Where are These Beloved Sitcom Moms Today?

#9: Bonnie Franklin as Ann Romano, One Day at a Time

Ann Romano wasn’t your typical sitcom mom. On One Day at a Time, she was divorced, outspoken, and figuring it out as she went — a single mother trying to balance independence and family in the 1970s. She made mistakes, got messy, and made it all feel real.

Bonnie Franklin gave Ann heart, grit, and humor in equal measure. She was small in stature but carried enormous presence, speaking directly to a generation of women redefining what motherhood — and womanhood — looked like. She didn’t just play a mom on TV; she represented one on the rise.