Olivia Munn Opens Up About Postpartum Struggles, Says “More Difficult Than Going Through Cancer”

April 12, 2025: Actress Olivia Munn is known for her candor, and in a recent interview, she opened up about one of the most difficult chapters in her life — not her cancer battle, but her struggle with postpartum anxiety and depression after the birth of her son, Malcolm, in 2021.

Munn described her emotional experience as overwhelming, stating, “I fell off a cliff, and I was just falling and falling and falling.” The actress detailed how she experienced intense physical symptoms, including chest tightness and difficulty breathing. At times, she was so affected that she needed to hold on to her partner John Mulaney’s arm just to move from one room to another.

While many might assume that her later breast cancer diagnosis in 2024 — which led to a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery — would be the most challenging part of her journey, Munn was clear: the postpartum period was even more harrowing.

She admitted that social media made the experience harder. “I would see people on Instagram, people I knew had babies around the same time… and I’m like, ‘How are you in these Valentino shorts and this crop top, running around LA, looking like that?’” she said, referencing the pressure to “bounce back” quickly after childbirth.

Munn also revealed the emotional toll of being unable to breastfeed. Despite working with three lactation coaches, taking vitamins, staying hydrated, and trying every trick in the book, she said it would still take her an entire day just to produce one bottle. “I felt like my body was failing,” she added.

After being diagnosed with breast cancer in early 2024, Munn underwent a double mastectomy and later welcomed her second child, daughter Mei, via surrogate in September 2024.

Now a mother of two, Olivia is choosing to speak openly about her journey — from postpartum anxiety to her cancer recovery — in hopes of helping other women feel less alone. “When you win your battles, your scars become your armor,” she shared, reflecting on her newfound strength.