Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick have one of Hollywood’s longest-lasting marriages, having tied the knot in 1997 and remained steely ever since.
The couple first met in November 1991, where they starred together on stage in Sarah’s brothers Toby and Pippin’s theatre company Naked Angels Theatre Company production of How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying on Broadway.
Their meeting came four years after Matthew killed a mother and daughter while driving with then-girlfriend Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey in Northern Ireland. His relationship with Jennifer did not survive the tragedy however did lead him to Sarah.
And in a full circle moment, 32 years later, the duo, who Sarah says have ‘never spent a night apart’ save for work and a family emergency, hit the stage in the West End for the first time on Sunday night to debut their new play Plaza Suite.
Critics have admitted the couple’s on-stage presence justifies the show’s whopping price tag, with their real life romance translating to the three couples they play in the revival of Neil Simon’s triptych of sketches at The Savoy Couple.
So how did the woman behind Carrie Bradshaw and Ferris Bueller go from fresh-faced actors to the New York Royalty of married couples?
Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick have one of Hollywood’s longest-lasting marriages, having tied the knot in 1997 and remained steely ever since (pictured in 1995)
The couple first met in 1991 before starring together in her brothers’ 1996 production How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (left) and in a full circle moment, are now starring together in the West End in Plaza Suite (right, on Sunday)
So how did the woman behind Carrie Bradshaw and Ferris Bueller go from fresh-faced actors to the New York Royalty of married couples? (pictured in 2003)
Sarah and Matthew are pictured in 1994, shortly after they began dating
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
Before meeting her future husband, Sarah has another high-profile romance with Robert Downey Jr. from 1984 until 1991 after meeting on the set of Firstborn. His addiction issues led to the demise of their romance.
She said of her relationship with Robert: ‘People around him would be dismissive of me, but I had given him stability and tried to create a steady heartbeat that allowed him to show up on time. That made me angry and embarrassed me.’
Before meeting her future husband, Sarah has another high-profile romance with Robert Downey Jr. from 1984 until 1991 after meeting on the set of Firstborn (pictured in 1990)
She later briefly dated John F. Kennedy Jr., before finding love with Matthew.
Matthew meanwhile was dating Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey in 1987, when tragedy struck and while driving a rented car outside Tempo, Northern Ireland, he crossed into the wrong lane and collided head-on with another car.
The driver, Anna Gallagher, 28, and her mother, Margaret Doherty, 63, were both killed instantly. He suffered a fractured leg and ribs, a concussion, and a collapsed lung, while Grey suffered severe whiplash, which later required surgery to avoid paralysis.
He was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, which carries a penalty of up to five years in prison. In the end, the star pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of careless driving, and paid a fine of $175. Margaret’s family have confirmed they forgive the star.
Sarah and Matthew first met in November 1991 at the Naked Angels Theatre Company. The company was founded by Sarah’s two brothers Toby and Pippin.
Matthew meanwhile was dating Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey in 1987, when tragedy struck and while driving a rented car outside Tempo, Northern Ireland, he crossed into the wrong lane and collided head-on with another car (pictured in 1981)
The couple were both dating other people when the first met, however knew they had to end their relationships. Sarah said: ‘We were both seeing other people, so it was illegal, and we stayed away from one another…
‘We understood that we had to do right by the other people and break up officially.’
They went on to star together in How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on Broadway in 1996 just one year before they tied the knot.
Speaking to the Los Angeles Times prior to opening night, she said: ‘He’s the funniest fellow I’ve met in my whole life. He’s so bright, so handsome. I think he’s the most handsome man I’ve seen in my life and he inspires me. I’m mad for him.’
She recently shed light on how she met when they first met, saying: ‘He’s so smart, he’s so funny, I like this choice of friends, the way he was living in New York, what was important to him, how he kind of travelled around the city…
‘He was always travelling around on his bicycle, he’s been riding bikes since he was 14. [He’s] really smart and really talented. And he was, I thought, so beautiful and handsome and charming.’
Matthew meanwhile echoed that it was love at first sight, saying: ‘The first time I met her. I saw her walking down the street, and thought, ‘That’s it.”
