Cameron Diaz 'Was Never Drawn to Being a Mother' Yet Covertly Had a Baby at 47 after She Quit Acting

Hollywood's leading lady Cameron Diaz says she is embracing motherhood at a late stage in her life after working hard when she was younger. However, Diaz admits that the pressure of being a mom her age gets to her.

Movie actress Cameron Diaz graced our television and movie screens in the 1990s and 2000s with her beloved roles in "The Mask," "Charlie's Angels," and "There's Something About Mary," to name a few.

Since her last film appearance was in 2014, Diaz declared in 2018 that she was officially retiring from acting following a 20-year career span.

The Hollywood starlet announced in an interview for the anniversary of "The Sweetest Thing" that she was "actually retired."

However, since then, she had not candidly spoken up about her reasons for bowing out of Hollywood until her interview with fellow actress Gwyneth Paltrow for Goop in 2020. Diaz shared that the decision to retire gave her peace of mind:

"I got a peace in my soul. Because I was finally taking care of myself."

The prolific bankable star of her era explained that it was overwhelming to work at such a high level while having to be a public figure at the same time:

"It's so intense to work at that level and be that public and put yourself out there. There's a lot of energy coming at you at all times when you're really visible as an actor and doing press and putting yourself out there."

Diaz further explained that she was sensitive towards some energies and received a lot of unbearable attention. Hence she paused to reassess her life and discovered what she had been missing.

The model revealed that being a movie star left her feeling like she had no control over her life because her acting career consumed her.

She worked 12 hours a day for months on end and had no time for anything else, and that was when she realized that "I handed off parts of my life to all these other people, and they took it." It was that realization that pushed Diaz to reclaim her life:

"I had to take it back and take responsibility for my own life. That's my job."

Diaz's last significant film role in 2014 was in a remake of the Broadway musical "Annie." In May of that year, she stunned fans when she started dating musician Benji Madden from the band Good Charlotte.

The couple met through Madden's sister-in-law, Nicole Richie, and their romance quickly blossomed. Notably, after dating several A-listers, marriage was the last thing on Diaz's mind when she reached her forties, but she said she was open to it in the future:

"It's hard to say. It just wasn't the thing I was drawn to. I certainly didn't want it in my 20s. Or my 30s."

However, things changed when she met Madden, a guitarist. After seven months of dating, Diaz and the rocker got engaged in December 2014. The duo wed in January 2015 in an intimate ceremony at her Beverly Hills home.

The "The Other Woman" star admitted that it was love at first sight for her, revealing that meeting her future spouse made her forget all about her past relationships:

"Nothing matters now that I have my husband. I don't even remember any of that. That's how I know he's, my husband. No one compares."

DIAZ NEVER CONSIDERED BEING A MOTHER TOO

Madden and Diaz were married for years without children, partly because of the "Knight and Day" star. Just like her reluctance to the idea of marriage, Diaz felt the same way about being a parent.

She revealed to Esquire in 2014 that being childless made life easier while noting that it was not a simple decision to make:

"I like protecting people, but I was never drawn to being a mother. I have it much easier than any of them. That's just what it is."

In the 2014 November issue of Marie Claire, Diaz said she was refusing to conform to society's standards by having kids because it was what was supposedly expected of her:

"I'm not going to do something because it's expected. If a family happens, then it happens."

In an interview with The Telegraph, Diaz previously emphasized her stance, stating that she was open to motherhood. The esteemed star said she would have a child anytime she wanted, adding she did not feel "childless" at the time. The California native referenced her friends' kids when she said, "I have a ton of children in my life."

A source revealed to E! News Online in January 2015 that her viewpoint on becoming a mom soon changed while dating Madden, who proposed marriage before starting a family:

"She told Benji she really wants a baby. And he said, ‘Well, marry me.’ He's old-fashioned. Marriage was important to him."

MADDEN AND DIAZ SECRETLY WELCOMED A CHILD

That said, nearly five years into their union, Diaz announced that they welcomed their first child together at age 47 and at the turn of the calendar to the year 2020.

The delightful news came right into the New Year when the proud first-time parents revealed it to the world via a joint statement on Instagram that read:

"We are so happy, blessed, and grateful to begin this new decade by announcing the birth of our daughter, Raddix Madden. She has instantly captured our hearts and completed our family."

The lovebirds expressed that though they were thrilled to share the news, they strongly felt the need to protect their daughter's privacy. As such, they would refrain from sharing her images and including details about her.

It turned out that Diaz and Madden had been trying to conceive for years, but nothing seemed to work until the birth of their child. An insider revealed to Us Weekly in January 2020 that the pair opted for surrogacy to have their daughter and felt like she was a miracle.

A source previously also told the outlet that Diaz and her husband had tried in vitro fertilization (IVF), supplements, and acupuncture to have a baby. Finally, the stars aligned for Madden and Diaz, who were blessed with a baby girl.

According to the insider, the first-time experience of parenthood was surreal for the couple after spending years hoping their desire would come true, and it ultimately exceeded their expectations.

Moreover, Madden doted on his wife, said the source, adding that he had been "waiting on Cam hand and foot, which is sweet to see."

The duo was hands-on with Raddix and skipped hiring a nanny immediately because the new mom wanted to spend every second with her then-newborn.

DIAZ FEELS PRESSURE AS A MOM LATE IN LIFE

In an interview with former model Naomi Campbell, Diaz said she loved being a mother. She noted that while many people got married and had kids in their youth, she had to do it in the second half of her life.

The mother of one joked the only pressure she felt about motherhood was that now she had to live until age 107. Still, Diaz cherishes this experience saying, "this is the happiest time of my life," even though she has had great happenings before, such as traveling, accomplishments, and working hard.

The ageless blonde beauty stated that being married and having a family at this stage was undoubtedly one of her life's most "gratifying" moments.

During Diaz's appearance on "The Kelly Clarkson Show" in May 2022, she openly spoke about motherhood challenges.

When host Kelly Clarkson asked about moments when parents could be overbearing, Diaz admitted to doing a "mom checklist," adding she was trying to understand what her daughter may be feeling.

As a concerned parent, she explained that it was her job to help her child find words to express herself to find out what she may be going through and be there to help her identify the issues. The goal would be to discover possible solutions.

Diaz added that as a mother, she loses her patience sometimes and apologizes to her child, telling her that she is only human. The doting mom also tries hard to keep Raddix away from the limelight.

However, in June 2022, Diaz was spotted with her spouse alongside their daughter in a rare public appearance while they made their way through the JFK Airport in New York City.

Diaz led the way through the terminal wearing an all-black outfit paired with orange sneakers while rolling a suitcase with a tote bag placed on top. Madden was pictured a few steps behind her, carrying the couple's daughter while holding passports. He coordinated the same look like his wife.

Despite all the difficulties, Diaz said her daughter was the best thing that ever happened to her and her husband. "It's just amazing. It's the best thing that ever happened to both Benji and I. We're just so happy."