Mother's Day: 15 Iconic Moms in Cinema and Television

Written by Mariane Tremblay

To celebrate Mother's Day, our has team curated a list of iconic mothers—in cinema and television—whether biological, adoptive, or simply maternal figures, who we just can’t stop thinking about. Mothers and mother figures often shape who we are through their love, guidance, strength, and support, making them some of the most important people in our lives. From the big screen to television, these women continue to inspire, comfort, and shape the stories we love.

Mildred Pierce
Portrayed by Joan Crawford
Movie: Mildred Pierce (1945)

Where does a daughter end and a mother begin? The film isn’t just a noir classic; it’s a masterclass in exploring the thin, dangerous line between total devotion and self-destruction. In her relentless quest to give her daughter, Veda, the world, Mildred ends up dismantling her own. She’s an icon not because she’s a saint, but because she embodies the maternal martyrdom that so many women live in silence. Joan Crawford is haunting. She leaves you feeling like a guilty child, torn between wanting to call your own mother to thank her and wishing she had kept a little more for herself. In the end, Mildred forces us to face a brutal crossroads: is motherhood just an act of total self-sacrifice, or is there a point where you have to learn to say no? — Giorgia Cattaneo

Wendy Torrance
Portrayed by Shelley Duvall
Movie: The Shining (1980)

Wendy Torrance isn’t your typical action-movie heroine, and that is precisely what makes her one of the most iconic figures in cinema history. Trapped in a frozen, psychological nightmare, Shelley Duvall portrays a mother forced to become the sole shield, however fragile and imperfect, for her son, Danny. While the rest of the hotel is haunted by literal ghosts, she is left alone to navigate the waking horror of a descent into a loved one’s total madness. Her bravery is not the heroic, triumphant kind; it is a quiet, fragile persistence: the act of simply remaining sane in the name of love, while everything around her collapses. A painful reminder that some of the most selfless acts of courage are often the ones that go unseen. — Giorgia Cattaneo

Rachel Flax
Portrayed by Cher
Movie: Mermaids (1990)

Let’s be honest: Rachel is a terrible mother. But she is absolutely iconic. She’s the sparkling antithesis of Mildred Pierce: a woman who refuses to let motherhood define her, even if it means ignoring her daughters’ needs to chase a new pair of shoes. Chronically unstable, egocentric, and allergic to any responsibility, she’s always one heartbreak from packing a suitcase and starting over, often forcing her eldest daughter (Winona Ryder) to step up as the adult in the room. While the ‘60s expected mothers to be domestic martyrs, Rachel is here to serve looks and unconventional wisdom rather than bake cookies. She might not win "Parent of the Year," but with Cher’s magnetic charm, she remains a selfishly captivating icon from the ‘90s. — Giorgia Cattaneo

Jennifer Honey
Portrayed by Embeth Davidtz
Movie: Matilda (1996)

Miss Honey may not technically be a mother (at first), but she has one of the most maternal auras ever put on screen. From the very beginning of the movie, she radiates warmth, kindness, and safety in a way that instantly makes you want to run into her arms. She’s genuinely one of the sweetest and most sincere characters I’ve ever seen in a movie. In many ways, she became the adult so many children wished they had growing up: patient, gentle, protective, and endlessly loving. She made lonely kids feel seen, understood, and protected, which is probably why so many people still hold onto her so dearly years later. And also, let’s be honest: she absolutely raised generations of sapphics. — Mariane Tremblay

Mrs. Eleanor Little
Portrayed by Geena Davis
Movies: Stuart Little (1999) and Stuart Little 2 (2002)

I must say Mrs. Little from Stuart Little has always stood out to me because of my love for Geena Davis. Davis gives this character life in a way that makes it clear she decided to adopt a mouse. It feels like the most reasonable thing in the world because she has so much love to give. She makes sure that the character and the audience believe the love she has for Stuart Little. And obviously, we cannot forget the perfect style this character has throughout the entire movie. Every outfit is immaculate, matching perfectly with the design of the house. — Lara Rosales

Erin Brockovich
Portrayed by Julia Roberts
Movie: Erin Brockovich (2000)

Erin Brockovich is the definition of resilience. As a single mother raising three children while working tirelessly at a law firm, she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders and still kept going. She wasn’t polished or taken seriously by the people around her, but that never stopped her from fighting for others. Day and night, she dedicated herself to uncovering the truth and helping families whose health had been deeply affected by the Hinkley groundwater contamination, proving that determination and empathy can be just as powerful as any degree or title. Erin Brockovich is such an iconic maternal figure because of her strength, which never came at the expense of her humanity. She fought like hell for her children, but also for complete strangers, and I will always be in awe of this woman who isn't just a fictional character. — Mariane Tremblay

Beatrix Kiddo
Portrayed by Uma Thurman
Movie: Kill Bill Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 (2003 & 2004)

The Bride stands out as one of the most badass mothers ever put on screen. Operating under the belief that her child has been taken from her, she is willing to risk absolutely everything in pursuit of revenge against those responsible. What makes her especially compelling as a maternal figure is how that identity deepens her humanity: she is not simply a cold, calculated killer, but a woman defined by love, loss, and an all-consuming sense of protection. Her role as a mother grounds her violence in something profoundly emotional, making her both terrifying and deeply human in the eyes of the audience. And to be honest, she's probably one of my favourite maternal figures ever put on screen. — Mariane Tremblay

Erica Barry
Portrayed by Diane Keaton
Movie: Something's Gotta Give (2003)

