Not many of us will have the opportunity to turn away from the glitz and glamour of Cannes to honour our mothers, but that is exactly what Hollyword star, Chris Evans did,’ says Jemimah Wright.
It was recently my mum’s 80th birthday. Quite a milestone. My siblings were planning a big family party for her, but as I live in a different country, it was not expected that I would attend, what with the high cost of flying etc. However, I thought about it, and realised, 80 is a significant age, I would always regret it if I was not there. Celebrating, loving and honouring our parents requires action, something Hollywood actor, Chris Evans agrees with.
Instead of attending the prestigious 2025 Cannes Film Festival premiere of his latest film Honey Don’t!, earlier this month, Evans chose to skip the red carpet and celebrate his mother’s 70th birthday.
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Chris, born in 1981, is best known for portraying Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a role that transformed him into a household name. In Ethan Coen’s dark comedy Honey Don’t!, he portrays Reverend Drew Devlin, a charismatic yet morally ambiguous cult leader.
“I wish I could’ve been with my incredible cast and filmmakers at Cannes, but it was my mother’s 70th birthday and there are some things you just can’t miss!”
Speaking about his absence at Cannes, Evans wrote on Instagram: “I wish I could’ve been with my incredible cast and filmmakers at Cannes, but it was my mother’s 70th birthday and there are some things you just can’t miss!”
This wasn’t a one-off gesture. Evans has long spoken about the influence of his mother, Lisa Capuano Evans. In a 2020 Esquire interview, Lisa shared that she had encouraged Chris to take on the Captain America role, despite his initial hesitation.
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Chris Evans isn’t alone in showing deep appreciation for his mother. Across Hollywood and the world of entertainment, many celebrities continue to prioritize family, particularly the women who raised them.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson frequently shares heartfelt tributes to his mother, Ata Johnson. In a 2020 Instagram post, he surprised her with a new home and wrote: “We all got lucky if we got a great mom… I always say, if you got a good mom, you’ve got a shot at life.”
Beyoncé credits her mother Tina Knowles for shaping her confidence and work ethic. In a 2021 Mother’s Day tribute, she called Tina “my queen, my heart, my teacher.”
Justin Timberlake has openly praised his mother Lynn Harless, bringing her as his date to multiple red carpet events. On Mother’s Day 2020, he wrote: “You have taught me so much about balancing life, love, and work… Thank you for your light.”
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Ephesians 6:2-3 says: “Honour your father and your mother, so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Not many of us will have the opportunity to turn away from the glitz and glamour of Cannes, in a dramatic gesture to honour our mothers like Chris Evans. Perhaps for you honouring your mother looks like giving her a telephone call, or going to visit her, when it would be ‘more fun’ to hang out with friends.
As we show a little selfless love to our mothers, we are following the way of Jesus. As is the way of the kingdom, as we give out generously, it is given back to us pressed down, shaken together and running over. (Luke 6:38). So let’s be more ‘Chris Evans’ in the way we treat our mothers.
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