Actresses getting pregnant during filming isn’t unusual, even when they’re contractually bound to a role. To work around growing baby bumps, studios often turn to inventive tricks on screen. Sometimes it’s as simple as positioning a pillow or newspaper just right; other times, it’s about using smart camera angles and carefully chosen outfits.
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Yet, these efforts don’t always succeed, as these photos reveal. See how various studios tried—and at times failed—to keep their leading ladies’ pregnancies under wraps while filming. The result? Some rather creative, and occasionally obvious, on-screen solutions.
Lisa Kudrow
Lisa Kudrow was the first main Friends cast member to become pregnant. As producers were gearing up for season four, they chose to embrace her pregnancy and write it into the show. Phoebe Buffay, Kudrow’s quirky character, ended up with a wild story to explain her baby bump—carrying triplets for her half-brother.
This wasn’t part of the original plan, but Kudrow’s real-life pregnancy inspired the writers, resulting in one of the season’s most memorable plots. Kudrow recalled that everyone on set would warmly say to her, “Enjoy the show, I love you, I love you, little Julian!” making her feel supported and cherished during filming.
Gal Gadot
During the filming of Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot was already five months pregnant. She still managed to perform many of her own stunts, adding authenticity to the action-packed scenes. Thanks to CGI, her baby bump was carefully concealed. To make this possible, Gal wore a green cloth around her belly, allowing the post-production team to digitally remove it. The actress joked about the experience, saying, “In close-ups, I looked just like Wonder Woman.
But in wide shots, I looked pretty funny—like Wonder Woman, pregnant with Kermit the Frog!” This humor and dedication helped bring the iconic character to life seamlessly.
Blake Lively
When filming Blake Lively’s shark movie The Shallows, which hit theaters in 2016, she was simultaneously facing the impending birth of her daughter Inez. Filming while pregnant wasn’t easy, as most of the shoot required risky stunts.
Blake remarked, “A stunt double was only hired in the last few weeks of shooting.” She added, “The filming was extremely stunt-heavy.” Her baby bump was barely visible, even in swimwear. Some scenes were shot with a strategically placed surfboard to conceal her belly.
Cynthia Nixon
When filming began for Blake Lively’s shark movie The Shallows, which hit theaters in 2016, she was also facing the upcoming birth of her daughter, Inez. Filming during pregnancy was challenging, especially since many scenes required risky stunts. Blake shared, “A stunt double was only brought in during the final weeks of filming,” adding, “The shoot was extremely stunt-heavy.” Her baby bump was hardly noticeable, even in swimwear, and some scenes cleverly used a surfboard to hide it.
Chandra Wilson
When Chandra Wilson became pregnant during the filming of Grey’s Anatomy, the producers chose to incorporate her pregnancy into the show, as season two had just begun. Fans loved the famous birth scene with George and Bailey, making it a standout choice.
This humorous and touching scene has remained a fan favorite for years, not only for its entertainment but also because it was unique—Chandra was the only actress on the show who was actually pregnant while her character was. This special moment became a highlight of the series, leaving a lasting impression on viewers.
Melanie Scrofano
The producers did not acknowledge Melanie Scrofano’s pregnancy in the second season of Wynonna Earp. It wasn’t until the fifth episode that it was revealed she was expecting, which surprised viewers. But the best was yet to come…
The show continued airing while Melanie was heavily pregnant, and she performed many stunts herself. Is that even legal? Later, Melanie explained, “It’s awful to have to hide something when you’re so aware of it… I think it would have hurt the show.” Her experience showcased the challenges of balancing personal life with her demanding role.
Vanessa Morgan
When Vanessa Morgan became pregnant, Riverdale was already in the midst of filming its fifth season. In an Instagram post, she expressed her gratitude for how the series handled her pregnancy, stating, “I want to thank the showrunner and producers for their understanding and for incorporating my pregnancy into the show!”
Vanessa also shared that she was “grateful that my body allowed me to work almost nine months pregnant.” The news surprised her fans, who were curious about how it would affect the show. They wondered how the storyline would adapt compared to her original character arc, eager to see the creative changes ahead.