Diane Keaton has played a long list of mothers throughout her career, but Erica Jane Barry in Something's Gotta Give stands out for the mere fact that she goes on a journey of rediscovering herself. While Erica believes her life has reached its peak and she follows a certain routine, the movie takes her on a ride. She falls in love, feels betrayed, falls in love again, and finds her way back to what makes her happy. But through it all, Erica does everything while simultaneously reminding her daughter (Amanda Peet) that life is worth living, that one must fall in love against all odds and fears, and always do so with a smile. — Lara Rosales

Jane Adler

Portrayed by Meryl Streep

Movie: It's Complicated (2009)

If we're talking about mothers that must be highlighted, Meryl Streep's Jane Adler in It's Complicated is one of the best. She is a great example of a woman who has always made her children a priority but has found a way to make her dreams come true. As the owner of her dream bakery, she has the professional career she's always dreamt of. But what's so great about Jane is that she shows that mothers hold an infinite amount of worlds inside of them. She is a woman who has needs, dreams, hopes, and regrets. She goes after what she wants and makes sure women are reminded to live their lives. — Lara Rosales

Sandra Voyter
Portrayed by Sandra Hüller
Movie: Anatomy of a Fall (2023)

Is she a cold-blooded killer, or just a woman who refuses to perform the "perfect victim" role? Because she is written and directed by a woman (Justine Triet), Sandra Voyter is a refreshingly honest protagonist who shatters every maternal cliché. She is allowed to be raw, messy, and unapologetically autonomous. In a world—and a courtroom—that weaponises her professional ambition and her perceived coldness (even toward her son) against her, Sandra Hüller plays a mother who prioritises her own truth over societal expectations, refusing to trade her identity for a sympathetic label. She is the icon of the modern mother who forces us to confront an uncomfortable question: do we truly love mothers once they stop being only mothers? — Giorgia Cattaneo

Delia
Portrayed by Paola Cortellesi
Movie: C’è ancora domani (2023)

In the monochrome world of post-war Rome, Delia is the portrait of an invisible woman, defined by unpaid labor and the endurance of domestic abuse. She isn’t a martyr by choice, but by social imposition; her journey, however, isn’t about a personal escape, but about ensuring a different future for the other woman in the family, her daughter, Marcella. She proves that a mother’s most radical act is breaking the cycle of submissiveness to claim a new freedom. Her resilience is ultimately fueled by her daughter, who, in a powerful reversal of roles, reminds her that the same possibility of change belongs to her, too. In Delia’s quiet revolution, motherhood becomes a shared struggle for dignity that transcends the domestic sphere. — Giorgia Cattaneo

Joyce Byers
Portrayed by Winona Ryder
Show: Stranger Things (2016-2025)

Before she was sidelined by the later seasons’ script—which seemed to forget she actually had two sons, a mistake Joyce from Season 1-2 would have never made (let’s not forget that the show was initially built on the Byers family’s resilience!)—she was the beating heart of Hawkins. Winona Ryder—who is Mother by definition—brought to life a strong, independent woman who had been through hell and never once snapped. For her, children are everything. She was willing to be labeled “crazy” if it meant saving her boys, proving that a mother’s intuition is the sharpest weapon there is, even when the world—and later, the writers too—stops paying attention. — Giorgia Cattaneo

Ágata Jiménez (alias Nairobi)
Portrayed by Alba Flores
Show: La Casa de Papel (2017-2021)

The beating heart of the resistance. For Nairobi, the heist was never only about the gold: she was fighting to reunite with her son and take back the life that had been stolen from her, a dream she ultimately paid for with her life. Beyond her own blood, she was also the mother of the crew, the one who kept the team together and looked after everyone’s hearts in the middle of the chaos. With her iconic line “Empieza el matriarcado” (“Let the matriarchy begin”), she reminds us that true leadership is fierce, protective, and deeply human. Her story is a poignant reminder that maternal love can be a warrior’s greatest strength and, tragically, her most fatal vulnerability. — Giorgia Cattaneo

Blanca Rodríguez-Evangelista
Portrayed by MJ Rodriguez
Show: Pose (2018-2021)

Blanca didn’t give birth to her children, yet she raised more of them than anyone else. She’s the proof that motherhood isn’t just about blood, but is, more than anything, an act of will. While the Ballroom scene often chased glory on the runway, Blanca was busy building a sanctuary for the world’s rejects, providing them a safe place to bloom. Empathetic, fierce, and with a heart that knows no bounds, she didn’t just lead the House of Evangelista; she gave a reason to live to a generation of ‘kids’ to whom the world had slammed every door. In an era of systemic rejection towards queer and Black people, her steady guidance wasn’t just parenting: it was the ultimate act of resistance. — Giorgia Cattaneo

Morgan Gillroy
Portrayed by Kaitlin Olson
Show: High Potential (2024-present)

When it comes to great TV moms, I can't help but think of High Potential's Morgan Gillory. A mother of three, there's no doubt that everything she does is for the sake of creating a better life for her children. Whether that's working as a cleaner to make ends meet, as she is when we first meet her in the pilot, or becoming a police consultant, and making sure that they give her a pay bump specifically for the purposes of child care. Morgan shows up for her kids whenever needed, from showing Ava (Amirah J), her eldest, the art her missing father made, or ending one of Elliot's playdates because the other kid was being a jerk to him in his own home, to purposely rear-ending someone, which is potentially dangerous for even mentioning baby Chloe's name. It makes her kids trust her enough to always come to her when they're having issues and, most importantly, to be honest with her when they need to be. It's lovely to see a TV mom who makes an active effort to create a safe space for her kids, while allowing them to be a part of her world, too, no matter how unconventional it may be. — Sydney Grulloń-Matos