Journey as a single mother

Bridget Moynahan, 52, candidly shared her unexpected journey as a single mother in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar in 2008, confessing: “I never thought I would raise a child alone,” adding “and I want something equal to that in my life, as a partner, a lover, a friend.”

Finding out she was pregnant in the first place was not only a shock to the actress and former model, but it also presented a challenge for Moynahan, who says she believed in marriage before having children.

During the same Harper’s Bazaar interview, Moynahan said: “I’m a traditional girl, and I believe in marriage, and I always thought that’s the way I’d be doing this. For a moment, it was hard for me to accept that this was the way I was going to have a family.”

Relationship with Tom Brady

Moynahan’s relationship with former NFL star Tom Brady, which ended “amicably” in early December 2006, per People, took an unexpected turn when she discovered she was three months pregnant soon after their breakup.

Brady had moved on with supermodel Gisele Bündchen by then (whom he had reportedly met on a blind date the same month he split with Moynahan, according to WSJ Magazine) which only made the situation more complex.

Reflecting on the “traumatic” experience, Moynahan said that she was forced to go through a pregnancy and welcome a child amidst significant media attention, admitting: “I’m not sure anyone – and I could be wrong in this – grows up thinking, I want to be a single mom.”

While Moynahan was busy raising her son, Jack, Brady and Bündchen wed in February 2009, per Vogue France. Just 10 months later, they welcomed their first child, Benjamin. Then, they had a second child, Vivian, in December 2012. In 2022, after 13 years together, they unfortunately divorced.

Bündchen, in her memoir, acknowledged that the impending birth of Brady and Moynahan’s child was difficult for her as well, saying (via Us Weekly): “Two months into our relationship, Tom told me that his ex-girlfriend was pregnant. The very next day, the news was everywhere, and I felt my world got turned upside down.”

Eventually though, Moynahan found solace in her son, John “Jack” Edward Thomas, who was born in 2007.

Moynahan loves being a mom

Moynahan’s 2019 book, Our Shoes, Our Selves, detailed her struggles during that time, and she especially highlighting that she felt incredibly uncomfortable being in the public eye. “Having a baby should have been the most joyous time of my life, but instead, I felt assaulted,” she wrote.

Though, despite the challenges, she embraced motherhood, realizing it fulfilled her more than what her modeling and acting careers could.

Moynahan has expressed her love for being a mother numerous times, acknowledging the transformative impact it had on her life. “I have become that mother I used to dread. Every time he does something, you think he’s a genius. He’s a genius,” she gushed, per Harper’s Bazaar.

Meeting Andrew Frankel

Moynahan’s personal life took a positive turn when she met Andrew Frankel, 49, through mutual friends. The couple eventually got engaged in April 2015, and this resulted in a secret ceremony at Wolffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack, New York, in October that same year. The intimate reception celebrated their love, and instead of gifts, they encouraged donations to The Hole in Wall Gang Camp.

The actress reminisced about the dreamy wedding, expressing gratitude for the attention to detail in her dress and the overall celebration. Fans also celebrated Moynahan’s happiness at the time, acknowledging that she truly deserved her happily ever after following her journey from a public breakup to single motherhood.

Moynahan and Frankel’s blended family consists of his three sons from a previous relationship, creating a loving and supportive environment for Jack.

Despite the unexpected twists in her journey, Moynahan is thankful for the extended family her son has, telling More magazine (via Us Weekly): “My son has two loving parents and an extended family, whether it’s cousins or stepmothers or boyfriends. My son is surrounded by love.”

In sharing her story, it’s clear that Moynahan is someone who embodies resilience and embracing the unpredictability of life. She’s consistently demonstrated the strength of a mother determined to provide love and support for her child, and that’s certainly an admirable trait.