Mandy Moore has grown up in front of the world, evolving from teen pop star to acclaimed actor to beloved voice in modern storytelling. But in the last four years, motherhood has become her most transformative role of all. With three young children, major life changes, and moments of both joy and deep challenge, she says the experience has reshaped her intentions, her boundaries, and the way she sees her life’s chapters unfolding. In a heartfelt conversation on The Motherly Podcast, Moore reflects on what surprised her most about becoming a mom, the lessons she carried from playing Rebecca Pearson, and the fierce, instinctive strength she discovered after welcoming her children.

Meet the expert:
Mandy Moore is an American singer, songwriter, and actress who first rose to fame with her debut album “So Real” in 1999. Over the past two decades, she has built a multifaceted career spanning music, film, and television, including her celebrated role as Rebecca Pearson on “This Is Us,” for which she earned Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. She has voiced iconic characters like Rapunzel in Disney’s “Tangled” and released multiple acclaimed albums. Beyond her artistic work, Moore is the mother of three young children, a role she says has transformed her perspective, her priorities, and the way she approaches every part of her life.

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Liz Tenety: I always like to start by asking my guests what surprised you about motherhood.

Mandy Moore: Basically, I guess everything, but especially the idea of not getting attached to any one version of your child because it’s all so fleeting. I think also the other side of the coin: feeling overwhelmed by any particular juncture too, like sleeplessness and sleep regressions and feeding themselves. Not getting attached to any of them because there’s such an impermanence to who they are and their journey.

Liz Tenety: Do you feel like you approach motherhood differently with your youngest than you did with your first?

Mandy Moore: Yes! I mean, just the experience of going through all of these different milestones gives you the confidence to relax and enjoy it a little bit more. I feel like I’m a better mother to my daughter than I was to my first simply because I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I was so nervous, and I was so worried, and I was so overprepared in some ways and underprepared in other ways.

Liz Tenety: What is it like seeing all three of your kids together at these young ages?

Mandy Moore: They’re still so little. I’m so eager and excited to see how their relationships evolve. Just watching how protective [my older children] are instinctually with [my youngest]―how they want to include her already, how she’s excited to be included, how she just gravitates naturally to them and their toys and being in their orbit is so heartening. It’s definitely the thing I’m most proud of in my life.

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Liz Tenety: You played Rebecca Pearson on This Is Us before becoming a mother. How did you understand motherhood then?

Mandy Moore: I longed to be a mother, so I think I turned to all of the different moms in my life: my own mother, my mother in law, my friends who are already moms. As an actor, being able to rely so heavily on the script in front of me, just what was on the page, was so extraordinary. But it’s funny now because I host a rewatch podcast, and things hit so different. I feel like I’m learning so much, like that’s how you take accountability. That’s how you apologize. That’s how you start hard conversations.

Liz Tenety: What was it like portraying Rebecca at different ages, including much older?

Mandy Moore: I didn’t look in the mirror and see a version of my mom or grandma, so I could sort of separate myself and the character. I would say the emotional component came in just imagining the life lived. There was a lot of grief. There was a lot of sadness in Rebecca’s life, but I think overwhelmingly there was so much joy. That opportunity to sort of like holistically look at someone’s entire journey was such a gift. And it really changes how intentional you want to be with your own life.

Liz Tenety: You mentioned the idea of matriarchy. What does that word mean to you?

Mandy Moore: I guess I was just sort of speaking specifically to like her role on the show. It really became more the story of this mother and the glue that she was for the family. I want to be the glue for my family. I want to be the person that’s helped make these decisive decisions for all of us as a whole. I love the responsibility of making sure holidays are handled and school lunches and doctor’s appointments. I really thrive on running that business, being the CEO of your family.

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Liz Tenety: These last four years have been intense for you. What has helped you stay grounded?

Mandy Moore: My friends, my fellow moms, my support system, and my family. The people that are closest to me in my life, those are the people that get me through. My kids were just down for the adventure, and that resiliency that they modeled to us, I was like, okay, I can model that back to you. If they’re okay, then I’m okay, because really that’s all that matters.

Liz Tenety: RSV is something many parents fear. Can you share your experience?

Mandy Moore: In 2023, both of my boys were diagnosed with RSV at the same time. Thankfully, they did not need to be hospitalized, but it really rattled me. When I was pregnant with Lou, I wanted to figure out how I could help best protect her. Our pediatrician recommended Beyfortus. It was such a relief to take that off the table for us.

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Liz Tenety: What does this next chapter look like for you? What is on your bucket list?

Mandy Moore: I would love to introduce [my children] to the outdoors. My husband’s a musician, so being able to sort of travel and for them to see everything, that sounds incredible to me. I’m sort of open to potentially living in a new place. As my kids get older and I keep discovering who they are, that’s going to inform a lot of the decisions we make as a family, too.

Liz Tenety: What do you see as your superpower?

Mandy Moore: Maybe what I’ve been most surprised about is that there’s a fierceness to me that I have never known before becoming a mom. When it comes to my kids, I will do anything and everything possible. Nothing will stand in my way. 

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