17 Actresses Who Each Portrayed Motherhood In The Most Relatable Way Possible

Motherhood is beautiful, frustrating, devastating, and better than anything else in the world.

Stephanie

• Published in Interesting
• June 25, 2022

Have you ever watched a movie or TV show and been completely put off by how incredibly unrealistic an actor is in their role? Us too - and we reckon this is particularly true when actresses attempt to portray motherhood.

Being a mother is no easy feat, from exhaustion to emotional overload to questioning every decision and worrying about your child every minute of every day. So, it's understandable that playing a mother on-screen isn't an easy task either.

But some talented actresses manage to make mothers feel seen and empowered. They're able to capture the essence of what being a mother is all about, and it's brilliant to watch.

The undying love a mother has for her children is unmatched, and the despair she feels when one of her kids is hurting is immeasurable. Motherhood is beautiful, frustrating, devastating, and better than anything else in the world.

So, when an actress is able to express all of those things on screen, it's really something remarkable to watch. And we love to see it!

We thought it would be fantastic to celebrate some of the most incredible performances we've seen of actresses portraying motherhood in the most relatable way. So, keep scrolling to see 17 actresses who have done just that.

1. Kerry Washington in American Son

Kerry Washington's performance as Kendra in American Son was raw, honest, and painful to watch at times. She made mothers of color (and all mothers) feel seen and understood.

2. Kerry Washington (again) in Little Fires Everywhere

Okay, we already mentioned Kerry Washington, but we can't not talk about how amazing she was in Little Fires Everywhere. Kerry's character, Mia, is torn between her personal desires and the need to give her daughter the best in life.

3. Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, & Kristen Bell in Bad Moms

Sometimes, mothers just need a break. They need to let their hair down and let off some steam.

The need for escape while still trying to be the best mom possible is real. Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, and Kristen Bell portrayed that need perfectly in Bad Moms.

4. Sarah Jessica Parker in I Don't Know How She Does It

Moms are expected to do pretty much everything. And Sarah Jessica Parker managed to show just how challenging motherhood can be in I Don't Know How She Does It.

5. Christina Hendricks, Retta, & Mae Whitman in Good Girls

Surprisingly, none of the lead actresses in Good Girls have children of their own. Yet somehow, they each manage to portray the struggles of motherhood accurately.

6. Susan Sarandon in Step Mom

When Step Mom first came out in 1998, Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon broke our hearts with their emotional performances. But there was something especially touching about Susan's portrayal of a mother with terminal cancer preparing to leave her children.

7. Julie Bowen in Modern Family

Julie Bowen's character in Modern Family is the mom everyone wants to be friends with. As a mother of three kids herself, Julie gets it, and it shows.

8. Susan Kelechi Watson in This Is Us

We all love Mandy Moore in This Is Us, but we can't go past Susan Kelechi Watson's portrayal of Beth Pearson. Susan shines as Beth and manages to show all the different elements of motherhood.

9. Leslie Mann in This Is 40

This Is 40 is a hilariously relatable film about dealing with marriage and parenthood after 40 hits. Leslie Mann is funny, lovable, and entirely relatable as a mother of two girls who are played by her real-life daughters, Maude and Iris.

10. Drew Barrymore in Riding in Cars With Boys

In Riding in Cars With Boys, Drew Barrymore plays a woman who gets pregnant as a teenager in the 60s. Drew does an incredible job of showing the struggles her character endured.

11. Jane Kaczmarek in Malcolm in the Middle

Jane Kaczmarek is a mother of three in real life, so playing Lois on Malcolm in the Middle wasn't a huge stretch for her. But boy, is she impressive with her unmatchable sass.

12. Tracee Ellis Ross in Black-Ish

Tracee Ellis Ross isn't a mother in real life, but she does an incredible job of playing one in Black-ish. Watching her character navigate raising a family while managing a career is fascinating.

13. Michelle Pfeiffer in One Fine Day

Michelle Pfeiffer plays single mother Melanie Parker in One Fine Day. She portrays the struggle of being divorced and raising a toddler perfectly.

14. Uma Thurman in Motherhood

In Motherhood, Uma Thurman perfectly portrays the stressed-out, frazzled mother on the edge. Uma does an incredible job showcasing the frustration a mother can feel.

15. Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side

Sandra Bullock plays Leigh Anne Tuohy in The Blind Side. Sandra embodied the real-life Leigh Anne's spirit perfectly with her moving performance.

16. Reese Witherspoon & Shailene Woodley in Big Little Lies

Big Little Lies is full of scandal and drama, but the main characters are all mothers at the end of the day. Reese Witherspoon and Shailene Woodley portray their characters incredibly well, showcasing how desperate a mother can get when it comes to making their child happy.

17. Jennifer Lopez in Enough

J.Lo's character in Enough is one tough mama! And J.Lo was incredible as the desperate mother trying to defend herself and her daughter from an abusive marriage.

So, there you have it. Seventeen actresses who portrayed motherhood in the most relatable way.

We think these women and their performances are incredible. The ability to make mothers everywhere feel validated and seen is very special.

Which is your favorite performance? You can let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

Stephanie