Living in the spotlight can have its benefits, but it can also be a burden, especially when it comes to romance and marriage. The lack of privacy and constant attention can overwhelm any relationship, but some celebrity couples seem to have learned how to push through the pressure and make their marriages last for decades.
Plus, they’ve managed to keep their relationships happy and fulfilling, leaving the audience wondering what their “secret recipe” is.
We were intrigued by these successful relationships, so we decided to explore and try to uncover the secrets that have kept these couples together for so long.
Portia de Rossi and Ellen Degeneres
Despite the 15-year gap and constant public attention that can put pressure on even the strongest relationship, this Hollywood power couple has stood the test of time since 2004. The couple has been married for thirteen years and is still devoted to each other: “Our priorities are for each other. If we had kids, I’m sure they would, but we do.” Ellen once said.
They follow certain rules to make their relationship work. For example, they have a strict “no lying” rule that they never deviate from. The two don’t even tell each other minor lies.
The pair also keep their relationship light-hearted by playing pranks on each other: “She always makes me see the fun in things I would normally take seriously…she always makes me laugh,” De Rossi revealed on Instagram.
Matt Damon and Luciana Barroso
2022 marks 17 years of marital bliss for Luciana and Matt. One of the most important rules for them is to always put family first. By not marrying an actress or other celebrity, Damon believes he can live a quiet life without exposing his family to the media.
He also states that meetings with his wife are usually sporadic, but they always want to spend a night together after picking up their daughters from school.
“We have a 2-week rule,” Damon once said, “I don’t go out for more than 2 weeks. I think you need to be with the person you love as much as possible. My wife is my soul mate. I don’t like to be separated from her.
When asked about his secret to a strong marriage, Barroso said he “has no idea.” However, they both still feel incredibly grateful for their enduring connection. “I just know that we both feel very, very lucky to have met each other, so we don’t take it for granted. It’s life and marriage, so there are ups and downs. But overall, it’s easy and fun.”
Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks
The couple, who married in 1988, seems as much in love now as they were 34 years ago: “The success of our relationship was a matter of time, maturity, and our willingness to have an intimate connection,” Hanks explained.
“Our relationship is not magical, as shown in the movies. In real life, our connection is as concrete as I am sitting here.” And regardless of life’s challenges, Hanks believes their marriage can survive it all: “But we both know that whatever happens, we’ll be together, and we’ll get through it,” he added.
Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart
Ford and his wife, Calista Flockhart, are approaching their 12-year wedding anniversary but have been together for almost 20 years, a difficult milestone for Hollywood couples to see. And while some might disapprove of the 22-year age difference, Flockhart said in an interview that it was always a “no problem” in their relationship. “The truth is that sometimes I feel much older than Harrison,” the former Ally McBeal actress said.
Ford learned a few golden rules about marital happiness along the way. When asked how to keep a happy marriage, he jokingly said, “Don’t talk. Shake your head.” Even after all these years, their relationship still feels fresh and fun: “Harrison and I laugh a lot, and humor is everything to me,” Calista revealed.
Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest
The couple who have been married for 37 years certainly know the reality of a long-term marriage, with its ups and downs: ”Chris and I have a wonderful, complicated and imperfect life. And a very real wedding,” the actress once confessed.
And when it comes to making it work, Jamie has the simplest and best answer: “Don’t walk away. That’s right, two words. Because you will. If you’re telling me that someone who’s been married a long time hasn’t thought ‘I hate them, I want out,’ of course they did! I think if you stay on the bus long enough, the scenery will change!”
Who’s the longest-married couple you know? Do you think there is a special recipe for keeping a marriage strong and fulfilling for decades? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
Preview photo credit AFP/East News, camilamcconaughey/instagram
