In the whirlwind of raising three young children and navigating personal tragedies, actress and singer Mandy Moore has found an invaluable ally in her mother-in-law, Kathy Goldsmith. Moore, 42, opened up about her close relationship with Kathy, the mother of her husband, musician Taylor Goldsmith, during an exclusive interview with E! News' Erin Lim Rhodes. "I love my mother-in-law, and we're very close," Moore said. "She’s very helpful with the kids and is just a huge part of our support system. So, she's the first person I would vent to."
The bond between Moore and Kathy has been particularly tested and strengthened in recent years, especially following the devastating Los Angeles wildfires in January 2025 that destroyed the family's home. Moore and Goldsmith, lead singer of the band Dawes, lost their residence in the historic blaze, which ravaged parts of the city and displaced thousands. According to Moore's Instagram post from July, the ordeal has been "a hell of a year," but Kathy has been a constant source of strength. "Selfishly, I’m not sure what I would have done without her in the hours, days, weeks, and months since the fire," Moore wrote. "She suffered her own immense loss and has been by our side since the very beginning, without skipping a beat."
Moore emphasized Kathy's resilience amid shared grief, noting that the mother-in-law endured her own significant losses from the wildfires. "If there’s any silver lining in this whole thing, she’s definitely ours," Moore added in the post. "We couldn’t be luckier that she’s ours and we’re never letting her go." This sentiment underscores the deepened family ties forged in crisis, as the Goldsmiths rebuilt their lives in the aftermath of the disaster that affected numerous celebrities and residents in the greater Los Angeles area.
Amid the chaos of parenthood with sons August "Gus" Harrison, 5, Oscar "Ozzie" Bennett, 3, and daughter Lou, 20 months, Kathy's role extends beyond emotional support to hands-on help with the children. Moore, known for her roles in films like The Princess Diaries and A Walk to Remember, as well as her starring turn in the NBC series This Is Us, has credited Kathy with providing stability during busy periods. The family's journey into parenthood began with Gus's arrival in February 2021, followed by Ozzie in October 2022, and Lou more recently, marking a rapid expansion that Moore has described as both joyful and overwhelming.
Taylor Goldsmith's transition into fatherhood has also been a highlight for Moore, whom she praised effusively in a Father's Day 2023 Instagram tribute. "I can't believe we get to do this parenthood journey together," she wrote to her husband. "The 3 of us are the luckiest to have you, T. Love you to the moon and Happy Father's Day!!!” Moore went on to detail Goldsmith's natural talents as a parent: "You were writing songs about coaching Little League well before we got married so I had *some* inkling that being a Dad was something you would excel at but I truly had no idea just how exceptional and natural you'd be until we were in it."
She highlighted his patience and involvement, saying, "I marvel at all you bring to the table- your patience, your gentle nature, your willingness to change a diaper or get up with a crying baby without me ever asking or to run around and get in the dirt with a very active toddler at any moment." Moore also noted Goldsmith's unique abilities, such as "Your ability to get Gus to eat something he'd flat out refused with me or elicit Ozzie's immediate laughter, your music curation for our boys- which is TOP NOTCH… I could go on and on." This portrayal paints a picture of a supportive partnership that complements Kathy's role in the family dynamic.
The couple's relationship, which began romantically around 2015, has been marked by shared creative pursuits and adventures. Goldsmith and Moore, both musicians at heart, collaborated on the song "Invisible Ink" for an episode of This Is Us in November 2018. Goldsmith shared a behind-the-scenes photo on Instagram, writing, "@mandymooremm @siddkhoslamusic and I the day we recorded 'Invisible Ink' from last night's episode of @nbcthisisus. So honored that Sidd asked me to help him write it and then to get to record it with my favorite human. Please go check it out on Spotify or Apple Music." Their bond extended to travels, including a hike in Kilimanjaro National Park in August 2018 and attendance at the 2017 Emmy Awards.
Moore has frequently shared glimpses of their life together on social media, from a 2020 quarantine post where she noted, "I have been quarantined with this guy for over 6 weeks and we still really like each other," to anniversary celebrations. In July 2017, marking two years together, she posted, "The best 2 years. Never not smiling with you, T." Even in lighter moments, like a September 2018 Instagram caption about a hotel fire alarm mishap in Portland, Moore wrote, "The look of two tired people who were awoken by the hotel fire alarm at midnight. Also the look of two people grateful for 24 hours together after being apart almost a month." These anecdotes illustrate a resilient partnership enduring separations due to touring and filming schedules.
Reflecting on family milestones, Moore celebrated Gus's second birthday in February 2023 with a post: "We had an early Birthday bash with friends and family for Goosey. 2 years with the sweetest, goofiest guy has absolutely flown by. We're the luckiest folks around to be in your orbit, Gus Goldsmith." Such posts highlight the joys amid the challenges, tying back to Moore's reliance on family support like Kathy's.
This theme of parenthood's demands and rewards resonates with Moore's latest project, the upcoming film The Breadwinner, set for theatrical release on May 29. In the movie, co-starring comedian Nate Bargatze, Moore plays Katie, a mother who achieves success on Shark Tank, leaving her husband—also named Nate and played by Bargatze—to manage their children. Moore described the film during her E! News interview as "really fun to be a mom of three now and have this opportunity to be a part of Nate's first feature film."
She elaborated on its message: "This is really a celebration of moms who oftentimes could be the unsung heroes of the family. But this is also turning that story on its head, and empowering dads who sort of are stepping into this new realm of responsibility and realizing how much work mom really does and how difficult it is." The comedy offers a fresh perspective on gender roles in parenting, mirroring Moore's own experiences where Goldsmith steps up alongside Kathy's assistance.
Moore praised the film's tone, saying, "There's a little something for everybody. It feels like the classic family movies that we grew up watching." Directed as Bargatze's feature debut, The Breadwinner arrives at a time when family-centric stories are gaining traction in Hollywood, especially post-pandemic, as audiences seek relatable content about work-life balance.
Looking ahead, the Moore-Goldsmith family continues to rebuild after the wildfires, with Kathy remaining a cornerstone. While details on their new living situation remain private, Moore's public expressions of gratitude suggest a fortified family unit. As The Breadwinner hits theaters, it may spark conversations about the evolving roles of parents and in-laws in modern families, drawing from Moore's real-life narrative of support and resilience.
The entertainment industry has seen increased focus on such personal stories, particularly after natural disasters like the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, which according to reports from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, burned over 100,000 acres and caused damages exceeding $1 billion. Celebrities like Moore using their platforms to highlight family bonds could encourage broader discussions on community and recovery efforts in affected areas.
For now, Moore and her family cherish the silver linings, with Kathy at the forefront. As Moore put it, they're "never letting her go," a testament to the enduring power of familial ties in the face of adversity.