In a current Vogue cowl interview, Timothée Chalamet raised eyebrows by suggesting that it’s “bleak” to be child-free by selection.
The context of the quote was that he was recalling his response to an interview with somebody — whose identify he would “undoubtedly” not reveal — “bragging about not having children and the way a lot time it afforded them to do different stuff.” “Holy shit. Oh my God. Bleak,” he recalled saying to a buddy.
As you could have seen, Timothée copped a variety of backlash for these feedback. And amid the web discourse, some followers speculated that he might have been referencing Seth Rogen, who’s one of the notable celebrities to have mentioned the advantages of being child-free. However, it’s value noting that TONS of celebrities have talked overtly in regards to the causes they’ve chosen to not have children. So, right here’s a roundup of stars who’re child-free and find it irresistible that manner.
1. Seth and his spouse, Lauren Miller, have been collectively since 2004 and received married in 2011. And since then, Seth has attributed a variety of his profession success to the truth that he and Lauren actively selected to not have children.
“Me and my spouse, neither of us had been like that. Truthfully, the older we get the extra pleased and reaffirmed we’re with our option to not have children,” he stated in 2023. “We’re within the prime of our lives. We’re smarter than we have ever been. We perceive ourselves greater than we ever have. Now we have the capability to attain a degree of labor and a degree of communication and look after each other, and a life-style we will stay with each other that we have by no means been in a position to stay earlier than, and we will simply try this and we do not have to lift a baby — which the world doesn’t want proper now.”
Notably, Seth has confronted backlash for sharing his views on child-free life, and he adopted up earlier this 12 months by telling critics: “It’s best to solely have children if you happen to actually need children, and we simply don’t actually need children…I take a look at my pals with children, and truthfully, I really feel like a few of them are extremely pleased and fulfilled, and a few of them seem to be perhaps they need they’d put a bit of extra thought into it. I simply didn’t need to be a kind of folks.”
2. Tracee Ellis Ross is child-free and single in her 50s — and really pleased that manner. “I don’t imagine that my life is unworthy as a result of I don’t have kids,” stated throughout an look on the New York Instances Nicely Competition this 12 months. “I don’t imagine that my life is unworthy as a result of I don’t have a person or companion. I do imagine that I mom everywhere. I do imagine that I do very valued issues on the planet and for those that I care about and love.”
3. In a 2019 interview with Elle journal, Miley Cyrus opened up in regards to the judgment that comes with not wanting children, saying: “Individuals really feel sorry for you, such as you’re a chilly, heartless bitch who’s not able to love…Why are we skilled that love means placing your self second and people you’re keen on first? If you happen to love your self, then what? You come first.”
In the identical interview, she acknowledged that her need to stay a child-free life has largely been influenced by local weather change. “We’re getting handed a piece-of-shit planet, and I refuse at hand that all the way down to my youngster,” she stated. “Till I really feel like my child would stay on an earth with fish within the water, I am not bringing in one other particular person to take care of that.”
4. Talking of Miley, her godmother, Dolly Parton, has additionally been very vocal about not having her personal kids. Dolly, who was married to her late husband, Carl Dean, for 60 years, stated throughout an interview with Oprah in 2020 that not having children allowed her way more freedom in life.
“I did not have kids as a result of I believed that God did not imply for me to have children…so I might do issues like Creativeness Library [her book gifting program],” she stated. “As a result of if I hadn’t had the liberty to work, I would not have achieved all of the issues I’ve achieved. I would not be able to do all the issues I am doing now.” Figuring out she made the fitting determination, Dolly added: “I’ve made sacrifices, however I believe, like I stated, I imagine what I do know I am alleged to do.”
5. In an interview with the Guardian in 2013, Christopher Walken stated he would “completely not” have the profession he has right now if he and his spouse, Georgianne, had had kids. “I am positive lots of the children I knew as a baby would have continued in showbusiness, however they’d children of their very own, needed to do one thing reliable,” he stated, explaining that being child-free gave him the flexibleness to do no matter he wished. “I did not, so I might get by even in intervals of unemployment.”
6. Kim Cattrall thought-about having kids by herself when she was in her late 30s, and even made “inquiries via my ob-gyn about sperm banks.” Nonetheless, she finally realized that having her personal children wasn’t in her future. “After I really feel misplaced and may’t decide, I simply cease and get quiet. I take a time-out. I ask myself, ‘How does this really feel? What do I need my life to be like?’” she stated in O Journal in 2003. “I strive to not take heed to the shoulds or coulds, and attempt to get past expectations, peer strain, or attempting to please — and simply hear…After I answered these questions concerning having kids, I spotted that a lot of the strain I used to be feeling was from outdoors sources, and I knew I wasn’t able to take that step into motherhood.”
