If people could create a movie about the life and history of their mom, who would play her on the big screen? According to new research, Meryl Streep is the celebrity that people want most to play their mom in a movie.
The trusted honor of bringing mom’s story to life is also bestowed to Sally Field, who played mom to Forrest Gump and landed in second place, followed by Julia Roberts, rounding out the top three female celebrities that people want to see play the role of their mom.
With Mother’s Day just around the corner, the study of 2,000 Americans, conducted by OnePoll in conjunction with Groupon, examined the unique life stories of moms everywhere and the relationship we have with our mothers. It also found that a plurality of respondents (27 percent) said that no one can play their mom but mom herself.
Other celebs that made it into the top 10 list of people that Americans would want to see play the role of their mom on the silver screen included real-life mom of two, Jennifer Lopez and real-life mom of six, Angelina Jolie.
Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Aniston, Michelle Obama, Melissa McCarthy and Queen Latifah rounded out the top 10.
While 89 percent of those surveyed said they know a great deal about their mom’s life, that doesn’t mean they aren’t eager to learn more. Seventy-two percent of respondents revealed they want to know even more than they already do about their mom.
It just so happens that Americans are curious about what their mom was like before they were born. Sixty-seven percent of those studied revealed they wish they knew more about their mom’s life prior to them being born.
Results also revealed what people know most — and least — about their mom’s life story.
It turns out, Americans are confident they know where their mom grew up (74 percent), where she went to high school or college (60 percent), the street she grew up on (50 percent), her first job (49 percent) and her genealogy/ancestry (48 percent).
When it comes to what Americans know least about their mom’s past, it’s the more subtle things, like how many pets she had as a kid, old partner(s), her favorite subject in school, her hobbies as a kid and what she wanted to be when she grew up.
“Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to not only celebrate what your mom has done for you, but what she’s done throughout her entire life,” said Groupon President of North America Aaron Cooper. “While most of us feel like we know everything we possibly can about our mom, these results show that there’s a strong appetite — and room for improvement — to learn even more about her life story and the passions that drive her interests.”
In addition, less than half of survey respondents knew their mom’s favorite food (45 percent), flower (37 percent), song (30 percent), movie (29 percent), clothing store (28 percent), travel destination (23 percent), actor/actress (21 percent) and alcoholic drink (21 percent).
But that doesn’t mean Americans don’t have opinions about what they think their mom was like before they were born. Nearly a quarter (24 percent) think their mom had better style when she was their age.
A further 46 percent think that their mom went through a rebellious phase while another 23 percent think their mom was more wild than them.
And when it comes to the character traits that people reportedly got from their mom, compassion topped the list — with nearly half (49 percent) admitting to getting this quality from their mom.
Other character traits that people think they got from their mom include sensitivity (44 percent), work ethic (40 percent), sense of humor (37 percent) and good looks (35 percent).
“Groupon has a number of different ways that can help you celebrate your mom this Mother’s Day, including experiences, massage and spa gifts, brunch options, deals on flowers, fashion and beauty gifts, the latest gadgets and home furnishings, and promo codes and digital coupons for use online or in-store,” added Cooper.
TOP 20 CELEBRITIES TO PLAY AMERICA’S MOM IN A MOVIE
- Meryl Streep
2. Sally Field
3. Julia Roberts
4. Jennifer Lopez
5. Angelina Jolie
6. Oprah Winfrey
7. Jennifer Aniston
8. Michelle Obama
9. Melissa McCarthy
10. Queen Latifah
11. Catherine Zeta-Jones
12. Annette Bening
13. Julianne Moore
14. Mandy Moore
15. Courtney Cox
16. Octavia Spencer
17 . Hilary Swank
18. Kristen Bell
19. Julia Louis-Dreyfus
20. Susan Kelechi Watson
TOP 5 THINGS PEOPLE KNOW MOST ABOUT THEIR MOMS
- Where she grew up 74%
- Where she went to high school/college 60%
- The street she grew up on 50%
- Her first job 49%
- Her genealogy/ancestry 48%
TOP 5 TRAITS AMERICANS GET FROM THEIR MOTHERS
- Compassion 49%
- Sensitivity 44%
- Work ethic 40%
- Sense of humor 37%
- Good looks 35%
TOP 10 GIFTS MOM WANTS ON MOTHER’S DAY
- Take mom out for dinner/lunch/brunch 47%
- Flowers 45%
- A card 41%
- Something their child made 36%
- Something sentimental 33%
- Perfume 32%
- Jewelry 32%
- Clothes 28%
- Massage 24%
- Spa package 24%
>> Download the video & infographic for this research story <<
NOTE: All news copy and multimedia on this SWNS account is free to use as you see fit. Where research has been conducted, we ask that you credit the company which commissioned it.
