Jess Impiazzi, 37, is determined that her baby boy will never experience the same trauma she did growing up. The actress and TV personality has opened up about how her difficult childhood, shaped by grief and her family struggles, has influenced the kind of mother she aims to be.
Jess, who announced in January 2026 that she is expecting her first child, has reflected on her childhood, which she revealed in her memoir Silver Linings. She explained the deep impact of her father’s alcohol addiction and the pain she experienced from a childhood marked by hardship and emotional loss. Most recently, she suffered the heartbreaking death of her father, Colin, who passed away in 2022 after a battle with lung cancer.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Jess opened up about her past and how her experiences have shaped her approach to motherhood. Jess stated: “I don’t want him growing up in some of the circumstances I did. I don’t want my child to ever feel like home isn’t a safe place. I want them to know home is a safe place.” 💖
A Difficult Journey to Motherhood
Jess’s road to motherhood has been an emotional rollercoaster, especially with her diagnosis of lupus in 2023. The autoimmune disease, which can cause flare-ups and chronic fatigue, left Jess uncertain about her ability to have children. Adding to her concern, Jess was also diagnosed with early menopause, making her journey to becoming a mother even more challenging.
However, despite these health challenges, Jess underwent IVF to make her dream of becoming a mother a reality. The IVF process, while difficult and frightening, proved to be successful. Jess admitted that she was nervous about the medications and treatments involved in IVF, especially since she was already on medications like azathioprine, hydroxychloroquine, and steroids for her lupus. Jess said, “It was challenging because I was really scared of the hook. We did a trial one to get my period on the right setting, so I was using hormone tablets and injections… that was quite frightening because I would get flare-ups during different jabs or different times of what the medication was on.”
Despite the difficulties, Jess expressed relief and joy at the IVF working, and she is now looking forward to welcoming her baby boy with her partner, Sam, whom she has been with since the summer of 2024. They are set to become parents in May 2026, and Jess couldn’t be more excited.
Raising a Son to Be a Fierce Advocate
As she prepares for motherhood, Jess has a strong vision for the kind of parent she wants to be. Not only does she want to provide a safe and loving home for her son, but she also hopes to raise him to be a fierce advocate for women. In a world where misogyny and harmful ideologies are rampant, especially among young men, Jess is determined to teach her son respect for all people.
She said: “I want him to be a fierce advocate for women with the things that we keep seeing in the paper, the manosphere and all this. I want to protect him from that, but also educate him around these topics so that he’s an advocate. We need more men like that in the world.”
Jess emphasized the importance of respect and kindness, adding: “None of this banter that’s actually just constantly putting people down or things that are actually bad, like thrown off as banter, it’s not banter to hurt someone, not funny.” She hopes to install these good qualities in her son as she raises him to be someone who respects everyone, regardless of gender.
The IVF Journey and Health Struggles
In addition to the challenges with lupus and early menopause, Jess had to navigate the complicated process of IVF. IVF is never an easy road for anyone, but for Jess, it was especially hard as she had to balance the treatments with her chronic illness. However, she is grateful that the process was successful, and she is now looking forward to becoming a mother despite the many hurdles she had to overcome.
Jess shared her thoughts about the IVF process, saying, “It was scary because I was already on medication, and my body had been through so much. I’m just really pleased it worked, and I’m now at this stage. I still take my medication, but I don’t feel like I’m being pumped with everything now.” 🍼
Acting Career and New Projects
Alongside preparing for motherhood, Jess is also focusing on her career in acting. She stars in a new horror film, Jitters, which is set to release on Apple TV and other platforms. The film, written by George Willcox and Marc Zammit, explores the fear of artificial intelligence and its potential consequences. Jess is excited to be part of the project, which taps into the uncertainty surrounding AI and its impact on society. 🎬
In her role, Jess plays a significant part in a story that deals with a detective investigating a sinister AI-driven game that preys on people’s deepest fears. Jess shared her excitement for the film, saying: “I hope people are scared. It’s a new kind of horror with the AI angle because everyone is asking, ‘What’s going to happen with AI? Is it going to take our jobs? Or is it going to kill us?’ We don’t really know where this is going.”
Jitters is set to be released March 16, 2026, and Jess can’t wait for audiences to experience this chilling new take on horror.
Looking to the Future
As Jess prepares for the arrival of her baby, she’s focused on providing a safe and supportive environment for her child. Motherhood is a new chapter for her, and she’s excited to give her baby the love and protection she didn’t always have growing up. Despite the challenges with her health, Jess is determined to provide a bright future for her son and is eager to raise him with the same values of respect, kindness, and advocacy that she holds dear. 💕
