Iconic model and actress Brigitte Nielsen became a mother for the fifth time in 2018 at the age of 55, giving birth to her only daughter, Frida. Despite facing skepticism about her age, Nielsen maintains that there is no such thing as being “too old” to become a parent.
Nielsen revealed to People magazine that her four older sons, who are between 28 and 39 years old, were among those who questioned her decision. “Half the world was saying that when I got pregnant at 55 — including my four older sons,” Nielsen said. “But there’s no such thing as ‘too old’.”
She pointed out that men who father children later in life, such as Robert De Niro, who had a baby at 79, do not face similar scrutiny. “We don’t say that to men who have children in their 60s, 70s, even 80s!” she noted. “Look at Robert De Niro. He’s 79, and he has a 7-month-old.”
Now 60, Nielsen believes her age has not impeded her parenting. “When I was a younger mom, I was often juggling being single, being on a plane, on a movie set. Now Frida comes first,” she explained. She also mentioned that her experience as an older mother has given her a unique perspective and patience.
Nielsen underwent extensive IVF treatments for over a decade before successfully becoming pregnant with Frida, whom she shares with her Italian husband, Mattia Dessì. The couple, married since 2009, faced significant challenges, with doctors initially giving Nielsen a low chance of conception due to her age.
Despite the high-risk nature of her pregnancy, Nielsen described it as the easiest she has experienced, attributing this to her previous pregnancies and changed priorities. “It was a deep, deep desire within me and a choice,” she said.
Nielsen has four other children from previous relationships: Julian with her first husband Kasper Winding, Killian with former football player Mark Gastineau, and Douglas and Raoul Meyer Jr. with her fourth husband, Raoul Meyer. She did not have children with her second husband, Sylvester Stallone, or her third husband, Sebastian Copeland.
A representative for Nielsen did not immediately respond to requests for comment.