Melissa Fumero
As an actress on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Melissa Fumero had to play the lead female role of Detective Amy Santiago during her pregnancy. It wasn’t an easy task, as she recalled, “My ankles were really swollen.”
Once filming was complete, Melissa shared, “We had our baby just five days later. I wouldn’t recommend that!” Fortunately, the writers chose to incorporate her pregnancy into the show. They didn’t try to hide her growing belly, which added a touch of authenticity and humor to the character’s storyline, making it a memorable part of the series for both Melissa and the fans.
Teri Hatcher
On the set of Tomorrow Never Dies, actress Teri Hatcher faced challenges as she had just become pregnant and was dealing with the side effects. Pierce Brosnan wasn’t particularly sympathetic, stating, “She was annoying. She made me wait for hours.”
He admitted, “I have to confess that a few words slipped out that weren’t very nice.” Teri didn’t let that slide; on the day they filmed together, she gave Bond a little extra slap on screen. Those moments likely created some tension between them, but they also added a unique dynamic to their scenes in the film.
Chyler Leigh
During the filming of Grey’s Anatomy, Chyler Leigh was pregnant. The character of Lexie Grey was originally intended without any reference to her pregnancy in the storyline. Fortunately, the writers managed to conceal her baby bump with loose-fitting hospital gowns, but at times, they needed to get more creative.
To help disguise her pregnancy, they would quickly throw a jacket over her or have her hold objects or position herself behind props. Additionally, the actress gained a noticeable amount of weight during her pregnancy, which the show attributed to “stress eating,” adding another layer of complexity to her role.
Naomi Watts
At the beginning of filming the thriller Eastern Promises, Naomi Watts was heavily pregnant. She managed to keep this hidden from the cast for a while, but despite her efforts, she couldn’t conceal it from everyone.
As the fatigue that comes with pregnancy set in, she began to notice changes in her body. It turned out that the director’s sister was in charge of designing the costumes for the film, making her the first to find out about Naomi’s pregnancy. “She was the first to know because she was designing the costumes,” Naomi revealed, highlighting how the challenges of pregnancy intersected with her work on the film.
Kristen Bell
Kristen Bell was confident that her pregnancy would not affect her character in House of Lies. To keep the audience from noticing, the director had to devise a plan to disguise her pregnancy effectively.
However, it wasn’t just about costumes and props; Kristen was actually seven months pregnant at the time! Even though she wore loose-fitting clothing, the baby bump was digitally removed using CGI to maintain the illusion. This combination of practical effects and digital manipulation allowed her to seamlessly continue her role while navigating the challenges of pregnancy.
Alyssa Milano
During the second season of Mistresses, actress Alyssa Milano filmed while pregnant with her second child. Reflecting on the experience, she remarked, “Keeping a pregnancy a secret is like a Saturday Night Live sketch.”
She continued, “I keep getting bigger bags to help hide it.” Alyssa spent a lot of time trying to conceal her pregnancy in front of the camera before ultimately deciding to be open about it, especially as she changed locations for filming. “I can’t leave my kids behind and split the family by moving away,” she added, emphasizing the importance of family during her pregnancy and career.
Ivana Milicevic
During the fifth season of The 100, actress Ivana Milicevic was pregnant, ironically at a time when her character, Charmaine Diyoza, was meant to die. The series decided to incorporate her pregnancy into the storyline, allowing her character to live longer.
In the final season, Charmaine’s character remained alive, and Ivana remarked, “Being a mother for three years has allowed me to be part of a great series.” While pregnancies typically don’t lead to increased earnings, in her case, it did, as the show creatively adapted to her situation and allowed her character to flourish in the narrative.
Charisma Carpenter
As a pregnant actress, Charisma Carpenter took on the lead role in Angel, a spin-off of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. During the show’s fourth season, efforts were made to conceal her pregnancy until it became impossible to hide.
The character of Cordelia, played by Charisma, eventually gave birth to a character named Jasmine, the Blessed Devourer. In early 2021, Charisma took to Twitter to share that director Joss Whedon mistreated her due to her pregnancy, which ultimately led to her being written out of the series. She reflected, “It was hard to accept, but family comes first,” highlighting the difficult balance between her personal life and professional commitments.
