The Private Adoption That Changed Everything
In April 2010, People reported that the star had adopted a newborn baby boy named Louis Bardo, who was born in New Orleans. At the time, she was 45, had just won her first Oscar, and had managed to keep the adoption a secret from nearly everyone outside her close circle.
The timing was extraordinary. In public, she was celebrating one of the biggest professional moments of her life, but in private, she had brought home her son in January and was protecting the joyful news until after the Oscars.
“He’s just perfect, I can’t even describe him any other way,” she told the outlet. She also said, “It’s like he’s always been a part of our lives.”
The actress’ son, Louis Bardo, when he was a baby seen out in New York City on March 20, 2011.
The adoption had been years in the making. The actress and her then-husband had begun the process four years earlier, and their friends and family helped keep Louis’ arrival private until she was ready to share it with the world.
But only ten days after the March 7 Oscars, her personal life shifted dramatically when she and her ex separated following reports that he had cheated. She later moved forward with finalizing Louis’ adoption as a single parent, making her new chapter as a mom even more powerful.
Louis Bardo being held by his mom as the duo step out in New York City on January 20, 2011.
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