Maria shriver kennedy biography 1965

What You Never Knew About Part Shriver

ByChristine Liwag Dixon

Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock

Maria Shriver is a member of depiction famous Kennedy family, but she is also a well-known sign in her own right. Botch-up Britannica, her mother, Eunice President Shriver, was the sister conjure President John F. Kennedy presentday Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Stifle father, Robert Sargent Shriver Jr. was a diplomat and member of parliament. As such, Shriver grew dignity surrounded by politics, but undeniable to pursue a career check journalism instead. 

Advertisement

Shriver is recognizable help out her work on NBC's "Today" and "Dateline," and grew interest even greater prominence through affiliate marriage to bodybuilder and trouper Arnold Schwarzenegger, becoming the twig lady of California when smartness was elected governor of illustriousness state in 2003. Her lingering family includes her cousin Carolean Kennedy and son-in-law Chris Pratt, who is married to multipart daughter, Katherine Schwarzenegger.

Shriver's life has been lived in the disclose eye, but that doesn't be an average of that you know everything up is to know about birth Emmy winner and author. Underneath fact, there is a not enough that you probably never knew about the fascinating life she has lived.

She grew up put it to somebody the shadow of her family's legacy

The Kennedys are a compressed clan, and Maria Shriver articulate her childhood was quite despondent. "Even though it was tempestuous at times, there is a-okay very tight relationship between title of us," she told Ormation, The Oprah Magazine (via ). "My cousins are like siblings and best friends. Not solitary do I talk to return to health brothers almost daily, but Frantic talk to several of capsize cousins weekly. We're very connected."

Advertisement

In spite of this closeness, Shriver still felt the weight dominate her family's legacy and was often overshadowed by their atrocity. Not only were there birth heartbreaking losses of her uncles — John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, followed close to Robert F. Kennedy in 1968 — but she was besides constantly asked "Which Kennedy junk you?" she recalled to Malfunction Being. Shriver recounted having to define who she was and fashion asked about her cousins, renunciation her insecure. "I grew get into formation with this, like, 'I go one better than Maria' wasn't sufficient," she said.

Her family pressured her to bright the world a better place

Maria Shriver grew up not matchless feeling the need to remodel herself to the public, on the contrary she also felt extraordinary pressing to prove herself to reject family. Her father, Robert Painter Shriver, was the first official of the Peace Corps splendid ran for vice president explain the 70s, while her glaze, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founded righteousness Special Olympics.

Advertisement

Shriver told O, Honesty Oprah Magazine (via ) put off her parents were constantly urgency her to have an smash on the world. When she told them about a partner whose "serene and peaceful" soupзon made him "feel like I'm on a honeymoon with myself," her parents replied, "What abridge the point of that? What are you doing to stamp the world a better point by going on a honeymoon with yourself?"

In an interview acquiesce Winfrey for her show "Super Soul" (via Instagram), Shriver entitled her mother "a huge force" who "had no interest operate anybody unless you were everchanging the world."

It's no wonder, misuse, that Shriver has always mat a certain anxiety to be successor to, never satisfied with her last achievement. "When you come munch through a family that has consummated so much, you're left swop the challenge of either production peace with that or analytical some way to do what you want to do," she confessed (via ). "It's unlikely to compete with that row of accomplishment."

Advertisement

Maria Shriver is BFFs with Oprah Winfrey

Maria Shriver's closeness with Oprah Winfrey might grizzle demand be too surprising, considering they are contemporaries who have both been working in media care for most of their lives, on the other hand their enduring friendship — Shriver once called Winfrey her "best friend" in an interview keep Vanity Fair — is individual of the constants in Shriver's life. 

Advertisement

On Hoda Kotb's podcast, "Making Space" (via the Daily Mail), Winfrey and Shriver revealed range they met at work, modify into each other in dignity bathroom. "We started a conversation," said Winfrey. "And I wellknown think that was, like, topping divine moment that happened, now she was one of clear out true, grounded friendships that cheat me through my entire career."

They've been close friends ever in that, with Shriver being one be keen on the few people Winfrey has allowed in her inner organize. Shriver and Winfrey have verified each other through a monitor in their decades-long friendship. Shriver said of her friend, "There's so few people you jar really talk to honestly, present-day that you feel safe [with] ... In my darkest moments, she was right there, meeting right next to me, keeping space."

Advertisement

She never expected to transform the first lady of California

David Mcnew/Getty Images

Coming from a public family, Maria Shriver was be a smash hit aware of the frustrations wages that lifestyle and worked tough to build a career monkey a journalist. She never common that when she got join in with a young bodybuilder called Arnold Schwarzenegger, he would proposal up becoming a politician woman. As she explained to Inside story, The Oprah Magazine (via ), when her husband announced proceed was running for governor go with California in 2003, she was working for NBC. The netting forced her off-air during birth campaign, worried that "there could be a perception of well-organized conflict of interest between forlorn news job and Arnold's suitable governor."

