Can celebrities really manifest their dream roles through style choices?
While their May 2018 nuptials at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle were the decade's biggest, it turns out the couple were already married! In their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, Markle confessed: “Three days before our wedding, we got married." Apparently she and Harry called the Archbishop of Canterbury and requested an authentic ceremony with just the two of them in their backyard, separate from the spectacle of the royal wedding. "Nobody knows that," she added.
The former couple wanted to keep their A-list wedding under wraps, so they invited their guests to their backyard party under the pretense of celebrating Theroux's birthday in August 2015, then sprung the wedding on them.
The comedian married chef Chris Fischer in a secret outdoor ceremony in February 2018.
In September 2014, having been together for 10 years already, this couple tied the knot at an intimate ceremony at a castle in Italy.
Ariana Grande's relationships have been under heavy public scrutiny, which is perhaps why she secretly got married without anyone knowing! On May 15, 2021, the singer said "thank you, yes" to real estate broker Dalton Gomez, whom she started dating early in 2020. The private pair kept things quiet until Grande announced her engagement in December, and they were wed in their Montecito, California, home with "less than 20 people" in attendance, according to People. However, they announced the end of their relationship in 2023.
Elizabeth Olsen let it slip that she married her longtime partner Robbie Arnett without anyone knowing! In an appearance on Variety's Actors on Actors series on June 8, the 'WandaVision' actress simply referred to Arnett as "my husband," and the cat was out of the bag. The Marvel actress and the musician, who is a member of pop band Milo Greene, started dating in 2017 and got quietly engaged in 2019.
Actress Zoe Saldana had a whirlwind wedding to Italian artist Marco Perego in a secret London ceremony in June 2013.
See also: Whirlwind celebrity engagements
'This Is Us' actor Justin Hartley tied the knot for the third time, this time with 'Jane the Virgin' actress Sofia Pernas, according to E! News. They've been dating for about a year and have yet to share details on the big day, but they've been spotted a few times in May 2021 wearing matching wedding bands.
After months of speculation that they'd already tied the knot, Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani officially married on July 3. The intimate ceremony took place in a chapel on Shelton’s Oklahoma ranch. He'd reportedly built that chapel with the intention of marrying the No Doubt singer there. The couple had announced their engagement, which was an equally quiet affair at the time, in October 2020.
Nickelodeon alum Drake Bell surprised everyone when he took to Twitter to reveal that he's actually married and has a child. Bell, who now calls himself Drake Campana, tweeted the news in Spanish after he was spotted with wife Janet Von Schmeling and a baby stroller at Disneyland. "In response to various rumors that are incorrect, I have been married for almost 3 years and we are blessed to be the parents of a wonderful son," the actor's translated tweet reads, ET reports. "Thank you very much to all my fans around the world for your good wishes." Unfortunately, they called it quits in 2023.
Anna Faris let slip on her podcast that she secretly married her long-time boyfriend, the cinematographer Michael Barrett. The two eloped and got married in a courthouse ceremony on the San Juan Islands without telling their families. Faris seemed to be very happy with the decision. She revealed to People magazine a few months earlier that they're both somewhat introverted: "We're both probably introverts in a very similar way."
John Corbett had a rare moment of openness with the press when he shared on CBS's 'The Talk' that he secretly married his partner of 20 years, Bo Derek, in December of last year. On the August 3 episode he confessed that it was is the first time the couple has shared the news publicly, though their friends and family have been in the loop. “After 20 years, we decided to get married," Corbett explained. "We didn’t want 2020 to be that thing where everybody looks back and hated it. Let’s get one nice thing out of this.”
'In Treatment' and 'Orange Is the New Black' star Uzo Aduba has revealed that she secretly married the filmmaker Robert Sweeting in 2020. She shared the news on the day of their one-year anniversary with a photo from their wedding day. She captioned it with a quote from 'When Harry Met Sally...' (1989): "When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."
