Sunday, May 09, 2010

Happy 'They Aren't Mothers' Day!

Sometimes we resent how the biological drive takes the great actresses away from us for years at a time or even forever. We're selfish about movies. Sue us. You'll be hearing or saying "Happy Mother's Day" all day today -- call your mother! -- but just for something a bit different we'd like to wish the following actresses and directors a "Happy Day!" even though they never had children (biological or adopted).

The Queen... Dame Helen Mirren

There's more than one way to give back to the universe and live on past your own time.

These women have given us much to enjoy so Happy Day to them, too. Some of them, like Katharine Hepburn, are no longer with us and some of them, like Zeéeee and The Lovely Laura Linney may yet still have children... but that's no reason not to cherish what any of them have already given the world over the years.

Formidable Ava, 'Barefoot Contessa' / Enigmatic Julie, 'The Sunshine Girl'

A VERY HAPPY DAY to...
Read more about any of them by clicking on their names. Did I forget anyone? (If I missed a pregnancy or adoption announcement for someone, my apologies and best wishes!). We send all of these women virtual flowers and cards today.

This post is dedicated to three of the cinema's very first star actresses: Florence Lawrence (1886-1936), Mary Pickford (1892-1979) and Lillian Gish (1893-1993).

Mary Pickford & Lillian Gish. Their lives made history.

None of them had children but in many ways they helped to invent both the movies and screen acting. Their artistic descendants, one might say, are legion.
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24 comments:

Steven said...

As much as I admire this post I wonder how these actreses would feel if we went up to them and said 'Happy you aren't a mother's day!'

I see were you were trying to go but you missed the mark completely.

Matt said...

Where's Anjelica Huston? Love her in all her childless glory.

Catherine said...

Neat idea for a post! Barbra Stanwyck never had kids, right?

NATHANIEL R said...

Catherine -- Stanwyck actually did have a kid.

Steven -- okay. i knew it was a risk. but i do feel women should be honored for more than just motherhood.

Matt -- i shall add her.

Catherine said...

Oops, yep, my bad!

NATHANIEL R said...

but it's funny you mention her because she was the first actress i looked up when i was prepping this (assuming for some reason that she didn't).

MrW said...

If I'm not severely mistaken, Greta Garbo and Marilyn Monroe never had children, either.

Cinesnatch said...

What about the Big O?

Steolicious said...

Maybe it is because they all saw "Mommie Dearest"...

James T said...

Happy birthday to all mothers and non-mothers!

But hey, Meryl had a million kids and still never made fans miss her!

May I be a little nasty? I bet Bette and Joan would wish they were on that list :p

cal roth said...

I'd like to wish a Happy Mothers day to actresses who are mother of other great actresses, like Magda and Romy Schneider, Vanessa Redgrave and her daughters (and her mother!), to Catherine Deneuve and my beloved Chiara Mastroianni...

jessica said...

Is Kathy Bates a mother?

Unknown said...

I thought the headline was really hilarious, not too nasty or risky as these women themselves mock their non-motherhood in many instances, plus the stress our society places on procreation is just sickening.

Ole Marsha never had any kids, but feels somewhat the mother of her ex's. I can't think of any other reason you wouldn't include me!

Clarence said...

Woah I'm surprised Renee is in any of your list other than most-hated-actresses-ever or list-of-women-in-dire-need-of-good-film-roles-to-return-them-to-their-past-triumphs.

John T said...

Umm, Nat, isn't Marilyn one of your all-time faves? Shouldn't she be on the list?

Also, Claudette Colbert, Mae West, Jean Harlow, and Carole Lombard would all be good additions.

NATHANIEL R said...

@cal roth -- Ooh, that's a good angle too. Maybe next year! (p.s. i love Chiaro too)

John T -- I didn't include some people who died super young because... well, i figured they might have had children? and marilyn. i think i didn't list her because i didn't want the wrath of the marilyn conspiracy theorists who believe that marilyn had children. ;)

Clarence -- i was trying to be fair. I do that sometimes. And as I've said before. Zeéeee has given me fond memories. They just unfortunately end right around 2002.

Fernando Moss said...

Maria Bello is not a mother and I think she is a great actress (and a very underrated one too)

whitney said...

Dolly doesn't have to give birth, she's a mother to us all!

Anonymous said...

What about Hilary Swank? Childless also yes I can't stand her either with her Oscar whoriness but hey she had Boys Don't Cry.

notanotherblog said...

Funny thing is Helen Mirren and three of those other ladies played many maternal/grandma roles and ROCKED IT!

Chris Na Taraja said...

When you say, that their artistic descendants are "legion", do you mean like the group of demons that possessed that poor little girl in THE EXORCIST?

NATHANIEL R said...

yeah, uh, that's EXACTLY what i was going for.

Rebecka said...

My darling Maggie Cheung doesn't have kids, although I believe there's been some rumors about her wanting to adopt.

Mother's Day Philippines said...

Well, I just wish, that all of the mom's became so happy this mother's day. Thanks for sharing.

-yumi-