Being a superstar means your personal life sometimes collides with your day job and for these stars, it all came to a head when they became pregnant while filming their hit shows.
While some actresses likeKerry Washington,Zooey DeschanelandCobie Smulderswere famously pregnant while working, but have since chosen to keep their kids out of the spotlight, these moms have given us peeks at their children, whether through rare red carpet appearances or intimate moments shared via Instagram.
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Lisa Kudrow, with Son Julian Murray Stern
Lisa Kudrow with son Julian Murray Stern.Steve Granitz/WireImage
Steve Granitz/WireImage
Decades later, her sonJulian, now 25, was able to accompany his mom when theFriendscast shot their reunion special in 2021.
“Afterward, he came up to me and he said, ‘Can I say that I’m really proud of you?’ " the actress revealed during an appearance onConan.“That was one of the very emotional things that happened to me.”
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Courtney Cox, with Daughter Coco Arquette
Courteney Cox with daughter Coco Arquette.Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
“I miss that girl every minute,” CoxtoldMarie Claire. “I found myself expecting [to run] into each other’s arms,” she shared. “I expected her to need [me] more than she does. It’s an adjustment.”
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Sarah Jessica Parker, with Son James Wilkie Broderick
Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker with son James Wilkie Broderick.Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty
Parker and her husbandMatthew Broderickwelcomed James Wilkie on Oct. 28, 2002, and followed up with twin girlsMarion and Tabithain 2009.
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Alyson Hannigan, with Daughters Satyana Marie and Keeva Jane Denisof
Alexis Denisof and Alyson Hannigan with daughters Satyana Marie and Keeva Jane Denisof.Michael Tran/FilmMagic
Michael Tran/FilmMagic
Alyson Hanniganwas pregnant twice during her tenure as Lily Aldrin onHow I Met Your Mother.
Hannigan’s husband, actorAlexis Denisof,also appeared on the show.
05of 15Debra Messing, with Son Roman Walker ZelmanDebra Messing with son Roman Walker Zelman.Debra Messing/InstagramDebra Messing’s pregnancy never made it into the plot ofWill & Grace,so the actress spent the majority of season 6 in 2004 holding large bouquets of flowers, standing behind couches and wearing large trench coats in an effort to hide her growing belly.Ultimately, she ended up not appearing in the last four episodes of the season as she and ex-husband Daniel Zelman welcomed their son, Roman Walker, on April 7, 2004.
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Debra Messing, with Son Roman Walker Zelman
Debra Messing with son Roman Walker Zelman.Debra Messing/Instagram
Debra Messing’s pregnancy never made it into the plot ofWill & Grace,so the actress spent the majority of season 6 in 2004 holding large bouquets of flowers, standing behind couches and wearing large trench coats in an effort to hide her growing belly.
Ultimately, she ended up not appearing in the last four episodes of the season as she and ex-husband Daniel Zelman welcomed their son, Roman Walker, on April 7, 2004.
06of 15Ellen Pompeo, with Daughter Stella LunaEllen Pompeo with daughter Stella Luna Ivery.Ellen Pompeo/InstagramTheGrey’s Anatomystoryline in which Meredith Grey donates part of her liver to her father is one of the more famous plot points in the show’s history. However, it was (partially) a supremely creative way to hideEllen Pompeo’s pregnancy with her first child in 2009 — and keep her on the show.During season 6, Meredith was relegated to bed rest after she had donated the organ to her estranged father. This gave Pompeo and showrunners plenty of wiggle room and some reprieve untilStella arrived on Sept. 15, 2009. Dad is Pompeo’s husband, Chris Ivery.
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Ellen Pompeo, with Daughter Stella Luna
Ellen Pompeo with daughter Stella Luna Ivery.Ellen Pompeo/Instagram
Ellen Pompeo/Instagram
TheGrey’s Anatomystoryline in which Meredith Grey donates part of her liver to her father is one of the more famous plot points in the show’s history. However, it was (partially) a supremely creative way to hideEllen Pompeo’s pregnancy with her first child in 2009 — and keep her on the show.
During season 6, Meredith was relegated to bed rest after she had donated the organ to her estranged father. This gave Pompeo and showrunners plenty of wiggle room and some reprieve untilStella arrived on Sept. 15, 2009. Dad is Pompeo’s husband, Chris Ivery.
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Mandy Moore, with Son August Harrison Goldsmith
Mandy Moore with son August Goldsmith.Mandy Moore Instagram
Moore not only filmed season 5 of the show while with child, but the crew had to take extra precautions as the COVID-19 pandemic was still at its height.