'The Good Doctor' star Freddie Highmore dropped the big news while appearing on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' and only after the host spotted his wedding ring. “Yes, it is a wedding ring. Yes, I got married,” Highmore confirmed. “It’s funny ever since I’ve been wearing this ring people have been asking me if I’m married, so I figured, I should clarify it."Highmore joked that he's "not gonna jump up and down on the couch on the talk show and express my excitement that way. I know that you do that in America. But I’m as happy as a Brit can be and I’m married to a very wonderful woman now, so yes I feel very happy." The actor didn't reveal her identity, but confirmed his wife is also British.
Indian actress Freida Pinto revealed that she eloped with her photographer fiancé, Cory Tran, during lockdown. She shared the news on 'The Kelly Clarkson Show' and told the story of their impromptu wedding. Pinto and Tran got engaged back in 2019 and expected to have a big wedding, but the pandemic put a stop to their plans. Pinto decided she didn't want the stress of planning a huge affair anyway, or as she put it, "I do not want stomach ulcers from planning my own wedding.” Instead, the couple stepped out one day during the pandemic and just did it. “It was absolutely perfect," Pinto said, "We got married and then we got to go home and take an afternoon nap.”
James McAvoy confirmed in an interview that he did indeed secretly marry girlfriend and Philadelphia native Lisa Liberati. The 'Atomic Blonde' and 'X-Men' actor told Guardian of Philly, “Yeah, it’s like a second home for me," but declined to comment further on their marriage because he wanted to avoid creating “tabloid fodder.” The Scottish star is said to have met his now-wife on the set of his 2016 horror-thriller 'Split,' where she was personal assistant to director M. Night Shyamalan. They only started dating a couple of years after that, but rumors of their marriage spread as early as 2019.
Actor Josh Hartnett secretly became a married man in November 2021 when he tied the knot with longtime partner, English actress Tamsin Egerton, in London, People reports. The private pair met on the set of 'The Lovers' in 2011 and have been together ever since, sharing three kids before taking the proverbial plunge.
Jon Batiste picked up an impressive five Grammy awards on April 3, including Album of the Year for 'We Are,' out of an even more impressive 11 nominations. But while that might be one of the happiest days of his life, another of his happiest days secretly happened two months prior. The musician privately married Suleika Jaouad, author of the bestselling cancer memoir 'Between Two Kingdoms,' back in February, they revealed to CBS Sunday Morning. The couple has been together for eight years but decided to seize the moment after Jaouad was diagnosed with leukemia for the second time. "We got married the day before I was admitted to the hospital to undergo my bone marrow transplant," she shared, adding that they didn't even have formal rings at their sudden "tiny, beautiful, little ceremony," and instead "used bread ties."
Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons have been a private couple since they got together on the set of 'Fargo' in 2015. They first made a public appearance as a couple the following year. Finally, six years and two kids later, the Hollywood power couple confirmed their status as newlyweds! A spokesperson told Page Six that the pair had gotten married but wouldn't share any other details. Another source suggests they got married in a small private ceremony in Jamaica on the Fourth of July weekend.
Actor Jay Ellis finally married his partner Nina Senicar in July after seven years together. The pair got engaged in 2019, but like so many couples, their wedding plans kept getting derailed by the pandemic. Finally, almost three years later, they quietly tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Italy. Ellis shared the happy news on social media on July 18, posting a stunning photo of the couple on their wedding day with the caption, "July 9th, 2022… Per sempre," which translates to "forever." The ceremony was reportedly attended by a few of Ellis's 'Insecure' co-stars, including Issa Rae, and his 'Top Gun: Maverick' co-star Glen Powell. Other famous faces included Anna Kendrick and Peter Nelson. Their two-year-old daughter Nora Grace served as the flower girl.
'The Queen's Gambit' star Anya Taylor-Joy reportedly married her boyfriend, actor and musician Malcolm McRae in July. The pair first sparked rumors of an engagement when Taylor-Joy was spotted wearing what appeared to be an engagement ring in June. A month later, sources let slip that they were secretly married in an intimate courthouse wedding.
