Shooting a film is a difficult
process as it as and when actresses have to play their roles while expecting a
baby, that just adds a whole new level of challenges. We are absolutely blown
away by these strong women. In some cases, scriptwriters, makeup artists,
costume designers, and even cameramen have had to use different tricks in order
to not show that an actress is about to become a mom. But in some cases, their
pregnancies are exactly what they need in the story.
process as it as and when actresses have to play their roles while expecting a
baby, that just adds a whole new level of challenges. We are absolutely blown
away by these strong women. In some cases, scriptwriters, makeup artists,
costume designers, and even cameramen have had to use different tricks in order
to not show that an actress is about to become a mom. But in some cases, their
pregnancies are exactly what they need in the story.
Just by looking at our
favorite characters, we at Bright Side would have never guessed that they were
pregnant. And you?
favorite characters, we at Bright Side would have never guessed that they were
pregnant. And you?
Gillian
Anderson — The X-Files
Anderson — The X-Files
A young Gillian Anderson had
only just gotten the confirmation that she got the role of her career and
before the start of the shooting, she found out that she was pregnant. The
studio bosses tried to replace the actress, but the executive producer Chris Carter
was totally against giving the role of Dana Scully to someone else.
only just gotten the confirmation that she got the role of her career and
before the start of the shooting, she found out that she was pregnant. The
studio bosses tried to replace the actress, but the executive producer Chris Carter
was totally against giving the role of Dana Scully to someone else.
Her growing belly was covered
by oversized clothes and good camera angles, but in the final stages, the plot
changed. By the way, Gillian named her daughter Piper Maru, which is also the
title of one of The X-Files episodes.
by oversized clothes and good camera angles, but in the final stages, the plot
changed. By the way, Gillian named her daughter Piper Maru, which is also the
title of one of The X-Files episodes.
Cynthia
Nixon — Sex and the City
Nixon — Sex and the City
From one of our previous
articles, you might already know that Sarah Jessica Parker was hiding the fact
that she was pregnant, but she was not the only star of the show that got
pregnant during the project. But because Cynthia Nixon’s character Miranda
could get pregnant in the show, she didn’t have to hide her big belly.
articles, you might already know that Sarah Jessica Parker was hiding the fact
that she was pregnant, but she was not the only star of the show that got
pregnant during the project. But because Cynthia Nixon’s character Miranda
could get pregnant in the show, she didn’t have to hide her big belly.
Lisa
Kudrow — Friends
Kudrow — Friends
In season 4, Lisa Kudrow’s
Phoebe agrees to become a surrogate mother for her half-brother because the
actress was actually pregnant. But Phoebe had triplets and Lisa only had one
child, this is why she had to use a pillow to imitate a giant belly.
Phoebe agrees to become a surrogate mother for her half-brother because the
actress was actually pregnant. But Phoebe had triplets and Lisa only had one
child, this is why she had to use a pillow to imitate a giant belly.
Julia
Roberts — Ocean’s Twelve
Roberts — Ocean’s Twelve
It’s funny that Julia Roberts
played a woman that only pretended to be pregnant, while the actress herself
was actually pregnant in real life! And even though the film was a flop,
Roberts had healthy twins.
played a woman that only pretended to be pregnant, while the actress herself
was actually pregnant in real life! And even though the film was a flop,
Roberts had healthy twins.
Marcia
Cross — Desperate Housewives
Cross — Desperate Housewives
A short time before she turned
45, the actress found out that she was pregnant with twins and the story took a
sudden turn: Bree Van de Kamp (Marcia’s character) pretends to be pregnant in
order to avoid the public shame.
45, the actress found out that she was pregnant with twins and the story took a
sudden turn: Bree Van de Kamp (Marcia’s character) pretends to be pregnant in
order to avoid the public shame.
By the end of her pregnancy,
the actress felt so bad that the whole shooting process was moved to her
apartment, but everything ended well — she had 2 healthy children.
the actress felt so bad that the whole shooting process was moved to her
apartment, but everything ended well — she had 2 healthy children.
Alyson
Hannigan — How I Met Your Mother
Hannigan — How I Met Your Mother
During the shooting of the
series, Alyson Hannigan managed to get pregnant twice. The first time, her
pregnancy was hidden by all means possible (the right clothes and the right
camera angles), and the second time, the scriptwriters decided to avoid all the
trouble and make Alyson’s Lily Aldrin a happy mother.
series, Alyson Hannigan managed to get pregnant twice. The first time, her
pregnancy was hidden by all means possible (the right clothes and the right
camera angles), and the second time, the scriptwriters decided to avoid all the
trouble and make Alyson’s Lily Aldrin a happy mother.
