Celebrities Who Kept Baby News Secret: Benji Madden Cameron Diaz
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While the days of tracking celebrity pregnancies aren’t exactly behind us, some sneaky stars have managed to stay out of the spotlight long enough to welcome a new addition to their family in private. So, which stars have managed to keep their baby news a secret? Quite a few.
There are lots of reasons to want to keep baby news a secret. Many moms-to-be won’t disclose their pregnancies until they’re past the first trimester, and those facing high-risk pregnancies often prefer not to disclose it at all to the world at large. And for those welcoming new children via surrogate, the added layer of secrecy can help protect their surrogate’s privacy — a real point of concern where celeb-crazed paparazzi are involved. So when the world got word of these celebs’ baby news, our jaws dropped.
While celebrities have to accept that their own lives will be under some amount of public scrutiny, many (and many partners of celebs) don’t want that spotlight to extend to the whole family. To that end, stars will not only keep the news of the baby’s arrival under wraps, but they’ll keep key details, like their child’s name, out of the press for as long as humanly possible.
So let’s take a peek back at all the other times our jaws dropped over celeb baby news. Here are all the stars who surprised us with a baby announcement over the years.
A version of this story was originally published January 2020.
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Julia Stiles
Julia Stiles secretly welcomed Baby No. 3 in 2023 and casually dropped the news in a 2024 interview with The New York Times.
“I’m kind of like a bundle of emotions because I have a 5-month-old baby and I went into directing my first movie,” she said, referring to her directorial debut for Wish You Were Here.
Stiles also shares sons Strummer and Arlo with husband Preston Cook and did not share whether she is still a boy mom nor the name of the baby. What she did share is that she’s somehow running on fumes but more energized than ever.
“I think that actually being a mom is really great training for being a director,” she said. “You have to think 10 steps ahead but also be in the present moment. You have to be good at time management. You have to be sensitive to people’s needs and guide them, but also hold a boundary.”
Benji Madden & Cameron Diaz
On March 22, Benji Madden and Cameron Diaz revealed the news that they welcomed a son, named Cardinal into their now family of four. They shared the news on Instagram, saying, “We are blessed and excited to announce the birth of our Son, Cardinal Madden????He is awesome and We are all so happy he is here! For the kids safety and privacy we won’t be posting any pictures- but he’s a really cute ??We are feeling so blessed and grateful ??Sending much love from our fam to yours ????Best wishes and Good Afternoon!! ????”
The pair have been together since 2014, married in 2015, and now have two children: a daughter named Raddix, born in Dec 2019, and a son named Cardinal, born in March 2024.
Tamsin Egerton & Josh Hartnett
Actors Tamsin Egerton and Josh Hartnett are notoriously private about their kids, so it wasn’t terribly surprising to find out they secretly welcomed a fourth. During the 2024 SAG Awards red carpet, he casually dropped the news when responding to whether he had seen “Josh Hartnett Renaissance” trending online.
“I have not,” he said. “I have four kids, I live in the countryside. I’m busy either working or taking care of them, but thank you. That’s really kind.”
The couple shares three other kids — born between 2015 and 2019 — whose names have not been revealed.
Johnny & Morgan Galecki
Big Bang Theory alum Johnny Galecki told Architectural Digest two bombshells: that he and Morgan Galecki secretly tied the knot, and that they welcomed a daughter named Oona Evelena. Galecki has one son from a previous relationship named Avery.
Halle Bailey & DDG
On Jan 6, 2024, Halle Bailey shared a photo of her and DDG’s son to her Instagram with the caption reading, “even though we’re a few days into the new year, the greatest thing that 2023 could have done for me, was bring me my son.. welcome to the world my halo ?????? ?the world is desperate to know you ??????.”
Despite months of speculation, neither confirmed the pregnancy until their son Halo was born into the world!
The pair have been together since late 2021.
Adam Driver & Joanne Tucker
Photos in February 2023 of ultra-private couple Adam Driver and Joanne Tucker unloading a baby bath outside their New York while Tucker sported a large baby bump first revealed the couple were expecting. However, the couple never spoke about their arrival publicly.
In December, Page Six reported that Driver announced the birth of his daughter in a rehearsal for his SNL opening monologue, though the line was cut by the time the live show aired.
“Last year, I asked for a baby girl, and I got it, which is exhausting,” he reportedly said during his practice monologue. “So this year, I wish for Ambien!”
