These Famous Women Have Reclaimed The Power Of Being Single

There’s a lot of pressure in Hollywood for women to settle down with a partner, get married, and have kids. But that supposedly one-size-fits-all formula just isn’t a perfect fit for everybody.

Some women like being single. Some like being in a series of long- or short-term relationships. All of the women on this list have realized that being single really is the best option for them right now.

They’re taking back the word “single” and making it their own.

Elisabeth Moss

Elisabeth Moss was once married to funnyman Fred Armisen, but she’s since found that she’s better off on her own. After her divorce, she stated, “It’s fun to go out at night and not know what’s going to happen. I’m addicted and obsessed with my freedom in that sense. I’m having fun!”

Elisabeth Moss visits BuzzFeed's
Photo: John Lamparski/Getty Images
Photo: John Lamparski/Getty Images

Susan Sarandon

Susan Sarandon was one a half of one of the longest-lasting relationships in Hollywood. She was married to Tim Robbins from 1988 to 2009. Robbins was her second husband. She married her third husband in 2010 but divorced him in 2015.

Susan Sarandon visits the Build Series to discuss
Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

Sarandon said, “[Single life] has been a lot of different things. It’s traumatic and exhilarating. The one thing that’s been really clear to me is that you have to think of your own life and your relationship and everything as a living organism. It’s constantly moving, changing, growing.”

Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj is constantly asked about her love life by the press, but this powerhouse rapper always tells it like it is.

Nicki Minaj is seen leaving the Marc Jacobs Fall 2020 runway show
Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images
Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images

Nicki said, “As soon as I realized that I could actually live and breathe, and eat and sleep, and walk and talk without having a boyfriend, something clicked in me. Becoming single was one of the things that made me feel strong and powerful. The fact that I am a young woman who doesn’t need a man for money.”

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron doesn’t need a man to live up to her full potential. When she decided that she wanted to be a mother, she adopted two children on her own.

Charlize Theron attends the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party
Photo: Toni Anne Barson/WireImage
Photo: Toni Anne Barson/WireImage

In 2014, Charlize explained, “I’m sure there are a lot of aspects to my life that a lot of people wouldn’t want… Just personal choice things, like the fact that I’m single at 38. That’s not necessarily what a lot of women want… But I’m just saying, a life is good if it’s the life that you want… But I work at that, you know?”

Jane Fonda

Jane Fonda is a role model for women everywhere. Her advocacy work in the arena of women’s rights is nothing short of remarkable.

Jane Fonda attends the American Cinematheque's new 4K restoration world premiere of
Photo: Amanda Edwards/Getty Images
Photo: Amanda Edwards/Getty Images

Jane Fonda is very happy being single. She once said, “…the fact is that I spend a lot of time alone and cherish that…I am alone a lot. I read a lot. I meditate. I love solitude. It’s different than loneliness.”

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston tried the marriage thing…twice. It didn’t work out with Brad Pitt, and it didn’t work out with Justin Theroux.

Jennifer Aniston attends the 57th Annual ICG Publicists Awards
Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

According to Jen, “We are complete with or without a mate, with or without a child… We don’t need to be married or mothers to be complete. We get to determine our own ‘happily ever after’ for ourselves.”

Mindy Kaling

Mindy Kaling is a proud single lady. In 2017, she became a mother when she gave birth to a baby girl named Katherine. She hasn’t revealed the identity of her baby’s father.

Mindy Kaling attends the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
Photo: David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Photo: David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

Kaling said, “It’s funny, I used to freak out about being single much more in my twenties. I’ve noticed that the more professional success I have, or the more happy I am professionally, the less I worry about that, because I have a great deal of professional confidence… I love being by myself. I think that if I was in the wrong relationship, which I have been in several, that would be so much worse than the feeling of autonomy I feel right now.”

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga has been in a few high-profile relationships. She recently broke off an engagement with her ex-fiancé, Taylor Kinney.

Lady Gaga performs onstage during AT&T TV Super Saturday Night
Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for AT&T
Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for AT&T

Gaga said, “Some women choose to follow men, and some women choose to follow their dreams. If you’re wondering which way to go, remember that your career will never wake up and tell you that it doesn’t love you anymore.”

Kim Cattrall

Kim Cattrall is best known for playing Samantha Jones on Sex and the City, and just like Samantha, Kim isn’t the sort of lady who wants to settle down with one man anytime soon.

Kim Cattrall of 'Filthy Rich' speaks during the Fox segment of the 2020 Winter TCA Press Tour
Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Kim said, ‘If I’m having a bad day, who do I call?’ There are lonely moments, but I have to tell you honestly, that for myself, so many women in relationships are very loving, but also lonely too.”

Rihanna

Rihanna is too busy being a superstar to care about maintaining a relationship with a man.

Rihanna arrives at The Fashion Awards 2019 held at Royal Albert Hall
Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage
Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage

She said, “Guys need attention. They need that nourishment… I’ll give it to my family, I’ll give it to my work—but I will not give it to a man right now.”

Emilia Clarke

Emilia Clarke is a hugely successful actress, and her role in Game of Thrones shot her to international fame. Even though there are plenty of men who’d like to date her, Emilia is staying single at the moment.

Emilia Clarke arrives at The Fashion Awards
Photo: Jeff Spicer/BFC/Getty Images
Photo: Jeff Spicer/BFC/Getty Images

She said, “People keep asking me who I’m dating right now and the truth is… wait for [it]… no one. And that’s OK. I’m figuring out a lot of stuff right now. I think as a woman, it’s in our nature to nurture someone else. Sometimes at the expense of ourselves.”

Cher

Cher was one half of the iconic duo Sonny and Cher, before Sonny Bono tragically died in a skiing accident. Cher has never really been in a relationship since Sonny’s death.

Cher poses at the opening night of the new musical
Photo: Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
Photo: Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

She once said, “A man is absolutely not a necessity… [But] I love men! I think men are the coolest. But you don’t really need them to live.”

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore has actually been married three times. She had two kids with Will Kopelman and then went through a divorce.

Drew Barrymore attends the 2020 Breakthrough Prize Ceremony at NASA Ames Research Center
Photo: Liu Guanguan/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images
Photo: Liu Guanguan/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images

Barrymore said, “I have fought my way to a deeper happiness on my own, and I love being independent! It just rules. I am also lucky enough to have 2 young amazing kids and a full-time job, and rad friends. So I’m not sitting around bummed out. I feel stupid grateful.”

Emma Watson

Emma Watson has played a string of powerful women over the course of her career. It’s no surprise to learn that she’s quite the powerful woman herself.

Emma Watson attends
Photo: Paul Bruinooge/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Photo: Paul Bruinooge/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

Watson said, “I never believed in the whole ‘I’m happy single’ spiel. I was like, ‘This is totally a spiel.’ It took me a long time, but I’m very happy [being single]. I call it being self-partnered.”

Diane Keaton

Diane Keaton is super charming, but for some reason, she hasn’t been able to make a relationship stick. That hasn’t held her back, though. She adopted two kids and created a wonderful life for herself.

Diane Keaton speaks onstage
Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images for WGAW
Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images for WGAW

She said, “I don’t think that because I’m not married it’s made my life any less. That old maid myth is garbage.”