Regardless of not pursuing motherhood within the conventional sense, Kim has been very clear about the truth that she nonetheless considers herself to be a “dad or mum.” “There’s a method to develop into a mom at the present time, which doesn’t embrace your identify on the kid’s beginning certificates. You may categorical that maternal facet, very clearly, very strongly,” she advised the BBC in 2015. “I didn’t change nappies, which is okay with me, however I did assist my niece get via medical faculty. I did sit down with my nephew when he was [going through] a really robust time to affix the military. And people are very motherly issues to do, very nurturing issues to do.”
7. In 2023, Margaret Cho stated that she merely didn’t prioritize having children as a result of it “doesn’t appear to be enjoyable.” “I believe my life would’ve been very totally different if I had kids. I finally determined to not as a result of I simply do not need to love anyone that a lot, and that is a tough selection,” she stated throughout an interview for The Midst. “I see that occur with my family and friends and their children, and I am like, ‘That does not appear to be enjoyable.’”
8. Although he’s beforehand joked that he may need some children operating round on the market, Jared Leto advised ES Journal in 2017 that he’s far too busy to decide to fatherhood. “I believe it’s actually necessary to be current when you’ve got kids,” he stated. “I’ve a variety of…issues to care for.”
9. Oprah Winfrey has lengthy stood agency in her determination to not have kids or get married, regardless of being in a relationship with Stedman Graham for the reason that Eighties. “If I had children, my children would hate me,” she advised the Hollywood Reporter in 2013. “They’d have ended up on the equal of the Oprah present speaking about me; as a result of one thing [in my life] would have needed to endure and it could’ve in all probability been them.”
She doubled down once more in 2019, telling Individuals that her work on The Oprah Winfrey Present confirmed her “the depth of accountability and sacrifice that’s truly required to be a mom.” “I spotted, ‘Whoa, I’m speaking to a variety of messed-up folks, and they’re tousled as a result of they’d moms and dads who weren’t conscious of how severe that job is,’” she stated. “I don’t have the flexibility to compartmentalize the best way I see different ladies do. It’s why, all through my years, I’ve had the best regard for girls who select to be at house [with] their children, as a result of I don’t understand how you do that every one day lengthy.”
10. In 2024, John Cena candidly stated that the rationale he and his spouse, Shay Shariatzadeh, haven’t had children is just because they “don’t desire them.” “I’ve a sure curiosity about life, and I additionally know the funding that it takes,” he stated on the Membership Shay Shay podcast. “I do not assume I am personally prepared, nor will I ever be, to speculate the time it must be a fantastic dad or mum as a result of I need to stay life for all it’s…And I nonetheless have lots to do. And I nonetheless need to do lots. I’ve a beautiful companion I do it with. We have had open conversations about this. We share the identical values.”
11. Mary J. Blige is “Simply Nice” with not having children. “I’ve nieces and nephews perpetually, and I’m at all times watching how persons are scrambling round for babysitters. I don’t need to undergo that,” she advised E! Every day Pop in 2022. “I like my freedom. I like having the ability to stand up and go and transfer and do what I need to do. I don’t need to must are likely to somebody on a regular basis.”
12 & 13. Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres love children, however they’re pleased to not have their very own. “At this level, I really feel like I am disappointing the entire of America, not simply my mom,” Portia joked throughout an interview with Jimmy Kimmel in 2014. “[Kids are] lovely and we love them and we play with them, after which we depart.”
That very same 12 months, Ellen made comparable feedback throughout an interview with Individuals, saying, “We might in all probability be nice mother and father. However it’s a human being, and except you assume you could have wonderful expertise and have a drive or craving in you to do this, the quantity of labor that that’s and accountability — I would not need to screw them up.”
14. Chelsea Handler is just not fascinated with having kids, however that doesn’t imply she doesn’t love them. “Individuals assume I hate children,” she stated throughout an look on Jimmy Kimmel Stay this 12 months. “I do not hate children, I simply don’t desire one. It is identical to, I do not need spaghetti bolognese — I am not , you recognize?” She beforehand advised Us Weekly: “I am not the marrying form. I’m not in search of kids. I simply need to have numerous love tales.”
15. Again in 2008, Renée Zellweger advised The London Instances that “motherhood has by no means been an ambition” for her. “I do not assume like that,” she defined. “I by no means have expectations like, ‘After I’m 19 I am going to do that, and by the point I’ve hit 25 I am going to do this.’ I simply take issues as they arrive, every day at a time, and if issues occur, all nicely and good. I simply need to be impartial and be capable of care for myself. Anything is simply gravy.”
Years later, in 2025, Renée talked to The Irish Instances about how she feels the societal conversations round child-free dwelling have modified. “To decide on to not have kids isn’t that distinctive, is it?” she stated. “I believe it’s fairly widespread.” And this checklist exhibits that she’s proper!