Chelsea Peretti
During the fourth season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Chelsea Peretti and her husband, Jordan Peele, announced that they were expecting a baby. Instead of hiding the pregnancy, the show embraced it, incorporating it into the storyline and adding a new element of intrigue. Chelsea expressed her relief, stating, “It was a relief not to have to worry about hiding the belly.”
As the season progressed, it was revealed that Gina’s baby was conceived by Milton, the character played by Ryan Phillippe. Despite this, Chelsea’s baby bump was subtly concealed on screen with loose, comfortable clothing, allowing her to portray her character while embracing her real-life pregnancy.
Amanda Righetti
During the filming of the fifth season of The Mentalist, Amanda Righetti became pregnant. However, the writers were not keen on incorporating her pregnancy into the storyline, so Grace often appeared standing or sitting behind objects while holding her hands in front of her belly.
Viewers of the show agreed that it was quite obvious she was pregnant. Items like bags, boxes, and even poorly positioned water coolers were used to cover Amanda’s bump. This meant that audiences could clearly see how her body was changing. We can only imagine Amanda let out a huge sigh of relief once the filming was finally over.
Candice King
Fans of The Vampire Diaries were curious about how Candice King’s pregnancy announcement would affect her character when she revealed that she was expecting a child with her husband, Joe. The writers embraced the news and incorporated it into the storyline, much to everyone’s surprise.
As the episodes of the seventh season progressed, it became increasingly evident that her baby bump was growing. After an affair with Alaric, her character became pregnant, and it was later revealed that she was expecting twins. This twist added an exciting new dynamic to the series and showcased how the show adapted to real-life events.
Anna Paquin
At the beginning of the sixth season of True Blood, Anna Paquin’s baby bump was quite prominent. This didn’t align with her character, so a stunt double was brought in whenever she needed to show her body. Anna told Todd Lowe at the time, “The double worked harder than necessary.”
He acknowledged, “Yes, I’m aware of that, and they were quite innovative with their staging and costumes.” This situation was seen as a spoiler for the sixth season, shocking the audience. Nonetheless, True Blood wasn’t shy about using strategically placed pillows to disguise her pregnancy; however, it would have been nice if they had been less obvious in their approach.
Nana Visitor
It turned out that Nana Visitor was pregnant during the filming of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The writers, however, did not want her character, Kira Nerys, to have a baby in the series.
They explained that Kira’s lack of a child after giving birth was due to surrogacy. This allowed them to incorporate and visually represent the pregnancy in the storyline without needing a child actor. Nana admitted, “I was afraid I would lose my job on the show because I was pregnant.” This creative solution enabled her to continue her role while managing the challenges of her real-life situation.
Kaitlin Olson
In the sixth season of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, actress Kaitlin Olson was pregnant for several episodes. Coincidentally, her character, Dee, also became pregnant, leading the creators to decide to focus several episodes on her pregnancy.
Kaitlin may have found it easier to align her real-life pregnancy with the show than initially thought, as her husband, Rob McElhenney, is one of the co-creators and executive producers of the series. This personal connection likely allowed for more flexibility in how her character’s storyline developed alongside her real-life experiences.
Betsy Brandt
During the second season of Breaking Bad, actress Betsy Brandt was pregnant. However, this was not part of her character’s storyline, so she had to keep it a secret. Ironically, it was revealed that Skylar White, played by Anna Gunn, was expecting a baby. The twist was that Anna had to wear a fake baby bump for the role.
The production team employed various tricks to keep Betsy’s real pregnancy discreet on screen. They were determined to hide her baby bump, even if it meant having her stand behind counters. Interestingly, when the director needed a close-up of Skylar’s belly, it turned out to be Betsy’s real bump on camera.
Jennifer Garner
When Jennifer Garner discovered she was pregnant during the filming of the fifth season of Alias, it became impossible for her to continue performing her action-packed role. Fortunately, the showrunners accommodated their star by incorporating Jennifer’s pregnancy into the storyline of her character, Sydney Bristow.