Paris Hilton & Carter Reum
Paris Hilton and Carter Reum truly shocked the world by announcing to that they secretly welcomed a baby via surrogate, per People. Along with talking to People, Hilton shared a touching snapshot of her and Reum’s baby boy’s little hand to her Instagram with the caption, “You are already loved beyond words ??.”
They did the same thing in late 2023, when they announced they welcomed their second child together, a daughter via surrogate. They shared the news on Instagram with the caption reading, “Thankful for my baby girl????????” and announcing their daughter’s name is London.
Hilton and Reum have been together since late 2019, marrying in Feb 2021.
Tom Ellis & Meaghan Oppenheimer
Lucifer alum Tom Ellis and his wife, screenwriter Meaghan Oppenheimer, welcomed their first child together via surrogacy in Nov 2023, and truly shocked all of their fans! On Nov 9, they shared a photo of their newborn daughter with the caption introducing Dolly Ellis-Oppenheimer, and shouting out their “amazing surrogate.”
Elon Musk & Grimes
On Sept 9, it was confirmed through Walter Isaacson’s biography entitled Elon Musk that Elon Musk and Grimes secretly welcomed a third child named Techno Mechanicus, nicknamed Tau within the past year or two.
Ashley Olsen & Louis Eisner
Ashley Olsen and her husband Louis Eisner secretly welcomed a baby a few months ago, later confirming the news to DailyMail in Aug 2023! The pair have been together since 2017 and married in Dec 2022, and now are parents! Congrats!
Emmy Rossum & Sam Esmail
So Emmy Rossum never publicly said she was expecting baby number two with her husband Sam Esmail, so it came as a surprise to all when she announced they welcomed baby number two! On April 5, she confirmed the news saying, “On a foggy Wednesday morning. Our son was born.”
Rossum has yet to share a name, but her newborn son joins his big sister, who was born in May 2021.
Mette Marie Kongsved & Elijah Wood
Longtime lovebirds Mette-Marie Kongsved and Elijah Wood secretly welcomed a daughter in 2022, as he revealed to WSJ. The two also share a son named Evan, who they welcomed in 2019.
Brenda Song & Macaulay Culkin
Brenda Song and Macaulay Culkin secretly welcomed their second son before Christmas 2022, Us Weekly exclusively confirmed in March 2023.
Baby Carson joins older brother Dakota — named after Culkin’s late sister — who was born in April 2021 and was also a surprise to the world.
In between the births of their children, Culkin (of Home Alone fame) and Song (your favorite heiress from The Suite Life of Zack and Cody) got engaged in Jan 2022. Song has since paired up with Amazon Homemade to launch a collection of wedding items.
Riley Keough & Ben Smith-Petersen
During her mother Lisa Marie Presley’s funeral, Riley Keough’s husband Ben Smith-Petersen read a letter written by Riley, confirming they secretly welcomed a child.
“Thank you for showing me love is the only thing that matters in this life. I hope I can love my daughter the way you loved me, the way you loved my brother and my sisters. Thank you for giving me strength, my heart, my empathy, my courage, my sense of humor, my manners, my temper, my wildness, my tenacity. I’m a product of your heart, my sisters are a product of your heart, my brother is a product of your heart,” he read.
Keough and Smith-Peterson got engaged in 2014, later marrying in 2015. They share one daughter, but did not reveal any details further than that.
Rebel Wilson
Shocking the world in November 2022, Rebel Wilson took to Instagram to announce the arrival of her daughter. The Australian actress wrote, “Beyond proud to announce the birth of my first child, Royce Lillian, born this past week via surrogate ??”
She continued, “I can’t even describe the love I have for her, she’s a beautiful miracle! I am forever grateful to everyone who has been involved, (you know who you are), this has been years in the making…but particularly wanted to thank my gorgeous surrogate who carried her and birthed her with such grace and care. Thank you for helping me start my own family, it’s an amazing gift. The BEST gift!!”
Wilson added, “I am ready to give little Roycie all the love imaginable. I am learning quickly…much respect to all the Mums out there! Proud to be in your club. ??????”
Adrienne Bailon
Adrienne Bailon and her husband Israel Houghton have been very open about their fertility struggles in the past, cluing fans in on their IVF journeys. But they decided to keep their surrogacy journey a secret from the public, only telling six others about the news. “It was important to me for my own mental wellbeing and for my family,” she said to People. “I was just like, ‘I’m just not going to say anything.’ It was actually very peaceful that way. You didn’t have other people’s opinions.”