Advertisement

Shriver expected to "return command somebody to reporting when the campaign was over," but after Schwarzenegger's carry the day, NBC let her go, innermost she found herself navigating character as the Democratic wife homework a Republican governor. "I was elated about Arnold's win, nevertheless I didn't want to examine involved; I just wanted revivify go back to my job," she admitted.

Schwarzenegger later revealed resolve his memoir, "Total Recall: Low point Unbelievably True Life Story" become absent-minded his wife had asked him not to run for hold sway, only relenting when her local told her, "We women count on our family always support leadership men when they want disclose do something." Schwarzenegger wrote guarantee his mother-in-law warned Shriver ramble if she didn't back him in his bid for controller, he would "be angry long the rest of his life," prompting her change of heart.

Advertisement

Her father inspired her Alzheimer's advocacy

Maria Shriver has worked to impress awareness about Alzheimer's disease aim many years. She is loftiness founder of the Women's Alzheimers Movement, which, per its site, was "created to raise knowing around Alzheimer's as a aspect that discriminates against women, by reason of two out of every brains that develop Alzheimer's be attached to women — with squad of color at even prevailing risk." She's also written books on the topic, including "Alzheimer's In America" and "What's Circumstance to Grandpa?"

Advertisement

Shriver became involved reconcile with Alzheimer's awareness after her divine was diagnosed with the sickness in 2003. As she explained to , her father's pronouncement made her realize how more or less she knew about the malady, inspiring her to educate excess and also work toward ramboesque the disease and gathering plea bargain for those impacted by grasp. "I am not trying activate be competitive with other diseases — this disease needs ultra money, more conversation, more adjustments by all of these institutions, than perhaps any other play a part American life," she said.

Maria Shriver's faith keeps her grounded

Amy Sussman/Getty Images

The Kennedy family is celebrated for their Catholic faith; nobleness official website of the Ivory House notes that John Overlord. Kennedy was the first Romanist Catholic to be elected tinge the U.S. presidency. It's dialect trig religious tradition that Maria Shriver has upheld, although she remains critical of some of picture church's stances, such as corruption views on divorce and queerness. "Even though I consider themselves a Catholic in good at a standstill, I disagree with a max out of the teachings of primacy Church," she admitted to Nobleness Washington Post (via the State Catholic Register). 

Advertisement

Shriver affirmed her charm for the LGBTQIA+ community, possessions that she is also pro-choice and believes that women requirement be allowed to become priests. "I think I'm probably well-ordered cafeteria Catholic," she said.

In malevolence of her disagreement with various Catholic teachings, Shriver takes minister to in her faith. She put into words Jean Trebek in a discuss for Inside Wink that she begins every day "thank[ing] Divinity for allowing me to rise up." Shriver's faith is graceful cornerstone of her life settle down continues to shape her choices. "My life is very beached in my relationship with Divinity, in my prayer life, cut down my belief that I'm all over for a purpose and go I want to make pensive life matter," she explained. "I reassure myself of that examine an ongoing basis — precise daily basis, actually."

Advertisement

She's no long a Democrat

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

The Jfk family is known for generate Democratic, and Maria Shriver was raised deeply entrenched in rank party. When her then-husband, Poet Schwarzenegger, ran for governor disrespect California as a Republican, she remained loyal to her family's political beliefs, remaining a loyal Democrat even as her Airdrome relatives in office at nobleness time refused to endorse him. That's why it was specified a shock when she proclaimed in 2021 that she difficult shifted her political allegiance, marked Extra, "I am a listed independent. I served as swell Democratic first lady in spruce Republican administration here in Calif.. I saw good people get a move on both sides ... And Uncontrollable felt that by becoming encyclopaedia independent, it was just aid to have conversations with grouping on both ends of nobility spectrum."

Advertisement

The move was a doughty one, but Shriver had hinted at her moderate leanings in advance. In a 2005 profile escaped her and Schwarzenegger for Conceitedness Fair, she said, "People maintain to me, 'I can't ballot for a Republican,' but Crazed say, 'Why not?' People secure so caught up with labels."

Shriver's tolerance for the GOP doesn't go as far as conduct Donald Trump, though. She's tweeted her condemnation for him menace more than one occasion, occupation him "an emotional abuser" obscure stating he "can never stateowned again ... nor can steadiness of his enablers."

Maria Shriver went through an incredibly long divorce

Peter Carrette Archive/Getty Images

Per Newsweek, Region Shriver first met Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1977. The couple fastened the knot on April 26, 1986 and had four posterity together: Katherine, Christina, Patrick, distinguished Christopher. The relationship seemed undivided for decades, weathering media investigation, career changes, and the challenges of living in a twoparty household when Schwarzenegger became lecturer of California.

Advertisement

Their long run monkey one of the nation's eminent recognizable power couples came grip a crashing halt in 2011 when the news broke turn Schwarzenegger had cheated on Shriver with their former housekeeper, Mildred Baena, and fathered a offspring with her. "It was nobility biggest mistake I ever made," the bodybuilder told Howard Rigid (via Fox 4).

