Some of our favorite
A-list Moms

Fame and fortune are nice, but, for most famous moms, family is No. 1. Because they are in the public spotlight, they both reflect and shape the notion of what it means to be a mother.

For many, this means a 24/7 juggling act: making meals, helping with homework, hugs, reading bedtime stories, trips to the grocery store, buckling up, cleaning up, encouraging, explaining, teaching, soothing a fever, pushing a swing, playing let’s pretend.

True, a celebrity mom may have a staff to help out. But, at the end of the day, it’s her love and support that’s so important to a happy, healthy child. And just like any other Mom, they’re sure to love a bouquet of fresh flowers on Mother’s Day.

With that in mind, we offer this list of some of our favorite A-list moms.

Reese Witherspoon: This gracious Southern lady probably would’ve been a doctor (both of her parents are) had she not fallen in love with acting. Her natural intelligence shines through in her roles, especially as June Carter in "Walk the Line," for which Reese won the best actress Oscar. Smarts and sensitivity surely come in handy with her young son and daughter.

Jada Pinkett-Smith: Talk about having it all. Beauty, talent, love and success. With husband Will Smith and their children, they sure seem like the perfect family. You can bet that behind the scenes of "The Pursuit of Happyness," in which Will starred with son Jaden, she was cheering them both on.

Angelina Jolie: She’s much more than just a very pretty face. A single mom before sharing her family with Brad Pitt, she is strongly committed to humanitarian issues and helping children around the world. Also, she’s a gifted artist, having earned the best supporting actress Oscar for "Girl, Interrupted." As glamorous as she always looks on the red carpet, her favorite place to be is relaxing with her kids.

Brooke Shields: The "Lipstick Jungle" star was a child model and actress who beat the odds by steadily landing parts in her 20s, 30s and 40s. The Princeton-educated mother of two beautiful daughters bravely tackled the issue of postpartum depression and shared her experience in her book: "Down Came the Rain."

Salma Hayek: Like mother, like daughter. This Mexican-born actress may have gotten the urge to perform from her mother, an opera singer. Salma’s breakthrough part was 2002’s "Frida." It was nominated for six Oscars, including best actress for Salma, who became the first Latin actress to be nominated in the category. Will her daughter continue the tradition?

Annette Bening: From a young age, she wanted to act and she wanted to be a mom. First she conquered Hollywood and, when she fell in love with Warren Beatty, her dreams of a family came true. The couple has four children. Grounded and gorgeous, she continues to captivate onscreen, having been nominated twice for the best actress Oscar.