Misty Copeland
Misty Copeland was able to maintain her privacy for roughly 3 months after welcoming her son, Jackson, with husband Olu Evans. The American Ballet Theatre dancer publicly disclosed that she became a first-time mom in an interview with People. “I have a 3-month-old. But I will be back on the stage in 2023, hopefully, in the fall,” Copeland told the outlet.
Michael Cera
After his Life & Beth co-star Amy Schumer accidentally revealed the news, Michael Cera confirmed that he and his longtime partner welcomed their first child together. “He’s just a little 6-month-old baby,” the actor said of his newborn, per Extra. Cera is quite private about aspects of his personal life, and rarely discusses them in public.
Priyanka Chopra & Nick Jonas
After three years of marriage, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas quietly welcomed their first child together via surrogate in 2022, both confirming the news via Instagram. “We are overjoyed to confirm that we have welcomed a baby via surrogate. We respectfully ask for privacy during this special time as we focus on our family,” they wrote. “Thank you so much.”
Michelle Kwan
No one knew Michelle Kwan welcomed a precious baby girl until the former Olympic figure skater took to Instagram to announce her daughter’s arrival! “I’m overjoyed and tears of happiness are streaming down my face as I share the news of the arrival of Kalista Belle Kwan,” the new mom began the caption to her touching post.
In her message, Kwan admitted that she’s “always full of surprises and tend to keep my personal life private. And, I’ve wanted to share this happy news for many months but each milestone seemed to be exciting and daunting at the same time.” Kwan also included a time-lapse video that showed her growing belly, as well.
Caitríona Balfe & Tony McGill
Outlander star Caitríona Balfe revealed she had welcomed her first child with husband Tony McGill after a long social media silence on Aug. 18, 2021, writing: “I’ve been off socials for a while as I was taking some time to enjoy cooking up this little human …. We are so grateful for this little soul ….that he chose us as his parents. I’m in awe of him already and can’t help stare and wonder at all the possibilities of who he will become, where he will go and what he’ll do on the big adventure of his life.”
Michael Fassbender & Alicia Vikander
The Light Between Oceans co-stars Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander quietly welcomed their first child together in the summer of 2021, a fact discovered when photos emerged of new dad Fassbender bringing their baby on set in Paris to visit mom Vikander.
Ewan McGregor & Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Ewan McGregor welcomed his fifth child with girlfriend Mary Elizabeth Winstead after a secret pregnancy in 2021, news we’ve learned courtesy of two of his four daughters with ex-wife Eve Mavrakis, who posted congratulations to their dad on Instagram. McGregor’s new baby is his first son, and he joins the family along with daughters Clara, Esther, Jamyan, and Anouk.
Naomi Campbell
Supermodel mama Naomi Campbell didn’t drop a hint anywhere that she was planning on welcoming a little one until her baby daughter was already there and she could share a snap of the newborn’s feet, writing: “A beautiful little blessing has chosen me to be her mother, So honoured to have this gentle soul in my life there are no words to describe the lifelong bond that I now share with you my angel. There is no greater love.”
In June 2023, she announced in a now-deleted snap that she had welcomed a second child, a baby boy.
Natalie Dormer & David Oakes
Congratulations to Game of Thrones star Natalie Dormer and partner David Oakes, who secretly welcomed a baby girl in January 2021 with the public none the wiser. She announced the news during an April episode of podcast That’s After Life!
“It’s the perfect thing to do during a pandemic, is get pregnant and have a baby,” she said. “I feel like I’m probably being a bit of a cliche. She’ll probably be sitting in a bar in 30 years’ time… going, ‘Yeah, I’m a COVID baby!'”
Dormer and Oakes met working on Venus in Furs together in 2019 and have been dating ever since. “She’s an absolute joy,” Dormer says of their new baby.
Alec & Hilaria Baldwin
Alec and Hilaria Baldwin secretly welcomed yet another baby just a few months after baby Eduardo was born in Sept. 2020. On March 1, 2021, Hilaria posted a photo of the new(est) arrival on Instagram with the caption “7” and a photo of her with kids Rafael, Leonardo, Carmen, Romeo, Eduardo, and their newborn (the seventh child is Ireland Baldwin, who Alec shares with ex Kim Basinger).
Justin Timberlake & Jessica Biel
Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake, who already have 5-year-old son Silas together, became parents for the second time, secretly welcoming a baby boy sometime in 2020. Timberlake finally confirmed the news in January 2021 on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and revealed his name: Phineas.
Mindy Kaling
Mindy Kaling was already a mom to daughter, Katherine, 2, when she secretly gave birth to her second child, son Spencer, in September 2020. She revealed the news on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert when he asked her how she spent her time in quarantine.
