Best TV Mums 2024
Who are the best on screen mums? When I started researching this, I noticed a common theme between all of the familiar names: Bambi’s mum, Lily Potter, Nemo’s mum. Yeah, it’s not great for your self-esteem when the world tells you you’ve got to be dead to be declared a Good Mother. So to celebrate Mother’s Day I’ve done my own round up of the best mum goals – the characters on TV that we strive to be… or at least are happy to be compared to on the next homemade Mother’s Day card.
(Remember to also look at my list of ultimate TV mum moments for extra warm, fuzzy feels.)
Morticia Addams from The Addams Family
Morticia is not just a normal suburban housewife because as Morticia herself says, ‘Normal is an illusion. What’s normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.’ She raises her children to be creative, honest and independent and while the entire family is wickedly macabre, Morticia never seems to judge anyone for who they are or what they do. (In the same way, she’s got enough self-confidence to never seem particularly bothered about what anyone else thinks.) She’s welcoming to extended family such as Granny Frump and Uncle Fester and encourages the shared interests of the family like Wake the Dead. For someone so gothic, Morticia’s a proud mother, only ever speaking positively of Wednesday and Pugsley’s endeavors.
Liz from Motherland
Imagine if every single one of us could completely get rid of our mum guilt. That none of us would feel obliged to live for our children 24 hours a day or care what others think. We’d all be Liz from Motherland. There’s plenty of mums in this show but Liz is by far the most unphased and genuine. Whether it’s telling her kids that Santa doesn’t have the technology for an iPad or keeping all the food in her house frozen apart from wine, Liz has got the art of mum-hacking down to a fine art. I’ve even borrowed one of her hacks and have started using magazines instead of plates during the 90 seconds of eating time I get during the day. In a world of Amandas, I’d pick Liz as one of the best TV mums any day of the week.
Elastigirl / Helen Parr from The Incredibles
To be honest, after living with two under two for a few months, a life of fighting crime seems like a breeze – but I can’t imagine what it would be like to do both at the same time. What’s more Elastigirl’s not just looking after three kids, but kids who can become invisible and run at supersonic speed – in a world where superheroes are banned. Not only does Elastigirl always put her kids first, she put aside her natural feminism from the start of The Incredibles to do it (Settle down? Are you kidding? I’m at the top of my game! I’m up there with the big dogs! Girls, come on. Leave the saving of the world to the men). In the second film, their roles are reversed and we see Mr Incredible really struggle with the kids, while Mrs Incredible never broke a sweat when it was her turn.
Lagertha from Vikings
The ultimate shield-maiden and mother of Bjorn, who has to watch when her husband Ragnar comes back from travelling with new pregnant wife Aslaug. After rightfully saying no to playing second fiddle, Lagertha had to be a woman in a Viking warrior’s world, naturally murdering her abusive second husband and becoming an Earl and later Queen of Kattegart. All while raising her son alone. Lagertha inspired much affection from Bjorn, who wished to protect his mother before she proved she had the skills to look after herself. Lagertha also played the ultimate long game by eventually murdering Aslaug, to ensure Kattegat became hers and in retaliation for pretty much destroying her family. This is one fierce tiger-mother.
Trudy Proud from The Proud Family
I’m going back to the TV mums of my childhood now. While figures like Marge Simpson and Lois Griffin haven’t made the cut as their husbands and kids aren’t the most respectful to them, veterinarian Trudy Proud acts as the voice of reason to her husband and kids, occasionally even reminding Oscar that she makes more money than him, and so is the Woman in Charge. She sets a good example to her three daughters (‘Look baby, I taught you to always think for yourself’) and teenage daughter Penny often comes to her for advice. Let’s not forget that during the show’s run her twin babies become twin toddlers. How does that woman manage to function? Definitely one of the best TV mums.
Wilma Flintstone from The Flintstones
Not many people realise that Wilma wasn’t always a mother: she got pregnant in season three and had her daughter, Pebbles, leading to this classic exchange between husband and wife –
Wilma: Look at me Fred, I’m calm.
Fred Flintstone: Why shouldn’t you be? Your wife isn’t having a baby.
In an era of 60s housewife meets pre-historic values, Wilma keeps husband Fred in line by teaching him a few life lessons, normally by finding any excuse to land a large rock on him. (I like to think the show’s ending of Fred shouting ‘Wilmaaaa!’ is her teaching him to respect Dino more.) Pebbles accompanies Wilma everywhere until she is older and Wilma returns to work as a reporter. A successful mum to a modern stone age family.
Vivian Banks from Fresh Prince of Bel Air
A mother so amazing, her whole face changed at some point between series 3 and 4. I prefer Janet Hubert’s Aunt Viv as she was a university professor who taught black history, while Viv 2.0 was reduced to homemaker. (There’s nothing wrong with being a homemaker, I just don’t like it when mum characters are diluted.) Not only is Vivian mother to Nicky, Ashley, Carlton and Hilary, she takes on her nephew Will and gives him some life lessons along the way – while keeping Uncle Phil on his toes. Plus have you seen Viv 1.0’s dance skills? In possibly the most, I-want-to-be-the-same-person-I-was-before-I-had-kids moment on TV ever, she nails an open audition, beating women half her age.
Catelyn Stark from Game of Thrones
Catelyn punched, kidnapped and plotted against anyone who was a potential threat to her children. When discovering an assassin in son Bran’s room she grabbed a blade in a heartbeat and after capturing Jaime, punched him immediately for all the harm he had caused her family – and then exchanged him for her daughters because that’s what she cared about most. And that’s before she became Lady Stoneheart, who mercilessly hunted down anyone responsible for the Red Wedding. Because let’s face it, what mum wouldn’t be the same? My kids haven’t started school yet but if I hear of any bullying on the playground I’ll be going into the headteacher’s office in full Lady Stoneheart-mode.
Molly Weasley from Harry Potter
As if seven kids wasn’t enough, Molly practically adopts Harry and treats him like one of her own, remembering birthdays and milestones with the same care as she does Ron (who doesn’t love a homemade scarf?). Yes, she sent the odd howler but even then she took the time to congratulate Ginny after reprimanding Ron. Plus Molly isn’t just a cosy mum – she’s actually murdered to protect her kids. To be fair, Bellatrix was warned with that classic line ‘Not my daughter, you bitch,’ but that duel showed that there’s nothing Molly wouldn’t do to protect her children. She’s warm, sets boundaries and somehow has the brainpower to cater to seven (sometimes eight) different needs. Let’s face it, if Ron had been the chosen one, Voldemort wouldn’t have even bothered trying to get through Molly Weasley.
Chilli from Bluey
Chilli treads the fine line between fun and responsible mum. While she saves the day by remembering all of the family’s swim stuff that Bandit had forgotten, she’s also capable of pretending to be a sat nav, whale or first dater, depending on her children’s imaginative play. Chilli holds her children to account, such as when they break their promises or not get ready on time but still manages to work part time in airport security. Her secret is that she is openly not perfect – like in the episode ‘Baby Race’ when Chilli perfectly captures the pressures of being a first-time mum (I’ve even listed it on my list of ultimate TV mum moments). Even when she only has five minutes to spare, Chilli will play pretend driving with Bluey, but will also make time for playing hockey and self-care: “I need 20 minutes when no one comes near me” – preach!
