These stars opened their hearts and homes.
Tom Cruise
Tom and ex-wife Nicole Kidman share custody of adopted kids Isabella (17) and Connor (15) Cruise. Tom recently spoke about fatherhood to Esquire magazine. ‘It’s hard to describe – that level of responsibility, the desire to give such joy. [And] the clarity: Nothing is more important than this.

Katherine Heigl
’Katherine and husband Josh Kelly adopted Naleigh from South Korea in 2009. The little tot’s arrival was a deciding factor in her decision to vacate her award-winning role on Grey’s Anatomy. ‘[Motherhood] changed my desire to work full-time,’ she told OK! magazine.

Hugh Jackman
Australian actor Hugh and wife Deborra-Lee have two children, Oscar (8) and Ava (3), both of whom were adopted in the US. The Wolverine star was named People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2008, but we also think he deserves Father of The Year. Ava’s often snapped by the paparazzi giggling and making faces on her father’s shoulders.

Lionel Richie
Lionel and his ex-wife Brenda adopted Nicole, 29, when she was nine years old. And while Nicole may still be Lionel’s ‘Ballerina Girl’, it hasn’t been an easy ride. Nicole’s been in the spotlight for her party antics more often than any dad would like and has been arrested for drug possession and driving under the influence. However, it looks like the socialite has curbed her wild ways and is now a proud mommy of two.

Sandra Bullock
Sandy surprised us in April this year when she appeared on the cover of People magazine, holding three-month-old baby Louis whom she’d adopted from New Orleans. ‘He’s just perfect, I can’t even describe him any other way,’ she said. We bet he’s just what she needs to get her mind off cheating Jesse.

Meg Ryan
After getting the green light from Chinese officials to pro-ceed with her adoption of a 14-month-old baby girl in 2006, Meg initially decided to name her little cutie Charlotte but settled on Daisy (now 5) instead. ‘She’s a Daisy. She’s got the most open, beautiful, honest face you’ll just ever see,’ she gushed on an episode of Oprah.

Madonna
Plenty of controversy surrounded Madonna’s adoption of two Malawian orphans, David Banda (who turns 5 on 24 September) and Mercy James (4). Madge was lambasted by human rights groups for using her celebrity status to speed up the paper-work since Malawi had no set adoption laws. However, she hasn’t forgotten about their native home and she’s currently building a R117-million school for girls in the capital of Lilongwe.

Sheryl Crow
The American singer announced a new addition to her family in April this year, baby Levi James. ‘I never knew my heart could be so expansive, could feel such love and joy. Becoming a mother changed how I look at the world,’ she commented. Levi joins her older adopted son, three-year-old Wyatt, as part of the family.