - Red Carpet Arrivals
Rachel Weiz attending 'The Mercy' world premiere in February 2018. Samir Hussein/WireImage

In 2018, Dead Ringers actress Rachel Weisz, then 48, announced that she and husband Daniel Craig were expecting their first child together in an interview with The New York Times. "We're going to have a little human," she said. "We can't wait to meet him or her. It's all such a mystery." In September 2018, they reportedly welcomed their baby girl, who joined Weisz's then-teenage son Henry and Craig's adult daughter Ella from prior relationships.

11 of 22

Kenya Moore

kenya-moore-b
Kenya Moore posing for 'Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen' season 15. Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kenya Moore revealed in 2018 during part one of the season 10 reunion that she was pregnant with her first child — a surprise revelation that happened at the top of the show when host Andy Cohen inquired if a baby was on the way.

"We will definitely be welcoming a boy or girl in late this year," Moore, who conceived through IVF at age 47, said, shocking herself. "Oh my God, I said that! I don't want to talk about the details because I'm still very nervous about everything so I want to get past a safe place."

"We have been really upfront about wanting to expand our family, and we have definitely been taking the proper steps to try to make that happen," she added on the RHOA After Show in early 2018, per Bravo.

Following some complications, she welcomed daughter Brooklyn Doris on Nov. 4, 2018.

12 of 22

Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson attending an orchestral performance of Ryuichi Sakamoto's 'Suite for Krug in 2008' in October 2022 in London, England. Dave Benett/Getty

Pop star Janet Jackson, then 50, welcomed her first child on Jan. 3, 2017, son Eissa, with her now-estranged husband, Wissam Al Mana.

Jackson had first sparked baby rumors in April 2016 when she canceled her Unbreakable world tour to focus on her family. "My husband and I are planning our family. So I'm going to have to delay the tour," she told fans in a video message at the time.

The then-mom-to-be's brother Jermaine Jackson confirmed the news when he opened up about the pregnancy the following May.

13 of 22

Laura Linney

LAURA LINNEY
Laura Linney attending the premiere of 'Genius' at the Museum of Modern Art on June 5, 2016, in New York. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

At 49, Emmy-winning actress Laura Linney and her husband, Marc Schauer, quietly welcomed son Bennett Armistead in January 2014. Two years later, she shared the reason for keeping her pregnancy under wraps.

"Well, I was an older mother-to-be, and it had taken me a very long time to have a child," she explained to host Kelly Ripa and her husband, Mark Consuelos, on a June 2016 episode of Live with Kelly. "I wanted to make sure that my child actually arrived, and was safe and healthy." However, she said keeping the secret wasn't necessarily intentional: "I just didn't have a sign that said, 'Hi, I'm pregnant now.' "

Linney described Bennett as “adorable,” adding that he "takes your breath away."

14 of 22

Audra McDonald

Image
Audra McDonald and husband Will Swenson. D Dipasupil/FilmMagic

Audra McDonald and her husband, Will Swenson, were thrilled when they discovered they were expecting a baby together when the Broadway star was 46. "Who knew that tap dancing during perimenopause could lead 2 pregnancy?" the Rustin actress tweeted in May 2016. "@thewillswenson & I are completely surprised but elated 2 b expecting."

They welcomed daughter Sally James the following October, joining the couple's three teenage children from previous relationships.

“I’m so lucky. She was such a surprise, and I didn’t think this was where my life would be at this age,” the six-time Tony-winning performer told PEOPLE in 2017 of becoming a mother again later in life. “But I’m thrilled to be there. This is obviously a soul that was just meant to be here and was like, ‘I’m gonna swoop in and shake your life up.’ ”

15 of 22

Sheryl Crow

SHERYL CROW
Sheryl Crow holding son Wyatt Steven. Michael Buckner/WireImage

Though "If It Makes You Happy" singer Sheryl Crow, at 45, welcomed son Wyatt Steven by adoption when he was just 2 weeks old, it took him a while to get used to Mom's famous tunes. "I want to sing to him, but right now he's like, 'Mommy, no! All done! All done!' " she told PEOPLE in 2009.

