Why did Elizabeth Banks use a surrogate? What we know as actress talks about birth of kids Felix and Magnus

Elizabeth Banks’ sons, Felix and Magnus, were born through gestational surrogacy due to her fertility issues, which stemmed from what she termed as "broken belly." There were medical complications that made it impossible for her to get pregnant, which she has openly discussed in a 2019 interview with Porter magazine. She said:

“I definitely think I’m still judged for what I’ve done and that people don’t understand my choices, but I don’t feel I owe anybody any explanation. And if my story helps people feel less alone on their journey, then I’m grateful for that.”

The actress and director has been married to producer Max Handelman for several years now, and she stated how surrogacy helped them build their family. She continues to advocate for better societal understanding of pathways to parenthood.

Facing fertility challenges and embracing surrogacy

As Banks mentioned, reproductive issues were once considered taboo until the advent of social media movements like #ShoutYourAbortion and supportive online communities popularized these conversations.

In a 2012 interview that appeared in the website of Reproductive Sciences Medical Center (RSMC), she spoke of how shifting her focus to the child from the pregnancy made the decision to opt for surrogacy easier. She stated:

“Once my focus became the baby and not the pregnancy, it was a very easy decision.”

She also underscored the thoughtfulness of surrogacy and the strong bonds it forges between families and surrogates.

Breaking stigma and supporting others on similar journeys

The likes of Sarah Jessica Parker and Gabrielle Union have used surrogacy as an option, but Banks acknowledges how a stigma still exists.

In 2019, she told Glamour magazine that she still feels judged but will not allow it to define her, saying,

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“I don’t feel I owe anybody any explanation.”

By narrating her own experience, Banks aims to foster acceptance towards surrogacy and provide support to those struggling with infertility, which she personally had to endure.

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