Sienna Miller, the accomplished actress and mother of two, has recently opened up about the societal double standards women face when having children at an older age. In a candid interview with Elle, Miller, who became pregnant at 41 in 2023, shared her experiences of public scrutiny and judgment. Her comments shed light on the broader issue of how older mothers are perceived compared to their male counterparts.
Miller, who shares her 12-year-old daughter Marlowe with former partner Tom Sturridge, welcomed her second child with boyfriend Oli Green last year. Her decision to expand her family was partly motivated by a desire to give Marlowe a sibling. Reflecting on this, Miller expressed, "I felt so bad that Marlowe didn't have a little partner in crime."
The actress, known for her roles in films such as "American Woman," highlighted the disparity in public perception when it comes to older parents. She pointed to iconic figures like Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, both of whom have had children in their 80s, as examples of how men are often exempt from similar criticism.
"And no one has anything to say about — and I love these people, and they're friends, which I like to name-drop — Al Pacino and Robert De Niro having kids in their 80s," she remarked.
Miller described the judgments faced by older mothers as "misogynistic" and "anti-feminist," emphasizing that if a woman's body is capable, she should feel empowered to have children at any age. Her stance is not just personal but also a call to challenge societal norms around motherhood.
"If your body is capable of it, have the baby. Have a wonderful baby. And by the way, I'm a better mother now, and it's a much more grounded experience. Have all the babies at any time you want to have the babies," Miller stated.
Previously, Miller had shared her desire for more children in a 2023 interview with Vogue. Her openness in discussing these topics contributes to a larger conversation about women's rights to make choices about their own bodies without facing undue criticism.
