22 Celebrity Moms Who Welcomed Kids in Their 40s and Beyond

From Janet Jackson to Hilary Swank, these celebrities had their children later in life

More and more celebrities are embracing motherhood on their own timeline — and for many, that’s meant starting families later in life.

Naomi Campbell was in her 50s when she quietly welcomed both of her children. She’s since shared that "it’s never too late to become a mother."

Meanwhile, actresses Hilary Swank and Marcia Cross both became moms to twins in their 40s. In October 2024, Swank told PEOPLE that she "wasn't ready to have children in my 20s, or really even in my 30s."

"I was 47 when I got pregnant, and I feel like I have a lot more patience, and I've done a lot of my own personal work to be the type of mother I want to be, whereas it would've just been different in my twenties and thirties," she continued. "I can give differently 1777559686."

Here are 22 celebrity moms who welcomed children in their 40s and beyond.

01 of 22

Naomi Campbell

Campbell has two kids. She welcomed her first child, a daughter, at age 51, in 2021.

The supermodel announced the arrival of her second child, a son, two years later.

"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

In February 2023, the "Funkdafied" rapper, then 48, announced that she and her 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 February 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

In October 2022, Swank 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

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.

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

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."

06 of 22

Alanis Morissette

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

In May 2018, Danish model Brigitte Nielsen, then 54, announced her fifth pregnancy on Instagram and X, 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

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

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!"

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

10 of 22

Rachel Weisz

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

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

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

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."

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

14 of 22

Audra McDonald

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 wrote on X 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 March 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

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

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 welcomed fraternal twins Bronwyn Golden and Slater Josiah via surrogate.

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

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

In 1996, at age 50, Diane Keaton welcomed daughter Dexter via 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

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 previously told PEOPLE. "They're just incredible."

21 of 22

Marcia Cross

Twins Eden and Savannah brought Desperate Housewives actress Cross twice the joy when she welcomed 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

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 December 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."

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