08of 15Lucille Ball, with Desi Arnaz Jr.Lucille Ball with kids Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr.Vinnie Zuffante/GettyWhenLucille Ballgot pregnant with her son Desi Arnaz Jr. during season 2 ofI Love Lucyin 1952, she couldn’t even say the word “pregnant” on-screen. Instead, the actress simply said she was “expecting.“She and husband Desi Arnaz welcomed the bundle of joy on Jan. 19, 1953, two years after daughter Lucie’s arrival. And much like his talented parents, Desi Jr. ventured into show business before retiring.
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Lucille Ball, with Desi Arnaz Jr.
Lucille Ball with kids Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr.Vinnie Zuffante/Getty
Vinnie Zuffante/Getty
WhenLucille Ballgot pregnant with her son Desi Arnaz Jr. during season 2 ofI Love Lucyin 1952, she couldn’t even say the word “pregnant” on-screen. Instead, the actress simply said she was “expecting.”
She and husband Desi Arnaz welcomed the bundle of joy on Jan. 19, 1953, two years after daughter Lucie’s arrival. And much like his talented parents, Desi Jr. ventured into show business before retiring.
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Gillian Anderson, with Daughter Piper Maru Klotz
Gillian Anderson with daughter Piper Maru Klotz.Karwai Tang/WireImage
Karwai Tang/WireImage
Back in 2017,Gillian Andersonattended the season 2 premiere ofThe Crownwith her daughter Piper Maru Klotz, whom she shares with ex-husband Clyde Klotz.
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Jane Krakowski, with Son Bennett Robert Godley
Jane Krakowski with son Bennett Robert Godley.Bruce Glikas/Getty
Bruce Glikas/Getty
WhenJane Krakowskigot pregnant with her son Bennett Robert Godley while filming30 Rockin 2010, there was no doubt that showrunners would have to adjust, given that her character was notoriously too self-centered to ever be a good mother.
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Phylicia Rashad, with Daughter Condola Rashad
Phylicia Rashad with daughter Condola Rashad.Walter McBride/Getty
Walter McBride/Getty
Rashad and her now ex-husband Ahmad Rashad welcomed Condola on Dec. 11, 1986.
12of 15Marcia Cross, with Twin Daughters Eden and Savannah MahoneyMarcia Cross with twin daughters Savannah and Eden Mahoney.Marcia Cross/InstagramMarcia Crosswas pregnant with not one, but two babies during season 3 ofDesperate Housewivesin 2006!She and husband Tom Mahoney welcomed their twin girls, Eden and Savannah, in February 2007.
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Marcia Cross, with Twin Daughters Eden and Savannah Mahoney
Marcia Cross with twin daughters Savannah and Eden Mahoney.Marcia Cross/Instagram
Marcia Cross/Instagram
Marcia Crosswas pregnant with not one, but two babies during season 3 ofDesperate Housewivesin 2006!She and husband Tom Mahoney welcomed their twin girls, Eden and Savannah, in February 2007.
13of 15Melissa Fumero, with Sons Axel and Enzo FumeroMelissa Fumero with son Enzo.Melissa Fumero/InstagramMelissa Fumerowas pregnant twice while playing Amy Santiago onBrooklyn Nine-Nine.However, only her second pregnancy was written into the hit NBC show; the first was hidden with waist-up shots and the usual sneaky props.Fumerotold PEOPLE in 2016that filming while pregnant is no easy feat, saying, “[Enzo] was born, like, five days after we wrapped. I don’t recommend it.“The actress and husband David Fumero share sons Enzo, born in March 2016, and Axel,born in early 2020.
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Melissa Fumero, with Sons Axel and Enzo Fumero
Melissa Fumero with son Enzo.Melissa Fumero/Instagram
Melissa Fumero/Instagram
Melissa Fumerowas pregnant twice while playing Amy Santiago onBrooklyn Nine-Nine.However, only her second pregnancy was written into the hit NBC show; the first was hidden with waist-up shots and the usual sneaky props.
Fumerotold PEOPLE in 2016that filming while pregnant is no easy feat, saying, “[Enzo] was born, like, five days after we wrapped. I don’t recommend it.”
The actress and husband David Fumero share sons Enzo, born in March 2016, and Axel,born in early 2020.
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Holly Marie Combs, with Son Finley Arthur Donoho
Holly Marie Combs with son Finley Arthur Donoho.Barry King/Getty
Barry King/Getty
In real life, Combs welcomed her first child, son Finley Arthur, in 2004 with then-husband David Donoho.
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A.J. Cook, with Sons Mekhai and Phoenix Andersen
A.J. Cook with sons Mekhai Allen and Phoenix Sky Andersen.A.J. Cook/Instagram
A.J. Cook/Instagram
She became pregnant again during season 10 of the show in 2015 and the writers incorporated that pregnancy into J.J.’s storyline as well.
In an extra-fun twist Cook’s sons, Mekhai Allen, 15, and Phoenix Sky, 8, — whom she shares with husband, Nathan Andersen — later played her sons on the series!
source: people.com