“I’m telling this for the first time, it feels so strange. I gave birth to a baby boy on September 3,” Kaling said. “This is news to a lot of people, it’s true.”
Donald Glover & Michelle White
Hello, quarantine baby! Atlanta star Donald Glover recently revealed that he and girlfriend Michelle White welcomed their third child together. “You know, I had [a kid] during teh coronavirus,” he told Michaela Coel for GQ. “…it was nuts. I was in the hospital bed. My son had just been born, like, an hour before and I was watching the George Floyd video. It was such a weird moment. It was such an intense, weird moment, because I’m watching that video and it’s like eight minutes long, so you’re sitting there and I had just had this amazing, joyful, expanding moment, plus my dad had passed away recently, so [my son] was named after my father… I don’t even know what, really, the word is to describe it. It was just expanding: the empathy and compassion and the terror and the joy of it.”
Amanda Seyfried & Thomas Sadoski
In a move that no one saw coming, Amanda Seyfried and husband Thomas Sadoski announced the arrival of a second baby in September 2020, a son to join their daughter Nina. Seyfried had kept her pregnancy entirely secret from the public, and announced her child’s birth with a call to donate to children’s charities INARA and War Child.
Billie Lourd & Austen Rydell
Carrie Fisher’s daughter, Billie Lourd, is officially a mom! The 27-year-old actress took to social media Thursday to share the news that she and fiance Austen Rydell had welcomed their first child.
“??????Introducing: ??????Kingston Fisher Lourd Rydell??????,” Lourd wrote underneath a photo of her newborn’s little feet.
The news came as a shock to us fans since the Scream Queens star had kept her pregnancy a secret. And as an homage to her late mother, Lourd bestowed her son with the middle name Fisher.
Kristen Wiig & Avi Rothman
We learned that Kristen Wiig & fiancé Avi Rothman welcomed twins earlier this year on June 18 when pictures of the new parents were released.
Many think that Wiig alluded to her plans of becoming a mom on a recent SNL monologue for Mother’s Day. “I don’t know if I truly appreciated my mom the first 45 years of my life,” Wiig said. “But this year I’m feeling especially grateful for her advice, her love. I’m so thankful for all the things she’s taught me, like preparing me to be a mom myself.”
Iggy Azalea
Despite pregnancy rumors, Iggy Azalea managed to keep her news under wraps until she was ready to make the announcement herself — and on June 10, the rapper shared the news that she and boyfriend Playboi Carti had welcomed their first child, a baby boy.
“I have a son,” she revealed on Instagram. “I kept waiting for the right time to say something but it feels like the more time passes the more I realize I’m always going to feel anxious to share news that giant with the world. I want to make his life private, but wanted to make it clear he is not a secret and I love him beyond words.”
Cameron Diaz & Benji Madden
A few days into 2020, Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden welcomed baby Raddix — who none of us knew was coming. “We are so happy, blessed, and grateful to begin this new decade by announcing the birth of our daughter, Raddix Madden,” the couple wrote. “We also feel a strong instinct to protect our little one’s privacy.”
Sandra Bullock
Sandra Bullock has adopted two kids: Louis and Laila. With both children, she kept things firmly under wraps until they were safely in her home, telling E! News later that paparazzi could have put her adoption process in jeopardy.
Beyoncé & Jay-Z
Beyoncé managed to keep her pregnancy under wraps for five months back in 2011 — and getting that kind of thing past the Beyhive is seriously impressive. She unveiled her bump at the VMAs, and the world collectively tried not to faint from excitement.
Eva Mendes & Ryan Gosling
In 2014, Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling welcomed a baby girl. Mendes had carefully kept her pregnancy out of the public eye, and the baby’s name wasn’t released until a month after her birth: Esmeralda Amada Gosling.
They also welcomed a second daughter, Amada, in 2016.
Gabrielle Union & Dwyane Wade
While Kaavia James is now one of the better-known celeb kids out there, her 2018 arrival was a carefully guarded secret by parents Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade.
“We are sleepless and delirious but so excited to share that our miracle baby arrived last night via surrogate and 11/7 will forever be etched in our hearts,” Union wrote on Instagram.
Adele & Simon Konecki
Adele did tell the world she was pregnant — but then she disappeared from public view for nine or so months, and we didn’t find out about she had welcomed a son in 2012 until an anonymous source went to the press.
Charlize Theron
In 2012, Bombshell star Charlize Theron adopted a child in secret. She didn’t speak out about Jackson’s arrival until four months later when they were safely home with Theron.