All eyes have been on Taika Waititi and Rita Ora's relationship ever since their public debut in April 2021, but they still managed to get married in secret, revealing only their wedding bands in some Instagram pictures. According to UK tabloid The Sun and backed up from E! Online, Rita Ora will now go by Rita Waititi-Ora. The ceremony itself was reportedly low-key, as a source said: “It was a really intimate ceremony and super-special for everyone there. Their nearest and dearest can see how madly in love they are." The source continued, "Despite living in the spotlight, Rita is determined to keep the relationship as private as possible and didn’t want to make a big song and dance about the wedding. A big, showbiz-style bash is planned to celebrate, but don’t expect to see it being flogged to the highest-bidding magazine."
Lee Pace, who starred in 'Bodies Bodies Bodies,' revealed that he is married—and has been for some time! In an interview with GQ, the actor revealed he is married to Matthew Foley, who is reportedly an executive at Thom Browne, and though he didn't say when the pair tied the knot, he did mention that they've been together for several years after being introduced by a mutual friend. "What I'll say about being married, it was once described to me as an endless sleepover with your weirdest friend," Pace said to GQ. "In our experience, that is absolutely true. If you've found one person you can be weird around, hold on tight." If that wasn't sweet enough, the actor also revealed he's thinking about starting a family. "I'd love to have kids," he said, "I think there's nothing better than little kids running around."
New Kids on the Block member Jonathan Knight revealed that he secretly married his long-term partner, Harley Rodriguez. In an interview, Knight was asked about the ring on his finger and whether or not he had finally tied the knot. "We did," he answered "But everybody just assumed we're married, so, I never say yes or no 'cause I don't wanna lie." The pair wed in secret but planned to properly celebrate their nuptials after the COVID-19 pandemic. "It's coming," he promised.
Gabourey Sidibe revealed her big news over a year after it happened! The 'Precious' actress appeared on 'Live With Kelly and Ryan' on December 5, 2022, and spoke about why she doesn't like weddings: “Here’s an example of how much I don’t like weddings. I’m actually married. We got married over a year ago.” Host Kelly Ripa asked, “Oh, my God, is that the truth? Is this breaking news?” Sidibe's husband, Brandon Frankel, confirmed it by showing his silver wedding band. Sidibe added, “We got married at the kitchen table. It was just us.” Frankel later celebrated the reveal on Instagram and clarified that their nuptials took place in March 2021. "SURPRISE!"he wrote. "I can finally call her my WIFE publicly."
The Olsen twins have been extremely private individuals since stepping out of the spotlight of child stardom, which is why news of Ashley Olsen's marriage only broke a week after the fact! She has been dating artist Louis Eisner since 2017 but the couple have flown under the radar since then, only making their red carpet debut in 2021. They reportedly tied the knot on December 28 at a private house in Bel-Air with just a few dozen guests in attendance.
Kanye "Ye" West is no stranger to making headlines, and in fact it seems like something he enjoys doing, which is why it came as such a surprise to find out that he held a secret wedding ceremony with Yeezy architectural designer Bianca Censori. According to TMZ, Censori, who hails from Australia, has worked with Yeezy for several years. While there's no word yet on whether the pair filed a marriage certificate to make it legal, Ye was spotted wearing a wedding ring on January 8, 2023. In his song 'Censori Overload," released in December called, he raps about the Bible's no-sex-before-marriage rule, which might be a clue as to why they may have tied the knot so fast...
Sia has always loved her privacy—remember that period where she wouldn't let us see her face?—so perhaps it's no surprise that her wedding was a secret. The Australian singer-songwriter wed her boyfriend Dan Bernad in a very intimate ceremony, with only six guests, at Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana's Villa Olivetta in Portofino, Italy, reports People.
It's unclear when the pair even started dating, as she has shared only one photo of him on Instagram in October 2022 with the caption, "Pride forever! #lgbtqia+ #LAFC #22" and added, "also just finished my next album! A great day all round!" Sia previously married to Erik Anders in August 2014, just two months after Lang revealed their engagement, though they called it quits in December 2016.
