“Blue Bloods” star Bridget Moynahan never thought she would become a single mom. She is a traditional woman and believes in marriage, yet she got married only in 2015 at age 44. After she gave birth, she hoped to have a strong male figure in her son’s life.
Actress Bridget Moynahan said she never thought she would raise a child alone. She is a mother to her 16-year-old son, whom she calls Jack.
“I think it’s important to have a strong male figure in my son’s life, Moynahan told Harper’s Bazaar in June 2008, “and I want something equal to that in my life, as a partner, a lover, a friend.”
Bridget Moynahan and quarterback Tom Brady and arrive at the Vanity Fair Oscar party at Mortons on February 27, 2005 in West Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
When the brunette fell pregnant, she had a hard time telling her parents of her plans because she was not married at the time, stating:
“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.”
Though she said she would be fine raising a second child singlehandedly, she would prefer to do it with someone, a husband, or a significant other. Here are more details about Moynahan’s pregnancy, relationship, and husband.
Her Relationship with Tom Brady & Pregnancy
The model previously dated former NFL star Tom Brady in 2004, and they amicably broke up in 2006. The breakup was pretty high profile in that after they parted ways, Moynahan learned she was pregnant with their child months after.
Bridget Moynahan and her son at the Santa Monica Airport, California on November 16, 2008 | Source: Getty Images
But by then, Brady had already moved on with his now ex-wife Giselle Bundchen. Moynahan gave birth to her only child, John “Jack” Edward Thomas, in 2007.
She later reflected on what she deemed a “traumatic” experience of welcoming a child amid a media frenzy, saying, “I’m not sure anyone – and I could be wrong in this – grows up thinking, I want to be a single mom.”
Bridget Moynahan and her son at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on August 29, 2018 | Source: Getty Images
Moynahan said raising her baby boy on her own when not expected came with many fears and anxieties. However, she felt optimistic that she could do it.
Meanwhile, Brady wed Bundchen in February 2009, and they welcomed their first baby together, son Benjamin, ten months later. The pair also share a daughter Vivian who arrived in December 2012. They finalized their divorce in 2022 after 13 years together.
Tom Brady, Gisele Bundchen and their daughter at the fields of Gillette Stadium on August 11, 2014 | Source: Getty Images
In her memoir, “Lessons: My Path to a Meaningful Life,” Bundchen admitted that Moynahan’s pregnancy was not an easy time for her either. The supermodel revealed that “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.”
On the other hand, Moynahan shared there was no reason why her son, years down the line, would need to read anything about disturbing about his parents, adding,”Going through that traumatic time of being heartbroken and then being pregnant turned my whole life upside down and inside out and just knocked the wind out of me.”
Bridget Moynahan at the Wadsworth Theater Veteran Administration Lawn in Los Angeles, California on June 10, 2007 | Source: Getty Images
But there was a silver lining for the New York native, who said having her child was the best thing that came out of that daunting experience.
In the aftermath of the high-profile breakup and giving birth to her son, Moynahan later revealed that she barely left her house during that time. The 51-year-old wrote in her 2019 book “Our Shoes, Our Selves,” noting, “Having a baby should have been the most joyous time of my life, but instead, I felt assaulted.”
Bridget Moynahan at 20th IFP Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California | Source: Getty Images
The mom of one recalled it was uncomfortable to be followed and stalked, especially because she went through turmoil after the breakup from Brady. Moynahan said she shut away from the public for a while and became vividly private. She shared a little about what she was going through with only a few people.
The Actress’ Motherhood before Her Wedding
For his part, Brady, a former quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, recounted the progression of his relationship with his ex-wife and Moynahan’s pregnancy during a candid interview on “The Howard Stern Show,” and said, “I didn’t want to have kids or get married until my late 30s. That was the plan.”
Brady said it was an interesting time because he and Bunchden discovered Moynahan was expecting his oldest child. The couple was forced to deal with a challenging situation at the start of their new relationship.
He admitted that it was not an easy experience as it was difficult for the mother of his kids and his ex-girlfriend because she never envisioned that happening to her. Moreover, in a February 2011 interview with More magazine, the “Serendipity” star revealed Brady did not hold her hand in the hospital when she gave birth.