“‘I didn’t think I would be a fan of swaddling, but swaddling is pretty amazing,” she told Ryan Seacrest when asked about having a baby around. “For some reason they love it.”
Viola Davis & Julius Tennon
In 2011, Viola Davis told the press that she and husband Julius Tennon were in the process of adopting. But the arrival of their daughter Genesis wasn’t revealed until The Help co-star Octavia Spencer let it slip that October.
Tyra Banks & Erik Asla
Tyra Banks welcomed baby boy Yorks Banks Asla in 2016. The first we heard of it was an Instagram post thanking the surrogate who carried her son.
Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban opted to keep the birth of their second child, Faith Margaret, a secret until she arrived with the family.
Faith was born via gestational carrier: “Our family is truly blessed, and just so thankful, to have been given the gift of baby Faith Margaret,” the family said in a statement.
Ricky Martin & Jwan Yosef
Ricky Martin and Jwan Yosef share three beautiful children: twins Matteo and Valentino, and daughter Lucia. Lucia was kept a secret until she arrived via surrogate, and Martin announced her arrival in December 2018.
It wasn’t until seven months later that he posted the first photo — but it was well worth the wait.
Alexis Bledel & Vincent Kartheiser
Alexis Bledel never came forward with the news of her baby — but Gilmore Girls co-star Scott Patterson mentioned Bledel’s experience with motherhood in a Glamour interview, and Bledel was forced to confirm, adding that “no further details” would be given.
Zo? Saldana & Marco Perego
While Zo? Saldana kept us in the loop about the birth of twin boys Cy and Bowie, third son Zen was totally unexpected. Rumor has it Saldana may have used a surrogate, but the couple has neither confirmed nor denied.
Karla Souza & Marshall Trenkmann
How to Get Away with Murder star Karla Souza announced the birth of baby daughter Gianna in 2018 on Instagram: “We welcome our healthy baby girl Gianna, and we couldn’t feel more blessed in this moment.”
While Souza’s character on HTGAWM had been pregnant, no one knew the star was pregnant too.
Ellen Pompeo
Ellen Pompeo welcomed two babies in secret: Stella in 2011, who was born via surrogate, and Eli, in 2016.
Apparently, Pompeo’s Grey’s Anatomy co-stars were in on the secret, but they were the only ones to know.
Isla Fisher & Sacha Baron Cohen
Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen tried their best to keep their third child a secret, but news leaked when Fisher had to exit her role in Now You See Me 2. We only realized their baby had been born when Fisher debuted her new bumpless form in April 2015.
Rachel McAdams & Jamie Linden
In 2018, McAdams secretly welcomed a baby boy with screenwriter Jamie Linden. Until the first reports surfaced, no one knew that McAdams had been pregnant at all.
Leighton Meester & Adam Brody
Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester and O.C. star Adam Brody didn’t just keep the arrival of their baby a secret — they’ve kept almost everything about her secret since.
While Meester’s baby bump was spotted by the press, the couple was careful to keep all other details confidential, and we didn’t become aware of Arlo’s birth until a month later.
Keri Russell & Matthew Rhys
The Americans stars’ pregnancy new was outed to various media outlets by other sources — but the baby’s arrival was a private affair. News of their first child’s arrival didn’t break until the paparazzi spotted the couple and their baby out on a walk.
Kerry Washington & Nnamdi Asomugha
In 2014, Kerry Washington gave birth to daughter Isabelle — having kept her pregnancy a secret for four months.
In 2016, Washington did her best to hide her pregnancy again, but an appearance at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner raised some suspicion.
Joseph Gordon Levitt & Tasha McCauley
Joseph Gordon Levitt and Tasha McCauley have two sons: one born in 2015 and one born in 2017. Privacy is highly important to this couple, and they hid both of McCauley’s pregnancies & along with, to this day, the names of either of their children.
Megan Fox & Brian Austin Green
Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green had recently split when Fox first revealed her baby bump in 2016, surprising fans both with the far-along pregnancy. The two reconciled before the birth of their third son but split again in 2019.
Hilarie Burton & Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Grey’s Anatomy‘s Jeffrey Dean Morgan and One Tree Hill‘s Hilarie Burton welcomed a baby boy in 2010 — before many knew this celeb couple was even together.
Lucy Liu
Lucy Liu welcomed baby Rockwell in 2015, sharing an Instagram post that shocked her followers. We later learned that Rockwell joined the family via gestational carrier.
