Pregnancy is a very special occasion in life, but when a pregnant actor is a star of a television show, it also calls for a major decision on the part of the showrunners and writers.They can either figure out ways to disguise the actor’s pregnancy or subtly include it in the show’s storyline itself.
While hiding the pregnancy might be easier in the first few months, it does get troublesome in the later stages, where the actor has to be either shown from the chest up or sitting at all times. The problem is that it gets difficult for the writers to include such instances throughout the ongoing storyline and still portray the actor as actively contributing to the plot. Hence, some may say it’s better to choose a way to make the actor’s character in the show pregnant as well.
15Lucille Ball (Lucy Ricardo)
‘I Love Lucy’ (1951–1957)
Following the naïve and audacious Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball) in her ceaseless pursuit to become a star in showbiz, one that often lands her and her loved ones in some strife,I Love Lucyis a pioneering masterpiece of sitcom entertainment. Its impact on the medium is tied not only to the brilliance of its performances and its writing, but to its progressive inclusion of contemporary taboos that, today, seem utterly ridiculous.
Among these wasBall’s pregnancy during the show’s second season, which was incorporated into the series even thoughCBS forbade the show from using the word “pregnant”—with “expecting” being used instead. This was in stark contrast to how the network handled Ball’s first pregnancy during the filming of the pilot, where it was not mentioned at all.I Love Lucyis only the second series to ever depict pregnancy on screen, withMary Kay and Johnnybeing the first back in 1940. —Ryan Heffernan
I Love Lucy
14Kaley Cuoco (Ava Bartlett)
‘Based on a True Story’ (2023–)
Poking fun at the new age phenomenon of true crime fanaticism,Based on a True Storyserves as a playful comedy following three strangers who find an opportunity to profit off the macabre and murderous mania. Among the leads,Kaley Cuocostars as Ava Bartlett, a pregnant real estate agent who hopes to translate her own obsession with true crime content into a new and lucrative adventure.
Originally, the series wasn’t written with the character being pregnant, but whenCuoco learned she was pregnant during the pre-production process, she approached the creators about incorporating it into the show and they eagerly embraced the idea.Season 2 opens with Ava and Nathan(Chris Messina) having welcomed their child, a baby boy, as a new chapter of murderous intrigue and chaos engulfs their lives. —Ryan Heffernan
Based on a True Story
13Bethany Joy Lenz (Haley James Scott)
‘One Tree Hill’ (2003–2012)
Running for nine seasons through the early part of the 2000s,One Tree Hillbegins by focusing on the heated rivalry between two half-brothers and high school basketball stars. As the series progresses, its central focus shifts to the boys’ strengthening sense of mutual respect, but they each find their lives facing new complications courtesy of their romantic pursuits and other familial dramas.
One of the series’ major female characters comes in the form of Haley (Bethany Joy Lenz), a fellow student thrust into the brothers’ feud when Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) uses her friendship with Nathan (James Lafferty) to impart some pain on his brother, only for the two to later marry.Bethany Joy Lenz’s pregnancy was incorporated into the series in Season 8. —Ryan Heffernan
One Tree Hill
12Caterina Scorsone (Amelia Shepherd)
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ (2005–) & ‘Private Practice’ (2007–2013)
Caterina Scorsonemay not be the first actress who’s ever had a real-life pregnancy written into a series she stars in, but she may be the first who has had it done twice for the one television universe. The first instance of it happening came in Season 5 ofPrivate Practice, in whichher character Amelia Shepherdfalls pregnant and decides to bring the fetus to term despite learning he has no frontal lobe so she can cradle the newborn and, later, donate his organs.
Having appeared inGrey’s Anatomyas a guest cross-over star in Season 10, Scorsone was promoted to being a regular star from Season 11 onwards.The actress’s third pregnancy was written into the series’ Season 16 storyline, with this narrative arc coming to a more pleasant conclusionwhen Amelia and Atticus Lincoln (Chris Carmack) welcome a healthy baby boy in the Season 16 finale. —Ryan Heffernan
Grey’s Anatomy
11Melanie Scrofano (Wynonna Earp)
‘Wynonna Earp’ (2016–2021)
A vibrant and stylish meshing ofsupernatural intrigue and Western narrativeand aesthetic,Wynonna Earpfollows the titular heroine and her allies as they set out to defend their hometown of Purgatory from the resurrected souls of nefarious criminals. Canadian actressMelanie Scrofanothrives in the lead role, imbuing Earp with a refreshing warmth and grit that permeates throughout many other elements of the series’ four seasons.
