Busy Philipps' 2 Kids: All About Birdie and Cricket

Mar. 15, 2025

Busy Philipps and her daughters Birdie Leigh and Cricket Pearl Silverstein.Photo:Rich Fury/Getty

Rich Fury/Getty

When she’s not acting,Busy Philippsis focused on being a mom to her two kids, Birdie and Cricket Silverstein, whom she shares with her ex-husband,Marc Silverstein.

The former couple — who announced their separation in 2022 — welcomed their first child, Birdie, in 2008. Their family grew again when Cricket was born in 2013.

Philipps has talked about trying to be “an incredibly communicative mom” even amidst her busy schedule. “It’s hard when you grow up and your mom is in the spotlight and you feel like you have to share your mom. Or people have an idea of who your mom is,” Philipps said onToday with Hoda & Jennain 2024. “And it’s really important to me that they get me and also that they get to be themselves.”

Philipps has also opened up about what she hopes to pass on to Birdie and Cricket. In 2020, theWhite Chicksstar told PEOPLE that she hoped to inspire her children to “live their lives in a way wherethey feel very empoweredand free to be who they want to be in whatever way they want to be.”

And the actress' older child is doing just that: In 2023, Philipps announced Birdie was preparing for herfirst year at boarding school. “I feel confident like Birdie’s such a strong individual. She’s such a smart, unique person that I feel really confident in her ability to succeed in whatever situation she’s in,” theMean Girlsstar told PEOPLE, adding that the decision took “a lot of conversations” — and that she was “still in the process of dealing with it myself as a mom who, of course, just wants my babies to stay close to me.”

Here’s everything to know about Busy Philipps’ two kids, Birdie and Cricket.

Birdie Leigh Silverstein, 16

Busy Philipps and her daughter Birdie Leigh Silverstein attend Freeform’s “Single Drunk Female” Season 2 Premiere on April 11, 2023 in New York City.Slaven Vlasic/Getty

Slaven Vlasic/Getty

During a 2010 interview onThe Bonnie Hunt Show, Philipps said that she and Silverstein were listening to a radio show about Johnson when they first came up with the name. “My husband said, ‘Wow, what a cool woman and what an amazing name … it would be so cool to name a kid after her.’ ” Philipps wasn’t sure at first, but she knew it was the right fit once she gave birth.

Now that Birdie is older, theMean Girlsactress has talked about her personality. Busy toldMinimagazinein 2016 that her older child was “very outgoing” and that she “will literally talk to anyone.”

Busy Philipps and her daughter Birdie Silverstein attend the “Olivia Rodrigo: driving home 2 u (a Sour film) Premiere” on March 24, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.Jesse Grant/Getty

Jesse Grant/Getty

Birdie also seems to be a budding activist. In 2021,Philipps celebrated Pride Monthwith an Instagram post praising Birdie, saying that her firstborn had gathered hundreds of unopened makeup and hygiene items that Philipps and other celebrities had received and donated them to the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Birdie’s charitable work came six months after Philipps revealed on her podcast that thethen-12-year-old came out as gayand preferred they/them pronouns. In December 2023, Philipps toldPage Sixthat Birdie “decided that her pronouns are she/her.”

Philipps' firstbornisn’t afraid to sing her mom’s praiseseither. In 2017, Birdiedressed up as her mom for Halloween. Years later, in a 2022Instagrampost, the actress shared a photo from aHarry Stylesconcert and wrote in the caption, “Guess WHAT? Tonight, a lady asked Birdie, ‘Is your mom your best friend? And Birdie replied, ‘Yeah.’ ” She went on, “Birdie Leigh Silverstein, I couldn’t love you any more if I tried.”

Birdie may also be following in Philipps' acting footsteps. In June 2022, she made her acting debut in season 2 ofWith Love, where shegot to act alongside her mom.

A couple of years later, Philipps took Birdie to the New York City premiere ofMean Girlsand revealed that she doesn’t identify as a “cool mom.”

“I think I’m cool, butmy kids don’t think I’m cool. And I’m aware of that," she told PEOPLE on the red carpet. “I also think I’m very clear on the fact that I’m their mother and not their friend, so that definitely makes me uncool.”

Cricket Pearl Silverstein, 11

Busy Philipps with her daughter Cricket.Busy Phillips Instagram

Busy Phillips Instagram

Philipps and Silverstein had their second child, Cricket Pearl Silverstein, on July 2, 2013. Unlike Birdie, they waited until after Cricket’s birth to name her.

“A lot of times your name dictates the kind of personality you have and [Marc’s] like, ‘Everyone likes Cricket, Cricket is just the greatest, happiest kid on the block, the coolest camp counselor,’ ” Philipps said. “He just had this whole narrative for what that name was.”

Busy Philipps' daughter Cricket Pearl Silverstein.Busy Phillips Instagram

In 2016, Philipps toldMinimagazine that Cricket was a “zany, free spirit,” and that she loved to read just like her older sister.

The first time Cricket saw her mom actwas when the actress portrayed Regina’s mom in the 2024Mean Girlsmovie musical. In January of that year, Philipps shared onToday with Hoda & Jennathat her younger daughter had a confused reaction to her performance.

“She said, ‘This is weird.' And so we talked about it the next day and I was like, ‘You know, Was that too much for you? Did you not like it?’ " Philipps said. “And she’s like, ‘I don’t think I want to watch things you’re in. It was weird.’ And I was like, ‘I get it.’ And she’s like, ‘Luckily you’re not in the movie that much.’ "

source: people.com