Additionally, she was granted a proper maternity leave, which is quite rare in Hollywood. When Alias returned after the break, Garner was ready to jump back into performing daring stunts, seamlessly transitioning back into her role while navigating the changes in her personal life.
Angela Kinsey
During the filming of the fourth season of The Office, Angela Kinsey was pregnant with her first child. While the show attempted to hide her pregnancy, the likelihood of keeping it under wraps was slim. The methods used to conceal her baby bump were almost ridiculous.
Often, she stood behind something silly, like a large swan ice sculpture that fans will surely remember. As viewers watched this part, many realized, “Wow, she’s pregnant.” It wasn’t necessarily because they could see her belly, but rather because the effort to hide it was so obvious. The humorous attempts to disguise her pregnancy added an extra layer of entertainment for the audience.
Caterina Scorsone
In 2012, actress Caterina Scorsone discovered she was pregnant while filming the ABC series Private Practice. The show’s producer, Shonda Rhimes, decided to incorporate Amelia Shepherd’s pregnancy into the storyline, allowing Caterina to embrace her baby bump instead of hiding it.
Caterina gave birth to a healthy and happy child in July 2012. However, her character’s journey took a tragic turn. According to the storyline, Amelia gave birth to a boy who was born sick and sadly did not survive. This poignant twist added depth to the narrative and showcased the challenges faced by the characters on the show.
Rachel Griffiths
In several episodes of the third season of Six Feet Under, Rachel Griffiths was notably absent because her pregnancy was too obvious to hide on screen. She was expecting her first child, but initially, there wasn’t much of a visible bump, which created continuity issues in the other episodes. The studio took measures to conceal her belly, ensuring it wouldn’t be seen.
Later in the season, Rachel became pregnant again, and this time it was woven into her character’s storyline. Shortly thereafter, she became pregnant for a third time! However, the writers ultimately decided not to incorporate another pregnancy into the final season, allowing the character’s arc to progress without further complications.
Jill Scott
Jill Scott is not only an actress but also a singer, model, and poet. During the filming of No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, she managed to keep her pregnancy relatively hidden by wearing loose-fitting clothing.
Her growing belly was cleverly camouflaged by the patterns of her dresses, making it nearly impossible to tell that she was pregnant during the first season! Jill gave birth to her son, Jett, in April 2009, and she ended her relationship with his father just two months later. Her ability to juggle multiple roles while navigating her pregnancy is a testament to her versatility and strength as a performer.
Phylicia Rashad
As Clair Huxtable, Phylicia Rashad played a significant role in The Cosby Show during the 1980s. It’s worth noting that she was pregnant for most of the third season. She remarked, “Sometimes it was hard,” but she managed to cope with the challenges.
The actress’s pregnancy was not written into the sitcom’s script, yet it wasn’t concealed very effectively. Phylicia often covered her belly suspiciously with magazines and sofa cushions, making it clear to viewers that something was amiss. Despite these efforts, her determination and talent shone through, allowing her to continue delivering memorable performances.
Parminder Magra
During the 15th season of ER, actress Parminder Nagra discovered she was pregnant while filming. In a rather inventive manner, the studio managed to conceal her growing belly in 2008, but it was all in good fun; they relied on the usual discreet “tricks” to hide her pregnancy.
In episode 15, Parminder wore a loose-fitting jumpsuit and a large lab coat while conveniently standing behind counters and tables. Ultimately, their efforts to mask her pregnancy were successful, allowing her to continue her role while navigating the challenges of impending motherhood.
Parminder Magra
During the sixth season of The King of Queens, Leah Remini was pregnant. Coincidentally, her character was unemployed at the time, which allowed her to wear sweatpants and bathrobes for most of the season. In several scenes, Leah donned a fluffy, oversized bathrobe that came in all sorts of colors!
Whether it was a pink dress, a blue dress, or a white one, it didn’t matter! Whenever she wore a dress, the designers made sure to cleverly conceal her baby bump. We have no doubt that these were the types of outfits she would wear at home anyway, making her on-screen appearance both relatable and stylish.
