Brigitte Nielsen has defended giving birth to her daughter Frida at the age of 54, saying that while she understands people are "a bit sceptical", "it is my life".
Nielsen - who turned 55 earlier this month - and her husband of 12 years Mattia Dessi welcomed the arrival of their daughter in June. Frida is Nielsen's fifth child and Dessi's first.
In an interview with US magazine People, the Beverly Hills Cop II star said: "Some women think, 'Oh my God, I'm too old'. Well, yeah, I can understand people saying, 'How dare she?'
"But how many men have their first kids in their 60s and 70s and they never doubt it?
"Do I understand that [people] are a bit sceptical? Yes, I understand.
"I also totally respect the fact that not everybody likes it and agrees with it, but it is my life."
Nielsen revealed to People that she began having IVF treatment 14 years ago, and described it as "such a long road" to becoming a mother again.
She said she wants older women to know that "everything is possible, but you have to be realistic".
"I totally, totally beat the odds," she said.
"We should hold hands because there's nothing wrong with wanting to have a baby whether you're 20, you're 30, you're 40 or, in my case, 50."