16. Maybe my favourite no-BS reasoning for not having kids, Stevie Nicks advised In Fashion in 2002: “I do not need to go to PTA conferences.” “It is like, Do you need to be an artist and a author, or a spouse and a lover?” she defined. “With children, your focus modifications.”
17. Sam Rockwell and his long-term companion, The White Lotus star Leslie Bibb, have been collectively for almost 20 years, and their lives are completely nice with out children. “We identical to it the best way it’s,” Sam advised The Customary in 2022. “Pay attention, if I knew they’d prove nice, then perhaps — however there’s simply no assure…I don’t need to be egocentric and be a nasty dad or mum. It takes lots to be a dad or mum.”
18. Again in 2007, Rachael Ray stated she merely had an excessive amount of occurring in her life to be a dad or mum. “I don’t have time,” she advised Individuals. “I work an excessive amount of to be an applicable dad or mum. I really feel like a nasty mother to my canine some days as a result of I’m simply not right here sufficient. I simply really feel like I’d do a nasty job if I took the time to actually give beginning to a child proper now and try to juggle every part I’m doing.”
In 2025, Rachael mirrored on the backlash she confronted for opting to not have children, however made it clear that she has no regrets in any respect. “Boy, did I get bashed for it over the a long time,” she stated on her I will Sleep After I’m Lifeless podcast. “For me, if I’ve absolutely the worst day, or I am sick as a canine — because the expression goes — the factor that makes me really feel finest is to go house and actually climb into mattress underneath a blanket with my canine.”
19. Lily Tomlin stated there “would not have been room in [her] life to lift kids.” “I did not need to — and I am glad I do not — have any kids. God solely is aware of what I’d have achieved with them, poor issues,” she advised Metro Weekly in 2006. “I used to be so concerned with my profession, and I’d have had to surrender the profession largely as a result of I couldn’t presumably have shortchanged the kid.” When requested if she would’ve been an excellent mom, Lily replied: “I in all probability would have been. However I used to be egocentric. I didn’t need to be.”
20. Ava DuVernay is child-free by selection, however feels that her movies are her kids. “I put my blood into them,” the Selma director advised Mama Is aware of It All. “It’s actually what has my identify on it. It’s what I’ll depart behind on the planet.”
21. In 2018, Sarah Paulson advised City & Nation that she’d chosen to concentrate on her performing profession, not elevating children. “I don’t need to be torn,” she stated. “I don’t need to take a look at my youngster and say, ‘You’re probably the most extraordinary factor that ever occurred to me, but additionally the demise knell.’”
“It was arduous for my mom to be in every single place, to come back to the varsity play and make a dwelling,” she continued. “I’ve at all times identified what I wished out of my skilled life, and I didn’t need to flip round and go, ‘If I had solely made the selection to only dedicate this time in my life to me.’ It’s egocentric, however I believe the phrase egocentric will get a nasty rap.”
22. Alison Brie married Dave Franco in 2017, and since then, she’s talked candidly about the truth that neither of them are fascinated with having children. “I don’t actually need to have children,” she advised The London Instances in 2019. “It’s nice, as a result of I don’t fear about when ought to I get pregnant, between seasons, whereas we’re taking pictures [Glow], I don’t give it some thought daily. I take into consideration how a lot we’re concerned in our cats’ lives. Oh my God, if it was a baby.”
23. Ricky Gervais and his spouse, Jane Fallon, are very a lot united of their determination to not have kids. And previously, Ricky has shared the “many causes” for this life selection. Having beforehand joked in regards to the world being “overpopulated,” Ricky advised Ellen DeGeneres in 2019 that parenthood would trigger him manner an excessive amount of nervousness. “I might fear sick a couple of child. I’ve a cat and I fear about that. I verify the door 3 times earlier than I am going out,” he stated. “I put meals and water in each room in case the door closes and he is peckish for 20 minutes.”
24. Gloria Steinem has credited the feminist motion for giving her the arrogance to decide on a child-free life. “I accepted it for a very long time, and I believed that ‘OK, I am getting married. I am having kids. I am undoubtedly doing that, simply not proper now.’ I might put it sooner or later after which, fortuitously, the ladies’s motion got here alongside and made me understand I used to be truly pleased and that there have been extra methods to stay than one,” she stated on the Feminist Makers Convention in 2014.
25. Dame Helen Mirren advised British Vogue that having kids was not a part of her “future.” “I saved considering it could be, ready for it to occur, however it by no means did, and I did not care what folks thought,” she stated. “It was solely boring outdated males [who would ask me]. And each time they went, ‘What? No kids? Nicely, you’d higher get on with it, outdated woman,’ I might say, ‘No! Fuck off!’”
So, do any of those examples resonate with you? If you happen to’re somebody who doesn’t need children, be happy to inform me about it within the feedback! Alternatively, if you happen to favor to stay nameless, please use the shape beneath.