Katey Sagal
While filming Married… with Children, actress Katey Sagal discovered she was pregnant, and the announcement came as a complete surprise. Her pregnancy was incorporated into the show, leading to several plot developments. As Peggy Bundy, Katey experienced three different pregnancies, which must be some sort of record!
Unfortunately, the first baby did not survive, necessitating a rewrite of her character’s storyline. The show decided to explain that Peggy’s entire pregnancy had been just a dream. Fortunately, in the subsequent storylines, Peggy gave birth to two beautiful and healthy children, allowing Katey to portray the joys of motherhood on screen.
Rosamund Pike
Known for her role as Amy Dunne, Rosamund Pike plays the villainess in Gone Girl. However, she had previously appeared in the film Jack Reacher in 2012. Many action scenes were shot during the production, and Rosamund was pregnant at the time.
America Ferrera
Superstore star America Ferrera became pregnant in 2018, and NBC didn’t want to simply write her off the show for a season. Instead, they decided to incorporate her pregnancy into the storyline during the third season. This creative approach allowed America to continue her role while embracing her real-life journey, adding an authentic layer to her character’s experiences on the show. The writers skillfully integrated her pregnancy into the plot, making it a seamless part of the series narrative.
Melissa Rauch
Melissa Rauch’s absence from The Big Bang Theory would have been a significant loss, which is why we are grateful that the show incorporated her pregnancy into the storyline. Bernadette and Howard were expecting their first child together.
Tragically, the actress experienced a miscarriage during the filming of the series. However, she was fortunate enough to become pregnant again shortly afterward and welcomed a beautiful and healthy baby. This journey added depth to her character’s arc and allowed Melissa to share her real-life experiences with the audience, showcasing resilience and hope.
Megan Boone
After six months of pregnancy, actress Megan Boone continued filming the NBC series The Blacklist. Fortunately, since her character was also pregnant, she didn’t have to hide behind anything.
When the scenes became too intense, a stunt double was brought in for Megan, which was a wise decision given that her due date was approaching. Ultimately, her character was written out of the series to allow Megan to take her maternity leave. This thoughtful approach not only supported her personal journey into motherhood but also maintained the integrity of the show’s narrative.
Cobie Smulders
The television series How I Met Your Mother humorously addressed the challenges of hiding actress Cobie Smulders’ pregnancy. Whenever she sat down, she either placed her handbag on her lap or concealed her belly behind an overhanging lampshade.
Additionally, she was dressed in loose and bulky clothing to mask her growing baby bump. For a time, the crew even hid her behind a fruit bowl. As for the other significant storylines involving Cobie’s character, filming was pushed to later in the season. It became evident that she was running out of clever ways to hide her pregnancy, leading to some amusing and creative solutions on set.
Michelle Pfeiffer
When Michelle Pfeiffer filmed Dangerous Minds in 1995, she had a slender figure while pregnant with her son, John Henry. Even in loose-fitting dresses, it was clear that she was expecting.
To conceal her baby bump, she relied on more than just her wardrobe. The costume department cleverly used special camera angles and close-ups to create the illusion of hiding her pregnancy. The end result was quite successful, despite the fact that she was frequently on screen as the lead actress. This creative approach allowed Michelle to deliver a compelling performance while navigating the challenges of being pregnant during filming.4o mini
Ginnifer Goodwin
While filming Once Upon a Time, actress Ginnifer Goodwin experienced a stroke of luck. She was pregnant with her co-star and husband Josh Dallas’s baby at the same time her character was expecting! The couple had met on set, creating a lovely full circle.
In many scenes, she didn’t need to hide her baby bump. However, during flashbacks, her pregnancy had to be concealed. To achieve this, the wardrobe team resorted to loose, billowy clothing, which had a questionable effect. Still, we understood the creative solutions they employed to blend her real-life experience into the storyline.
Alanna Masterson
When actress Alanna Masterson learned she was pregnant in 2015, she had certain commitments to fulfill. She played the recurring character Tara Chambler on The Walking Dead, but the writers refused to incorporate her pregnancy into the storyline.
Although Alanna’s pregnancy wasn’t written into her character’s arc, that didn’t mean there weren’t clever ways to hide it. The show utilized various props to help conceal her bump; for instance, Alanna sometimes sat backward on a bar stool, and at other times, a dish rack was used to obscure her. These creative solutions allowed her to continue her role while managing her pregnancy discreetly.
