For 9 seasons, How I Met Your Mother fans were eager to find out who Ted Mosby’s wife and the mother of his children was. The show, which aired from 2005 to 2014, follows Ted Mosby (played by Josh Radnor) as he tells his kids the story of how he met their mother. The story showcases Ted’s love life and his friendship with Marshall (Jason Segel), Lily (Alyson Hannigan), Barney (Neil Patrick Harris), and Robin (Cobie Smulders).
The reveal of the mother was highly anticipated, and in the 9th season, the show finally introduced Tracy McConnell. The hints of her character were given in earlier seasons through clues like her yellow umbrella and past connections to Ted. However, her full story was shown in the last season. Tracy was an important part of the final episodes of the show. Let’s take a look at her character and the actress who plays her.
Who is the mother in How I Met Your Mother?
Tracy McConnell is the mother in the show. Her character was first mentioned in season 3 when Ted saw the yellow umbrella at a party. Over time, the show gave small hints about her connection to Ted. She appeared in the background of many key moments, such as attending the same university where Ted teaches and being roommates with Cindy, who was dating him. Tracy was a musician and was portrayed as a kind-hearted, intelligent, and funny person, making her a perfect match for Ted.
In the 9th season, her character was introduced after many hints. She met each of Ted’s friends before finally crossing paths with him. They met for the first time at Robin and Barney’s reception. He cancels his plan of moving to Chicago after meeting her. After their first date, they quickly grew closer and developed feelings for each other. Eventually, they got engaged, had two kids, and finally got married in 2020. However, their relationship came to an end when Tracy passed away due to her illness. Her role was small, but the audience praised her character, while there were mixed reactions about the show's ending.
Who plays the mother in How I Met Your Mother?
Cristin Milioti played the role of Tracy McConnell, the mother, in the show. She is an American actress, born on August 16, 1985, in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, United States. She started her career with advertisements and made her TV debut in 2006 with shows like 3 lbs and The Sopranos. She made her film debut with the film Greetings from the Shore in 2007. She has also performed in many theatre productions since 2006 and was nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award for her performance in Stunning (2009).
In 2012, she was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in the musical Once, which she starred in from 2011 to 2013. She also won a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album for her performance in Once. In 2013, she joined the cast of How I Met Your Mother as Tracy, the mother. She gained international recognition for her appearance in the hit sitcom. Apart from HIMYM, she has worked in many TV shows like A to Z (2014-2015), Fargo (2015), The Mindy Project (2015-2016), Made for Love (2021–2022), The Resort (2022), The Penguin (2024), etc.
She has also worked in many films like The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), It Had to Be You (2015), Palm Springs (2020), etc. She has been nominated for work over the years, including a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, MTV Movie & TV Awards, etc.
Also read: Stella in How I Met Your Mother
FAQs about How I Met Your Mother
A. Bob Saget is the narrator of How I Met Your Mother.
A. Ted is an architect in How I Met Your Mother.
A. Lily and Marshall have 3 kids in How I Met Your Mother.