After the series was renewed for a second season, Scrofano learned that she was pregnant, an eventuality that series creatorEmily Andrasdecided to incorporate into the story. Syfy granted Season 2 an extra two episodes upon learning of the new plot thread. Introduced in the Season 2 episode “Let’s Pretend We’re Strangers”, Wynonna’s pregnancy—and her need to conceal it while she battled internally with how to handle the unexpected situation—wasintelligently incorporated into the action-heavy story, with Scrofano still doing many of her own stuntsduring the season’s production. —Ryan Heffernan
Wynonna Earp
10Melissa McCarthy (Sookie St. James)
‘Gilmore Girls’ (2000–2007)
Sookie St.James, played byMelissa McCarthy, was the perfect best friend and business partner a girl could hope for inGilmore Girls. She was incredibly sweet, kind, and always the best chef in the room. Her culinary skills might have been above par, but as ascene-stealing supporting character, she was definitely one of the best.
McCarthy’s character inGilmore Girlsgot pregnantdue to the actor’s real-life pregnancyin the last season of the CW dramedy. However, the writers had no easy out. The character was in a relationship with Jackson Belleville (Jackson Douglas), who had gotten a vasectomy after their on-screen couple’s second child, leading to a subplot revealing that he lied about the operation. The pregnancy was added to the plot to keep the character’s journey interesting and exciting, even though it was not originally intended.
Gilmore Girls
9Alyson Hannigan (Lily Aldrin)
‘How I Met Your Mother’ (2005–2014)
We saw a tiny glimpse ofAlyson Hannigan’s first pregnancy inHow I Met Your Mothereven though she was not meant to be pregnant in the show. This was in the fourth season when her character, Lily was shown participating in a hot dog-eating competition.
This was a hilarious scene as her little belly was shown being full of hot dogs that she ate. Ultimately,Hannigan’s second real-life pregnancywas written into the plot when Lily and Marshall get pregnantat the end of Season 6, leading to her character’s first child in Season 7. The pregnancy plot explores Lily and Marshall’s road to parenting and gives their characters a new depth. The program explored the pleasures and difficulties of being a parent, interspersing touching and funny moments.
How I Met Your Mother
8Jenna Fischer (Pam Beesly)
‘The Office’ (2005–2013)
The beloved Pam inThe Officewas played byJenna Fischer. While her romance with Jim (John Krasinski) blossomed early in the seasons, they had their first kid together in the fifth season, which was introduced to further the plot.
The writers made the decision to explore the difficulties and rewards of approaching parenting by givinglovable TV couple Jim and Pam’splot more depth through the pregnancy. Character development and more poignant moments were introduced to the series as a result of the development. Later,when Fischer got pregnant in real life, the writers decided to avoid the hassle of hiding her belly and made Pam pregnant with baby no. 2. This also gave way to a hilarious rivalry between Angela (Angela Kinsey) and Pam, as both the characters ended up pregnant at the same time.
The Office
7Cynthia Nixon (Miranda Hobbes)
‘Sex and the City’ (1998–2004)
In actual life, bothSarah Jessica Parker, who portrayed Carrie, andCynthia Nixon, who played Miranda, were expecting. Only one person’s pregnancy was, however, mentioned inSex and the City. Miranda’s pregnancy storyline was woven into the fabric of the series, providing both comedic and heartfelt moments due toNixon’s real-life pregnancy.
The authors chose to have Miranda give birth rather than Carrie because they did not want Carrie to be a single parent.This was a wise decision for the writers because it eventually allowed Miranda and her erratic lover to committo one another and get married. The birth episode (“I Heart NY”) is among the show’s finest hours. The show delves into the challenges, fears, and joys that come with impending motherhood and becomes an important arc for Miranda.
Sex and the City
6Ginnifer Goodwin (Snow White)
‘Once Upon a Time’ (2011–2018)
During the filming ofOnce Upon a TimeSeason 3,Ginnifer Goodwin, who played Snow White, found herself expecting a child with her co-star and real-life husband,Josh Dallas, who portrayed Prince Charming on the ABC fantasy drama series. Their on-screen chemistry turned into a real-life romance, and the couple welcomed their first son in May 2014.
In a unique twist of life imitating art,Goodwin’s first pregnancy was seamlesslyintegrated into the show’s storylineas the characters, Snow White and Prince Charming, had their second child, Neal. However, the show chose to discreetly handle her second pregnancy during its later seasons, employing various techniques to conceal it from the viewers.
