Every family’s story is different—and that’s what makes each one so beautiful. Adoption is one of the most powerful reminders that love, not biology, is what truly builds a family. Around the world, millions of children have found forever homes through adoption. Many of Hollywood’s biggest names have shared this journey with open hearts. Their stories remind us that family can be born in many ways—and that every child is a gift worth celebrating.
Millie Bobby Brown
Millie Bobby Brown may be known for her role as Eleven in Stranger Things, but off-screen she’s quickly become a symbol of grounded love and maturity. In 2024, Millie shared that her husband, Jake Bongiovi—son of Jon Bon Jovi—was adopted into the Bon Jovi family. She spoke lovingly about the family’s bond, saying it taught her what it means to welcome someone fully and without reservation. Millie and Jake recently adopted a baby girl, and although they received backlash online for being “too young,” this has not hindered Millie from using her voice to support adoption. As a young woman using her platform to celebrate belonging and acceptance, she represents a new generation that values life and family in all its forms.
Sandra Bullock
After years of dreaming of motherhood, Sandra Bullock welcomed her son Louis in 2010 and later adopted her daughter Laila. She has often spoken about how adoption changed her life completely. “My family is blended and diverse, nutty and loving and understanding,” she told People. “That’s what makes it so beautiful.” Bullock’s journey shines a light on the countless women and men who open their homes to children who need love, stability, and belonging.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
Before they were “Brangelina,” Angelina Jolie began her adoption journey in 2002 with her son Maddox from Cambodia. She later adopted Zahara from Ethiopia and Pax from Vietnam, with Brad Pitt adopting them as well. The couple also had three biological children, forming a blended family of six. Jolie has said, “Adoption and birth are just different ways of getting children into your family. It’s the bond that matters.” Their story reminds us that family can stretch across borders and backgrounds—love doesn’t recognize limits.
Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness
After struggling with infertility, Hugh Jackman and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness turned to adoption—and never looked back. “From the moment we started the adoption process, all the anxiety went away,” Jackman shared. “It was like… this is exactly the way we were meant to have a family.” Their two children, Oscar and Ava, are the center of their world. Their story echoes what so many adoptive parents say: sometimes the path to parenthood looks different than expected, but it’s always led by love.
Katherine Heigl and Josh Kelley
Actress Katherine Heigl and musician Josh Kelley adopted their daughter Naleigh from South Korea and later welcomed another daughter, Adalaide, through domestic adoption. Heigl has said she always knew she wanted to adopt because her own sister was adopted from Korea. “Adoption has been a part of my family since I was a little girl—it was how I was raised to think about family.” Their story reminds us that adoption isn’t a backup plan—it’s a calling and a blessing.
Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman
During their marriage, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman adopted two children, Isabella and Connor. Though both have led private lives, Kidman has said she has “unconditional love” for her children and is proud of the people they’ve become. Their story reflects the truth that love is not defined by DNA, but by commitment and care.
Madonna
Madonna’s family grew through adoption when she welcomed children from Malawi—David, Mercy, and twins Stella and Estere. “Sometimes I close my eyes and think, why isn’t my kitchen full of children dancing?” she shared. Her choice to adopt multiple children from impoverished backgrounds shows how love can reach across oceans and change the course of a child’s life forever.
Lionel Richie
Before his global fame, Lionel Richie took in a young girl named Nicole, the daughter of friends who were struggling financially. What began as temporary care became permanent love when he adopted her as his daughter. “She was a little girl who needed a shot,” Richie said. “And she changed my life.”
Kristin Davis
Sex and the City actress Kristin Davis became a mother through adoption twice—first to her daughter Gemma and later to her son Wilson. She’s spoken passionately about the deep joy of becoming a mother through adoption, saying, “It’s everything. It’s all I ever wanted.”
Every Life Has a Purpose
From movie stars to musicians to rising young voices, these stories share a common thread: love that says yes. Each of these families shows that adoption is not just an act of compassion—it’s an act of faith in the beauty of life. It’s saying that every child matters, that every story deserves a chance to unfold.
In a culture that often measures life by convenience or circumstance, adoption reminds us that life is never an accident. It’s always a gift.
At Save the Storks, we celebrate that truth every day. Whether a baby is carried by a birth mother or welcomed through adoption, every life has purpose and value. Choosing life—and choosing love—creates ripples that last for generations.Because in the end, family isn’t about how it begins. It’s about how deeply it’s loved.
Read next: Embracing Life Through Embryo Adoption