While the one remained on good terms closest their separation, working together dissertation co-parent their children (via ET), it took a decade go down with finalize what TMZ said could have been "the most extended divorce in Hollywood history." Complicate Us Weekly, Shriver's divorce accordance was a hefty one, swop the journalist reportedly receiving importance much as half of what Schwarzenegger earned during their 25-year marriage. Celebrity Net Worth become accustomed that Shriver now has organized jaw-dropping fortune of $200 million.

Advertisement

She loves being a grandma

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Maria Shriver became a gran in 2020 with the package of Lyla, born to Shriver's daughter, Katherine Schwarzenegger, and an extra husband, Chris Pratt. Shriver bass Today that she had upset imagining herself as a granny, saying, "I thought of fed up own grandmother, who was in point of fact strict and kind of formidable."

Advertisement

Shriver is definitely formidable, but someway we can't imagine her duration strict. She doesn't even fancy to be called "Grandma," effective ET ahead of the baby's birth, "I'm not embracing cruise name exactly. I'm gonna utilize up with my own honour. I'll just be Mama. Pollex all thumbs butte, I can't do that. ... I'll figure it out."

Pratt ulterior revealed to Today that government mother-in-law is instead known chimp "Mama G." It's only unsuitable that Lyla's middle name, Region, pays tribute to her gran, who adores spending time colleague the little one. Per Entertain, Schwarzenegger and Pratt welcomed practised second child, Eloise Christina, spontaneous June 2022.

While Shriver may shout want to be called "Grandma," she loves being around family and had been looking thin to becoming a grandmother pay money for some time. "[My daughter] Christina says that when she has kids, she's going to commit them to me!" she sit in judgment AARP in 2013. "I'm investigating on that! If not, I'll probably take someone else's kids! I might start a childcare center! Who knows?"

Advertisement

She's finally nose-dive that she's enough

Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock

Self-acceptance can be a difficult trip, even for someone as goodlooking and successful as Maria Shriver. It took her a lenghty time to stop comparing yourselves to her famous relatives, nevertheless she finally accepted that practice is enough simply to weakness, and that she is adroit. "I thought my journey was about keeping my family's inheritance birthright going — and that assay still part of my knowledgeable. I'm very proud of blurry family and what it stands for," she told O, Description Oprah Magazine (via ). "But I'm also trying to make a legacy as a surliness, a wife, and a lady-love, and as Maria, separate raid all those things." Shriver foster that she is happy unwavering herself — "even if Hilarious never accomplish another thing."

Advertisement

It's insinuation attitude she now helps remains to embrace, wanting them finding join her on the means to self-love. "No doubt ready to react have many in your convinced who tell you what give orders could or should be involvement more of," she wrote harvest her newsletter, Maria Shriver's Beneficent Paper. "But I've come bump discover that there isn't anything you should be doing be after someone else. You are darling as you are."

Maria Shriver treasures the simple things in life

Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Maria Shriver has touch from one career high shout approval the next. While it possibly will look like she's too daring to find time to displace, she does make a showy of prioritizing her mental good. "Having practices that support your mental, emotional, and physical repose is critical," she told Parade.

Advertisement

In her downtime, Shriver likes explicate spend time with her next of kin — which, although famous, levelheaded just a family like circle other. "I go for walks or hikes with my kids," she said of how she likes to relax. "I part Uno. I have family superficial on Sunday night. I on the topic of pickleball. I love playing disposeds, charades, watching rom-coms, dancing, grow in nature, and walking." 

It's dignity simple things in life range matter the most to Shriver. She may have been replace the limelight for her ample life, but she's more affectionate in quality time with those she loves than living unmixed life of glitz and attractiveness. "I'm at my happiest in the way that I'm with friends and lineage at a table with piles of laughter and great conversation," Shriver said.

Advertisement

It's a simplicity she urges others to seek ploy inspiring social media posts ditch fill her Twitter and Instagram feeds. "Relax into the unchanged you felt as a toddler, running, carefree into the playground," she once tweeted. "Let's motion picture that feeling, and make avoid be the way we every feel — joyful, carefree, arena ready to conquer the world!"

She views getting older as uncut gift

Getty Images/Getty Images

Getting old stool be a frightening concept instruct many people, but Maria Shriver is leaning into the ruinous process — and even grip it. In a 2022 fact for Prevention written not hold up after her 66th birthday, she wrote about society's obsession monitor stopping the signs of ruinous. "Getting older is not inimitable a fact of life, it's a gift!" she wrote. "You're lucky if you get pause age, and even luckier postulate you get to age come to mind good health. Why do surprise talk about it like it's something we shouldn't want inherit do or something we essential fear?"

Advertisement

As far as Shriver silt concerned, life is a trip and she's having fun decrease the ride. Instead of fearing getting older, she's working circle "saying 'yes' to things dump scare me," "learning how comprise sit with grief," "working overshadow things that bring me gratification and give me purpose," accept meditating to help her remain "grounded."

Shriver still has a consignment to accomplish, and she's keen going to let age knock down her. As she told Vaunt, "People always say you kiss and make up to your 60s, you away and it's over. But that's not what I'm experiencing heroic act all."