Actress and reality star Chrishell Stause, best known for appearing on Netflix's 'Selling Sunset,' started dating Australian musician G Flip in 2022. A year later, news broke that the pair are now married, although the details of their wedding haven't been shared. Stause shared an Instagram reel chronicling their relationship set to one of her new spouse's songs on May 10. The reel included a photo of them kissing in front of an altar, with Stause in a white dress and G Flip in a black suit. The couple got together last year when Stause starred in a steamy music video with the musician.
Justin Long and Kate Bosworth revealed that they had gotten engaged on an episode of his podcast, 'Life Is Short,' on April 4, 2023. Then in a May 9 episode, Long casually referred to her as his wife! Sources say the couple had a small, impromptu wedding at the Rockaway Hotel in Queens, New York City, at the beginning of May.
After sparking reconciliation rumors in April 2023, Ashanti and Nelly confirmed their relationship status in the fall of 2023. The R&B singer and the rapper first began dating in 2003 when they were at the height of their careers and were together on and off until 2013. Ten years later, they rekindled their romance, and it didn't take long for things to get serious! In April 2024, the pair revealed that they were engaged and that Ashanti was expecting her first baby at the age of 43. However, public records obtained by People have revealed that the pair already tied the knot on December 27, 2023.
The actress wed Richard Branson's nephew in a super-secret New York ceremony in December 2012, and apparently even her parents didn't know about it.
Irish actress Saoirse Ronan and Scottish actor Jack Lowden have had a low-key relationship for over five years. They met on the set of the movie 'Mary Queen of Scots' (2018) in which they played husband and wife, and have been together ever since. The pair kept quiet about their relationship, refusing to talk about each other in interviews or even confirm their romance. However, they've been spotted together consistently, and in 2023, Lowden sparked engagement rumors by posting a photo of a hand wearing a diamond ring from the summit of Ben Vrackie mountain in Scotland. The pair reportedly tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Scotland during a weekend in July. Lowden's acting career has been focused on the stage, although he also appeared in Christopher Nolan's 'Dunkirk' (2017) and runs a production company with now-wife Saoirse Ronan and producer Dominic Norris. The couple bought a house in West Cork, Ireland, in 2020, but live in London with their dog Fran.
Celebrities have to deal with the public's prying eyes on a daily basis, and the press is frighteningly skilled at securing details of their private lives, so it always comes as a bit of a shock when something big happens in their lives that escapes our radar, like tying the knot.
Despite the challenges, many other famous faces have managed to hold a clandestine ceremony away from the eyes of the press. Click through this gallery to see which other celebrity couples got married in secret.
Celebrity couples who got married secretly
Saoirse Ronan has quietly tied the knot with boyfriend of five years Jack Lowden
CELEBRITY Weddings
Irish actress Saoirse Ronan and Scottish actor Jack Lowden have had a low-key relationship for over five years. They met on the set of the movie 'Mary Queen of Scots' (2018) in which they played husband and wife, and have been together ever since. The pair kept quiet about their relationship, refusing to talk about each other in interviews or even confirm their romance. However, they've been spotted together consistently, and in 2023, Lowden sparked engagement rumors by posting a photo of a hand wearing a diamond ring from the summit of Ben Vrackie mountain in Scotland. The pair reportedly tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Scotland during a weekend in July. Lowden's acting career has been focused on the stage, although he also appeared in Christopher Nolan's 'Dunkirk' (2017) and runs a production company with now-wife Saoirse Ronan and producer Dominic Norris. The couple bought a house in West Cork, Ireland, in 2020, but live in London with their dog Fran.
Celebrities have to deal with the public's prying eyes on a daily basis, and the press is frighteningly skilled at securing details of their private lives, so it always comes as a bit of a shock when something big happens in their lives that escapes our radar, like tying the knot.
Despite the challenges, many other famous faces have managed to hold a clandestine ceremony away from the eyes of the press. Click through this gallery to see which other celebrity couples got married in secret.