In 2010, she added son Levi James to the family by adoption.

16 of 22

Geri Halliwell

Attitude Magazine Awards, London, UK - 10 Oct 2016
Geri Halliwell attending the Attitude Magazine Awards in London in October 2016. Nils Jorgensen/REX/Shutterstock

At 44, Geri Halliwell gave birth to her second child (and first with husband Christian Horner), son Montague George Hector, in January 2017. The former Spice Girls singer teased her pregnancy news on Instagram, posting a sketch of a pregnant woman with the caption "God bless Mother Nature #mamaspice." Baby Montague joined big sister Bluebell Madonna, born in May 2006.

17 of 22

Angela Bassett

ANGELA BASSETT
Angela Bassett with twins Slater and Bronwyn at her Hollywood Walk of Fame honor ceremony on March 20, 2008. Noel Vasquez/Getty

After years of fertility struggles, Angela Bassett turned to a surrogate to carry fraternal twins Bronwyn Golden and Slater Josiah. And following their Jan. 27, 2006, arrival, the then-47-year-old wasn't about to leave their sides. "There were so many offers to go to this party and that party," the actress told PEOPLE in a 2006 issue. "It was a lot more fun to sit and gaze at my two little stars."

In February 2024, Bassett reflected on her favorite photo of her twins, which first debuted in the same PEOPLE magazine issue. "I love that picture, and it actually sits in my living room on the piano," the Black Panther actress said of the meaningful photo, which shows Bassett sitting alongside her husband, Courtney B. Vance, and their little ones.

18 of 22

Nancy Grace

NANCY GRACE
Nancy Grace posing with her twins, John David and Lucy Elizabeth. Albert Michael/Startraks

Though she had difficulty conceiving, Nancy Grace, then 48, welcomed healthy fraternal twins John David and Lucy Elizabeth in 2007. "I can't believe they're mine and that this is my life," the CNN anchor told Good Housekeeping in 2008. "I just never believed this could happen to me."

19 of 22

Diane Keaton

DIANE KEATON
Diane Keaton with daughter Dexter and son Duke. Sonia Moskowitz/Getty Images

In 1996, at age 50, Diane Keaton welcomed daughter Dexter by adoption, followed by son Duke in 2001. "Before kids, if I worried, it was only about myself," the Book Club: The Next Chapter actress told Life Magazine in 2005. "But that's all you do is worry as a parent."

20 of 22

Gwen Stefani

GWEN STEFANI
Gwen Stefani holding son Apollo in Instagram selfie in Montana in 2015. Source: Gwen Stefani Instagram

In 2014, at age 44, singer Gwen Stefani welcomed her third son, Apollo Bowie, joining Kingston and Zuma (with ex-husband Gavin Rossdale). "I feel really blessed to have all three of them," Stefani told PEOPLE in 2020. "They're just incredible."

21 of 22

Marcia Cross

MARCIA CROSS
Marcia Cross posing with twin daughters Eden and Savannah. WireImage

Twins Eden and Savannah brought Desperate Housewives actress Marcia Cross twice the joy when she birthed them in 2007 at age 44. "I was more scared to have girls — probably from just having been one," she told PEOPLE at the time. "Now I'm just delighted. There's nothing closer than the female bond."

22 of 22

Sandra Bullock

2011 Academy Awards, Sandra Bullock
Sandra Bullock arriving on the red carpet at the 83rd Academy Awards on Feb. 27, 2011. Jeff Vespa/WireImage

Sandra Bullock welcomed son Louis by adoption in 2010 at age 45; five years later, daughter Laila was welcomed into the family.

"When I look at Laila, there's no doubt in my mind that she was supposed to be here," the Bullet Train actress told PEOPLE in her Dec. 14, 2015, cover story, which introduced the world to her new addition. "I can tell you absolutely, the exact right children came to me at the exact right time."

Related Articles