These Celebrities Make Having Blended Families Look Easy
Celebrities, just like everyone else, are prone to breaking up, hooking up, having children or adopting them at any stage of their lives. But there are some that make having a blended family look easier than others.
The following celebrities have proven themselves to be loving, committed stepparents to their partner’s children from previous relationships.
Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade
Gabrielle Union and husband Dwyane Wade have a daughter together, Kaavia James. But Union is also stepmom to Wade’s three sons from a previous relationship.
The duo are also raising Wade’s nephew, Dahveon, who lives with them.
Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade
Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade arrive at the ESPY Awards on July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
Union has spoken out about the sense of failure she felt in resorting to a surrogate to carry her daughter. But, after experiencing multiple miscarriages, Union said that becoming a mother in her 40s ended up being the right timing.
“Any earlier, and the FOMO would have greatly influenced how I parented,” she told Women’s Health. “I’ve seen it. I’ve done it. I’ve done it well. I’ve gotten all the T-shirts. Now, I’m in the right mindset and mental space, and I’m open to being the best mom I can be.”
Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet
Jason Momoa is the proud stepfather of Zoe Kravitz, the daughter of his wife Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz.
Since beginning their relationship in 2005, Bonet and Momoa have also had two children of their own.
Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet
Coni Momoa, from left, Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa, Jason Momoa, Lisa Bonet, and Lola Iolani Momoa at the premiere of "Aquaman" on Dec. 12, 2018, in Los Angeles.
Zoe and Jason are regularly pictured supporting one another via social media and at public events.
Momoa has even shared images of himself and Zoe’s father, Lenny Kravitz, on his Instagram account.
Brad Falchuk and Gwyneth Paltrow
Brad Falchuk and Gwyneth Paltrow met on the set of “Glee” in 2014 before taking their relationship public in 2015. Both had children from previous marriages when they wed last year.
Paltrow’s two children, Apple and Moses, from her marriage to Coldplay singer, Chris Martin, live with the couple. “We are still doing it in our own way,” she said, referring to her and Martin’s co-parenting style. “With teenage kids, you’ve got to tread lightly. It’s pretty intense, the teenage thing.”
Brad Falchuk and Gwyneth Paltrow
Brad Falchuk and Gwyneth Paltrow on Dec. 4, 2018, in Los Angeles.
As for Falchuk’s teenage children, Isabella and Brody, Paltrow admitted that she struggled with being a stepparent.
"I've never been a stepmother before," she told Wall Street Journal Magazine. "I don't know how to do it."
Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen
Model and environmental activist Gisele Bundchen met her now-husband Tom Brady in 2006.
Upon revealing their relationship in 2007, only two months after they'd started dating, Brady learned his ex-girlfriend, Bridget Moynahan, was pregnant with his first son, John Edward Thomas.
When Moynahan gave birth to their son, Bundchen embraced her role as John's stepmom, despite how unconventional and challenging the situation was.
Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen
Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady attend The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala May 1, 2017, in New York.
"It wasn’t the ideal situation for anyone — there’s no manual to prepare you for that,” Bundchen told PEOPLE. Of her stepson, Bunchden said, “He opened my heart in ways I didn’t even know my heart could expand. I fell in love with him."
The couple now have two biological children of their own as well.
Alicia Keys and Swizz Beats
When Alicia Keys married producer Swizz Beats she became stepmother to his daughter, Nicole, and sons, Prince Nasir and Kasseem.
The couple later had two boys of their own, Egypt and Genesis. They regularly post happy photos of their blended family to Instagram.
Alicia Keys and Swizz Beats
Swizz Beats and Alicia Keys at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute gala benefit May 7, 2012 in New York.
Keys dedicated her song "Blended Family (Do What You Do for Love)" to Mashonda Tifrere, the ex-wife of Swizz Beats.
Even though there have been past conflicts in their relationship, the song celebrates the strength of the trio of parents supporting one another to raise their children while remaining friends.
Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig
Rachel Weisz had a son, Henry, with her ex-husband, director Darren Aronofsky.
She is also stepmom to Daniel Craig's daughter, Ella, from his previous marriage to Fiona Loundon.
Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig
Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz at the Governors Awards Nov. 14, 2015, in Los Angeles.
Weisz was 48 when she revealed to The New York Times that she was pregnant with Craig’s baby and gave birth to their daughter last year after seven years of marriage.
“I’m very happy being married, very, very happy,” she told the magazine. “Daniel and I are really similar.”
Salma Hayek and Francois-Henri Pinault
Salma Hayek married Francois-Henri Pinault in 2009. She became stepmom to his three children from past relationships.
They also have a daughter of their own, Valentina; however, Hayek admitted that she feared she may not have children before she gave birth at the age of 41.
Salma Hayek and Francois-Henri Pinault
Salma Hayek and Francois-Henri Pinault at the BAFTA Awards 2018 in London Feb. 18, 2018.
Hayek frequently shares images of herself, her partner and their children that show off just how enormously loving and close their blended family is.
Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez
Jennifer Lopez had two children from her marriage to Marc Anthony when she met and began dating Alex Rodriguez in 2017.
Both share images of their blended family on social media regularly.
Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez at the Great Sports Legends Dinner on Sept. 24, 2018, in New York.
Alex's daughters, Ella and Natasha, seem happy to spend time with their father, J.Lo and her twins, Max and Emme.
Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth
When Reese Witherspoon married Jim Toth in 2011, she brought along her two children from her marriage to actor Ryan Phillipe.
Ava and Deacon were in their early teenage years when Jim and Reese gave birth to Tennessee, their first biological child together.
Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth
Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth attend a Harlem Globetrotters game at Staples Center on Feb. 17, 2019, in Los Angeles.
“Jim said, ‘I’m gonna show you every day what a good partner is, what a good person is. I'm going to take care of you. I'm gonna do this so much that you're gonna get used to it,'” Witherspoon told Elle.
“I was like, ‘What are you talking about?’ I’ve never had anybody like that in my life.”
Will and Jada Pinkett Smith
Trey Smith, from left, Willow Smith, Jaden Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith at the EMA Awards at Warner Bros. Studio on Oct. 22, 2016, in Burbank, Calif.
The couple also share two biological children, Jaden and Willow.
Ciara and Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson, NFL star with the Seattle Seahawks, became stepdad to Ciara's son, Future Zahir Wilburn, when the two became involved in 2015.
The two also have a daughter, Sienna, born a year after they were married in 2016.
Ciara and Russell Wilson
Seattle Sounders minority owners Russell Wilson, right, the quarterback for the NFL football Seattle Seahawks, and his wife, pop singer Ciara, with their daughter, Sienna and Ciara's son Future, left, after an MLS soccer match against Minnesota United, Oct. 6, 2019, in Seattle.
The quarterback told Buzzfeed, "The thing that I’ve learned the most is that being a stepdad and then also having our little daughter as well as being a stepdad, you really find out what love’s like. It’s interesting. It’s easy to love somebody that’s blood and everything else, but when you can love somebody just like it’s your own child and everything else, that’s what real love is like."
Eva Longoria and Jose Baston
Eva Longoria married Jose Baston and became stepmom to his three kids.
The couple has since had a son, Santiago.
Eva Longoria and Jose Baston
Eva Longoria and Jose Baston on the Hollywood Walk of Fame April 16, 2018, in Los Angeles.
Prior to giving birth to Santiago, Longoria told E! News, "Right now, I am a stepmom to three amazing kids, and I've had my hands full, and they are amazing and wonderful … It's been a lot of fun, a lot of fun being a stepmom."
Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani
When Blake Shelton fell in love with co-host Gwen Stefani, he took on the responsibility of co-parenting her three sons with ex-husband Gavin Rossdale.
The country musician said on the Today Show, "At this point in my life, I kind of had put [having children] as like, ‘Well, that wasn’t meant to be.’ Then, all of a sudden it happens one way or another, and it’s like, ‘Wow, I missed out on a lot.’ And so, having them around … I don’t even know how to describe it. It’s so much fun."
Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani
Kingston Rossdale, Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton, Apollo Bowie Flynn Rossdale, and Zuma Nesta Rock Rossdale on April 27, 2019, in Los Angeles.
Stefani's sons are Kingston, Zuma and Apollo.
There has been much speculation around Gwen's plans to have children with Shelton, but nothing has been confirmed.
Matt Damon and Luciana Barroso
Matt Damon became stepdad to his wife Luciana Barroso's daughter as well as father to their three biological daughters, Gia, Isabella and Stella.
Alexia was born to Luciana and her ex-husband Arby Barroso, and she was 4 years old when Damon and Barroso first met in 2003.
Matt Damon and Luciana Barroso
Matt Damon and Luciana Barroso on June 11, 2019, in New York.
Luciana told Vogue Australia, "We definitely had a connection right away. It was so easy to talk to each other; we were very comfortable [with each other], and by the end of the night, he invited me to go out with his friends. But I was like: ‘I can’t, I have a 4-year-old daughter, I’m not going anywhere' … and that was one of the things he loved, that I had a daughter.
“He said: ‘I love that you’re a mum and that’s your priority.’ Some guys might have been different; they might think it’s complicated, but for him, it wasn’t. When you meet somebody that you have a connection with, that’s just the person that you have a connection with, all the other stuff — the movie-star part — wasn’t really a factor. It was just Matt; to me, he’s just Matt."
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are one of the longest-lasting Hollywood couples, having been married for more than 30 years now.
They wed in 1988 — her first marriage and his second.
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson
Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson and family on March 29, 2019, in Los Angeles.
The year before, Hanks had divorced from his college sweetheart, actress Samantha Lewes, although he has said their relationship was in shambles long before that.
Hanks brought two young children, Colin and Elizabeth Ann, into his new marriage, and then had two more children, Chester and Truman, with Wilson.
