Donna Mills Said She ‘Didn’t Become A Mother’ Just To ‘Hire A Nanny’

Jun 08, 2022 by apost team

Donna Mills is a Hollywood icon! The actress's impressive career spans over five decades. Her television career started in the 60s. The rising star appeared in several hit series such as "The Secret Storm" and "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing." In 1967, Mills made her film debut in "The Incident," where she starred alongside Martin Sheen, Beau Bridges, Ed McMahon, and Thelma Ritter.

For decades, the rising star was typecast as the "Damsel in Distress." However, her longing to break away from this form of control led her to the memorable role of her career. According to her site, DonnaMills.com, the award-winning actress is best known for her role as Abby Cunningham on the prime-time soap opera "Knots Landing,"

Mills starred in the series from 1980 to 1989. Mills won the Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Villainess three times for her stunning portrayal of the cunning and manipulative Abby Cunningham. Mills was also named one of the "5 Prime Time Soap Opera Villains We Love To Hate" by Everythingzoomer. 

Mills continued to star in television films in movies following her breakout role. Accordion to Idol Persona, the Chicago native, has earned 102 acting credits throughout her career and has a net worth of 9 million.

While at the height of her career, Mills left Hollywood because she felt like something was missing. The then 54-year-old adopted her daughter, Chloe, in 1994 and took an 18-year acting hiatus in order to focus on motherhood. 

Donna Mills spent the majority of her life focused on her career. But, in an interview with People, Mills explained how her life didn't feel complete at the time, which is what led her to adoption. 

"I was very concentrated on my career, but at a certain point, I realized there was something missing — it was a child," she said. "So I went after it. I adopted her when she was four days old." 

Although many people looked down on Mills for wanting to enter motherhood in her 50s, the Daytime Emmy-award-winning actress felt that her age was only a number. 

"By that time, I was 54 and people said, 'You're going to be so old [to] have a little toddler running around.' I never felt that" she recalled. "I never felt older than the other mothers who were probably in their 20s."

Mills enjoyed being a mother later in her life so much that she encouraged other women to do the same. 

"If you want to give to your career, I say having a child later in life is better than having a child early," she told the outlet.

Already settled into her career, Mills stepped back from acting and focused solely on motherhood. 

"I took off 18 years. I didn't work," she told People. "Well, the first couple of years, I did work. I did some movies for television and stuff like that, because I could take her wherever I went. But then when she started school, I wasn't going to go out of town for two months at a time. And I didn't become a mother to give her to a nanny."

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Although Chloe is 27 now, the mother-daughter duo still has a close-knit relationship. Donna told people that she and her daughter text constantly throughout the day and even make time, once a week, to see each other. 

During her 18-year hiatus from acting, Mills not only embraced motherhood but also found love. The television began dating versatile Hollywood actor and producer Larry Gilman in 2001. According to IMDB, Gilman is known for his participation in "Final Destination," "Cool Runnings," and "M*A*S*H." According to Sportskeeda, The New York Native also works as a communications consultant with CommCore Inc. 

Although they never wed, the couple has remained deeply in love. In an interview with Closer, Mills shared a glimpse of her and Gilman's love story by sharing with the outlet how Gilman expressed love for her with grand romantic gestures. 

"Larry planted a vineyard for me last year," Mills revealed to the outlet. "He's really such a good guy."

The television star even shared the status of the vineyard planted behind her gorgeous English-style cottage in Brentwood, California.

"It's only a year old, so while we have grapes, we don't have any wine grapes yet," she said. "But another year or so and we will.

Mills shared her and Gilman's dreams of bottling their own wine made from their grapes on their vineyard. "It's called Ethereal," Mills said, sharing the name of her soon-to-be bottled wine.

Mills will return to the big screen starring in Jordan Peele's "Nope," co-starring alongside Keke Palmer, Daniel Kaluuya, and Steven Yuen.

What is your favorite Donna Mills role? Let us know! And pass this along to friends, family, and fellow Donna Mills fans.