Ava DuVernay Explains Why Marriage and Motherhood Were Never in Her Plans
Ava DuVernay is embracing a life that aligns with her own vision of fulfillment rather than societal expectations.
In a candid conversation for Kenya Barris and Malcolm Gladwell’s new Audible interview series, “The Unusual Suspects,” With Kenya Barris and Malcolm Gladwell, the acclaimed filmmaker opened up about her personal choice to never marry or have children.
DuVernay, who grew up with four younger siblings, believes her early exposure to raising children shaped her perspective. “My family, my mom, would always say, for a little while before she realized I was serious, ‘You’ll change your mind,’” she recalled.
However, the filmmaker’s decision was clear: “I don’t feel like I would be a good mother for a child. I don’t want to, and I think in the most ideal scenario, you should want to. I just don’t want to.”
Beyond motherhood, DuVernay has also chosen not to marry—a conscious decision that reflects her independent spirit and demanding career.
As a filmmaker, she often spends long periods on location, a lifestyle that doesn’t always align with conventional family life. However, that hasn’t stopped her from embracing love on her own terms. By charting her own course, DuVernay continues to redefine what happiness and success look like—both on and off the screen.