Halle
Berry — X-Men: The Last Stand
Berry — X-Men: The Last Stand
Pregnancy during the shooting
of the blockbuster was a real surprise for Halle Berry because her character
Storm just couldn’t appear pregnant.
of the blockbuster was a real surprise for Halle Berry because her character
Storm just couldn’t appear pregnant.
The director, Bryan Singer,
did everything he could in order to hide this fact from viewers: Storm’s role
was reduced, her costume was changed, and in the fighting scenes, the actress
was replaced by a stunt double.
did everything he could in order to hide this fact from viewers: Storm’s role
was reduced, her costume was changed, and in the fighting scenes, the actress
was replaced by a stunt double.
Cate
Blanchett — Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Blanchett — Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Cate Blanchett is a truly
unique actress. She found out about her first pregnancy after she was offered
the role in Charlotte Gray, she found out about her second pregnancy during her
work on The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, and she found out that her third
child was coming when she was on the set of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of
the Crystal Skull, where she finally got to play a villain.
unique actress. She found out about her first pregnancy after she was offered
the role in Charlotte Gray, she found out about her second pregnancy during her
work on The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, and she found out that her third
child was coming when she was on the set of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of
the Crystal Skull, where she finally got to play a villain.
This dedicated movie star
managed to handle all of her difficult stunts and never ended up needing a
stunt double.
managed to handle all of her difficult stunts and never ended up needing a
stunt double.
Penélope
Cruz — Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Cruz — Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
In the fourth film about
Captain Jack Sparrow, Penélope Cruz had to appear at the early stages of her
pregnancy. And even though her belly was still impossible to notice, cameramen
had to do more close-ups of the actress to hide any signs that she was
pregnant.
Captain Jack Sparrow, Penélope Cruz had to appear at the early stages of her
pregnancy. And even though her belly was still impossible to notice, cameramen
had to do more close-ups of the actress to hide any signs that she was
pregnant.
Despite the fact that the
characters had to spend a lot of time in the sea, the actress successfully
overcame all the dangers of the first trimester.
characters had to spend a lot of time in the sea, the actress successfully
overcame all the dangers of the first trimester.
Naomi
Watts — Eastern Promises
Watts — Eastern Promises
Despite the fact that Naomi
found out about her pregnancy right after the start of the shooting, like many
women, she decided not to tell anyone about this because she had just gotten
pregnant. It was only the costume designer who guessed correctly that she was
pregnant when he noticed that her character’s clothes didn’t fit her anymore.
found out about her pregnancy right after the start of the shooting, like many
women, she decided not to tell anyone about this because she had just gotten
pregnant. It was only the costume designer who guessed correctly that she was
pregnant when he noticed that her character’s clothes didn’t fit her anymore.
Jodie
Foster — Panic Room
Foster — Panic Room
Jodie Foster didn’t plan to
take part in this thriller, but after Nicole Kidman left, she agreed to do the
role. During the shooting, she found out that she was expecting her second
child. This didn’t prevent her from playing her role well and, according to
her, only made her stronger. And all the scenes where she had to wear tight
T-shirts and do all the difficult stunts were shot at the early stages of her
pregnancy.
take part in this thriller, but after Nicole Kidman left, she agreed to do the
role. During the shooting, she found out that she was expecting her second
child. This didn’t prevent her from playing her role well and, according to
her, only made her stronger. And all the scenes where she had to wear tight
T-shirts and do all the difficult stunts were shot at the early stages of her
pregnancy.
Keira
Knightley — Everest
Knightley — Everest
Her relationship (the actress
is married to James Righton) was revealed to the public by accident after Keira
published a photo with a baby stroller. When she was pregnant, she was working
on the film Everest where she played the pregnant wife of a climber. But the
fact that the pregnancy was real was not known even by the crew members.
is married to James Righton) was revealed to the public by accident after Keira
published a photo with a baby stroller. When she was pregnant, she was working
on the film Everest where she played the pregnant wife of a climber. But the
fact that the pregnancy was real was not known even by the crew members.
Gal
Gadot — Wonder Woman
Gadot — Wonder Woman
Gal carefully hid her
pregnancy from the crew and did all the stunts by herself. But of course,
during the post-shooting process (several months after the end of the work, the
actors are asked to redo some of the scenes), because the pregnancy became obvious.
pregnancy from the crew and did all the stunts by herself. But of course,
during the post-shooting process (several months after the end of the work, the
actors are asked to redo some of the scenes), because the pregnancy became obvious.
The star had to wear a special
model of the costume with green around her belly in order for the team to be
able to remove the belly in post-production.
model of the costume with green around her belly in order for the team to be
able to remove the belly in post-production.
Did you know that these
actresses were pregnant when you were watching these films?
actresses were pregnant when you were watching these films?
BRIGHTSIDE
Kayode Emmanuel Ojo is the Co-Founder and Managing Director at SHEFFA Limited. He is presently studying Computer Science at the National Open University, Victoria Island, Lagos.