Speaking to the Los Angeles Times prior to opening night, she said: ‘He’s the funniest fellow I’ve met in my whole life’ (pictured in 2004)
Matthew meanwhile echoed that it was love at first sight, saying: ‘The first time I met her. I saw her walking down the street, and thought, ‘That’s it.” (pictured in 2000)
MARRIAGE AND BABIES
The couple married at New York’s Angel Orensanz Synagogue on May 19, 1997, with 100 of their nearest and dearest filling the venue.
Five years after tying the knot, Sarah and Matthew welcomed their first child, son James Wilke Broderick, on October 28, 2002.
In 2009, the couple welcomed their two twin daughters, Marion Loretta Elwell Broderick and Tabitha Hodge Broderick, via surrogate on June 22.
Sarah has previously described the couple’s quest to ensure their children do not take things for granted – particularly the value of money.
She said: ‘You want your children to understand what it means to earn money, what it takes to earn money, the value of it. They [should know] the expectations will be the same for them…
‘I think it’s a great way of living for children, that their needs are met — to be fed, safe and loved. The important things in life: books and food and interesting experiences, and they’re warm in the winter and cool in summer…
‘But they should pine for things, they should want things. And we should also be interested in, how do they contribute to the things, at a certain point?’
Sarah and Matthew welcomed their first child, son James Wilke Broderick, on October 28, 2002. In 2009, the couple welcomed their two twin daughters, Marion Loretta Elwell Broderick and Tabitha Hodge Broderick, via surrogate on June 22 (the family pictured in 2017)
Sarah’s son proudly shared snaps of their whole clan on Instagram
She has shared tributes to her beloved husband on Instagram
THE BIG APPLE, AN ANGLOPHILE AND THE EMERALD ISLE
Sarah revealed in the past that she loved that Matthew wanted to set up life in her beloved New York – something they have done since first meeting.
She said: ‘I love being home in New York. I wanted to build a life here and he was born and raised in the West Village, literally, he’s never lived north of 11th Street.’
As well as their love of the Big Apple, the couple have made no secret of their love of Ireland, often jetting to the Emerald Isle for getaways.
The couple have a holiday home in County Donegal and even spent last Christmas in the quaint landscape – which Matthew previously lauded.
He said: ‘You know the landscape, the hiking but it’s also the people there that I grew up knowing. Real farmers who worked the hay in the summer and milked cows…
‘I really, really got to know my neighbors and that just doesn’t happen in the same way here in the US. We just really felt welcomed there [in Donegal]. It’s another culture, a wonderful place.’
As well as both Ireland and NYC, Sarah has been very candid about her love of England and particularly the capital, where they have recently landed.
Sarah revealed in the past that she loved that Matthew wanted to set up life in her beloved New York – something they have done since first meeting (pictured in 2006)
OVER THE YEARS
After 20 years as a couple, Sarah spoke about her relationship with Matthew, detailing how they work together after so long.
She said: ‘We’ve been together for 20 years and you have good days, you have decent days, and you have bad days. That’s a marriage. That’s a relationship. That’s a friendship even. Relationships outside of marriage run the same course…
‘If you’re in it for the long haul and you want meaningful relationships, you are going to go through lots of different periods.’
Celebrating their 20-year wedding anniversary in May 2017, Sarah shared a sweet snap of the couple on Instagram, writing: ‘It flew by baby. Good golly I love you.’
Last year, Sarah revealed the couple have never spent a night apart with the exception of work and a family emergency.
She said: ‘We’ve never spent a night apart since then, with the exception of work on location. Or, his mother was ill for a bit so he went to take care of her. But from that first night, we’ve never been apart.’
Sarah previously revealed the secret to their marriage is not discussing their union. She said: ‘I’ve always said one of the reasons we’ve had success is because we don’t talk about our marriage…
‘I’m not flattering myself that anyone’s discussing my marriage, but we’re certainly not going to add to it by saying, ‘Well, this is why it works.’ Next thing you know, there’ll be a very public divorce. So we just try to respect each other.’
Matthew meanwhile confessed he does not know why their relationship works, but finds things ‘amazing’ in their love.
He said: ‘I don’t know the secret at all, but I, you know, I’m very grateful and I love her. It’s amazing. I mean, I can’t believe that it’s been that long. It doesn’t feel like it.’
After 20 years as a couple, Sarah spoke about her relationship with Matthew, detailing how they work together after so long (pictured in 2019)
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