Bridget Moynahan at Liz Lange Maternity Boutique in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images
However, Moynahan would not have it any other way, stating: “There’s not a second I regret having a child on my own.” More than a decade after welcoming Jack, she openly talked about her motherhood journey.
Moynahan told Us Weekly that motherhood helped her learn to put her focus on what was more important than what her modeling and acting careers ever could.
The TV star revealed in April 2019 that what she loved about being a mom was that it took her outside of her comfort zone while adding, “I have become that mother I used to dread. Every time he does something, you think he’s a genius. He’s a genius.”
Moynahan further shared she was seeing a man younger than her but at the same time noted she promised herself that she would give up on them, “I have a date with a much younger man. And I swore I’d given up younger men.”
She Wed Her Spouse at a Secret Ceremony
She is married to Andrew Frankel, whom she met through a mutual pal via People. A source told the outlet that Moynahan was “on cloud nine” when she met Frankel and that they have been together ever since.
The “Crown Vic” star is a private person when it comes to sharing photos of her spouse and family on social media. One of her stylists, Basia Zamorska, was more forthcoming about details regarding the couple’s proposal.
“Andrew proposed to Bridget in April 2015, on a romantic getaway in Puerto Rico,” said Zamorska. She noted that he popped the big question with a vintage estate engagement ring from Fred Leighton, “The diamond is set east-west, exactly what the bride has always wanted.”
Shortly after the engagement, the couple invited their closest friends and family to Wolffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack, New York, on October 19, 2015.
They got blindsided by the invitation because they believed it was a harvest moon ceremony. Little did they know that the gathering was to honor Moynahan and Frankel’s love and celebrate their wedding at an intimate reception.
In place of gifts, the bride and groom requested guests to donate to The Hole in Wall Gang Camp, which serves youth with cancer and other serious blood diseases, an organization near and dear to the hearts of both lovebirds.
Bridget Moynahan in New York in 2006 | Source: Getty Images
Everything about the wedding was a dream for the actress. She remembered the care and attention to detail that her designer, J. Mendel put into her dress and the fitting. After a successful collaboration on her beautiful fall-inspired dress, everyone toasted to celebrate.
Moynahan went for a laid-back and rustic vibe for the wedding, with a farm-style table to feast from and a guitar playing in the background. Eventually, they had a DJ on the decks playing some of the classics.
Comments about Bridget Moynahan | Source: Instagram.com/bridgetmoynahan
Comments about Bridget Moynahan | Source: Instagram.com/bridgetmoynahan
Fans were absolutely in love with the actress’ wedding dress. “The dress is gorgeous. So happy for you remarked a fan. Many more gushed over the beautiful design, but more importantly, fans were happy the actress finally found the love she deserved.
Comments about Bridget Moynahan | Source: Instagram.com/bridgetmoynahan
Comments about Bridget Moynahan | Source: Instagram.com/bridgetmoynahan
Those who remembered her public break-up praised her for being a hard-working and talented actress. But with all that going for her, people knew she deserved to be loved and finally live the happily ever after she dreamt of.
Frankel is a renowned New York businessman and a Co-President of Stuart Frankel and Co., a Wall Street institutional brokerage firm.
Inside the Actress’ Blended Family
He and Moynahan do not have children together but have a blended family instead. Frankel, 48, has three sons from a previous relationship, and Moynahan became their stepmother.
While her journey to motherhood was not as planned, she previously expressed gratefulness for having a blended family, telling More magazine, “My son has two loving parents and an extended family, whether it’s cousins or stepmothers or boyfriends. My son is surrounded by love.”
Brady as a proud dad, gushed over his firstborn once, saying his heart imploded every time he thought of him: “My heart explodes when I think of him. He’s the greatest kid you could ever ask for,” he noted.
His Brazilian ex-wife also had heart-warming words to say about her stepson: “He made my heart expand in ways I didn’t know was possible,” Bundchen said about her “bonus child” Jack.
Meanwhile, Moynahan told More magazine in 2011 that she never commented about her former boyfriend and his then-spouse because she has a relationship with them daily. A source told People once that Moynahan and Frankel were looking forward to blending their families and that her son was excited to be gaining three brothers.
Tom Brady and his son Jack at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA on August 7, 2018 | Source: Getty Images
It seems as though Moynahan has found her love and partner in her forties, but now she has an extended blended family who loves and supports her.