Gillian Anderson
During the second season of The X-Files, actress Gillian Anderson received the most unusual storyline to explain her baby bump. Her character, FBI agent Scully, was kidnapped by aliens, allegedly subjected to experiments, which led to her character becoming pregnant on screen.
It’s certainly a unique approach for the series, but it’s also somewhat eerie, if not disturbing. Gillian had good reason to be apprehensive about telling the producers that she was pregnant! Initially, they considered recasting her role before ultimately deciding to continue supporting the actress. This decision allowed her to embrace her real-life situation while maintaining her iconic character.
Alyson Hannigan
During the filming of the fourth season of How I Met Your Mother, actress Alyson Hannigan was heavily pregnant. Since the writers didn’t want to incorporate this into her character’s storyline, they resorted to simple tactics to hide her baby bump.
In one scene, Alyson was cleverly concealed behind various props, including instruments, basketballs, large bags, and even a cooler. However, there were moments when her belly was still visible. When she “won” an eating contest, it was pretended that she was full! Not many viewers were fooled by this, making it a rather silly solution to the challenge of concealing her pregnancy on screen.
Jessica Capshaw
In the seventh season of Grey’s Anatomy, actress Jessica Capshaw continued to perform while pregnant, which is particularly amusing given that her character, Arizona, was firmly against having children. As a result, there was no way to incorporate Jessica’s pregnancy into the storyline.
The writing team decided to send Arizona on a little trip to Africa. However, before she could leave, there were still scenes that needed to be filmed. To manage this, the writers turned to the costume and props department. You guessed it: Jessica wore loose, flowing dresses and suspiciously large boxes to help conceal her baby bump while filming. This creative approach allowed her to navigate the challenges of pregnancy while staying true to her character’s arc.
Keri Russell
In 2016, actress Keri Russell became pregnant while filming the fourth season of The Americans. At the time, she was in a relationship with her co-star Matthew Rhys, but the writers chose not to incorporate her pregnancy into the series. Instead, they resorted to the usual tricks to hide her baby bump.
In a later interview, Matthew revealed that he and Keri approached the writers about their big news. “They said, ‘You know what, we’re sticking with what we’ve written, and we’re sorry to tell you that you’ll be wearing big coats and holding laundry,’” he shared. And that’s exactly what Keri did on the show, creatively concealing her pregnancy while continuing to portray her character.
Morena Baccarin
During the second season of Homeland, actress Morena Baccarin was not worried when she became pregnant while filming. This could have led to a plot twist that would reduce her screen time, but instead, her character became a central theme of the season.
Fortunately, her pregnancy was not very noticeable at first. However, in moments when it became more apparent that she was expecting, the post-production team stepped in to help. They digitally removed her growing baby bump in the scenes where her full body was visible, allowing the story to continue seamlessly while she navigated her real-life pregnancy.
Mandy Moore
Mandy Moore was pregnant during the filming of This Is Us, which could have posed quite a challenge. She had to portray both the younger and much older versions of Rebecca Pearson, so it was crucial that she not be seen with a baby bump—after all, she was playing a grandmother!
Before the new season premiered, Mandy acknowledged, “Rebecca will probably be wearing oversized bags and laundry baskets in the next few months.” She was essentially spot on. The costume department provided her with plenty of layered fabrics and loose-fitting clothing to help conceal her baby bump, allowing her to continue her dual role without disruption.
Zooey Deschanel
While filming the fifth season of New Girl, actress Zooey Deschanel revealed that she was pregnant, a secret that didn’t stay hidden for long. It was decided that Jess would have to sit behind a wooden half-wall in a new storyline to accommodate her pregnancy. As part of her character’s duty as a juror, this provided a clever way to work around Zooey’s growing baby bump.
Additionally, the show’s creators implemented another strategy by having actress Megan Fox fill in for Jess during her jury service, which helped distract viewers from Zooey’s maternity leave. However, Zooey returned to the show just a few weeks after giving birth, seamlessly integrating back into her role.
