What makes a marriage work? Surely there is a whole other set of rules for those couples in the limelight? Here is what 5 celebrities say is the key to successful marriage, many of whom are in long relationships that continue to go strong despite the pressure of Hollywood. For some, their advice is obvious – make time for each other, look out for each other, go on dates and have sex! Others believe the key is being surrounded by loved ones or learning to understand the other person and how they work. Here is the advice that keeps these 5 celebs and their other halves together..
Jessica Alba
Jessica finds that her husband Cash always knows when to give her a break, how to surprise her and they always make time for each other:”Cash and I have found that maintaining a family schedule is the key to making time for each other. Whether we’re settling into the couch to watch bad reality television or getting a babysitter so we can enjoy a date night out, we always know we have dedicated time after the girls are asleep to catch up, discuss what’s on our minds, and simply just be with each other (no cell phones or e-mail allowed!).”
“Carving out this alone time is especially important after almost nine years together, too. Often feeling tired after a busy day at work and home, I know how easy it is to take each other for granted or let our relationship sit on the back burner and think, ‘It will be there tomorrow, now it’s time for sleep’. So, making time for our relationship in our daily routine – even though it’s surprisingly predictable and may not seem as spicy as our spontaneous pre-kiddo days – really helps keep the romance alive.”
Meryl Streep
Meryl says her marriage works because her husband understands her and how she has to be committed to her job: “People think being married to an actor is hard but my husband does understand the deal – the sort of serial fixation that actors have with their work that makes things hard. I think it would be different if I was married to a lawyer or an accountant, someone who was less freelance, unlike artists who are wrangling their passions to make a living. That’s basically what he does too, so he understands what I do. His sensibility is similar. I never have to say ‘It’s not you, I’m just thinking about this film now and it’s driving me crazy.’ Because I know it can be the same for him.”
Kyra Sedgwick
Kyra, who has been married to Kevin Bacon for over a decade reveals that it takes work: “We got married when I was really young and we got very lucky. Staying married for so long takes luck and a lot of hard work. We don’t have a fantasy marriage… It’s all about working on it. “If Kevin and I can get dinner, a movie and sex in… that’s awesome. “If not, just sex and dinner is great.”
Julia Roberts
Although Julia doesn’t believe there is a secret, she does think that family is so important in keeping things together: “There’s no ‘secret’ to a successful marriage – it’s not a magic trick – I’m just lucky to have found someone who I can build my life on. I’m at an appropriate place in my life. But you have to continually nurture that place. I don’t think it’s a finite fixed point on a map, but family definitely plays a huge part in that.”
John Travolta
John and wife Kelly Preston make lists to each other detailing their needs: “We make lists of what we need and want from each other and check them regularly. We list everything from how much sex to what kind of food we want. It’s so we can find out what the other needs and that we’re going in the right direction. It doesn’t sound romantic but it works for us.”
