Dame Helen Mirren thinks building a house with her husband strengthened their marriage.
The 70-year-old actress has been married to Taylor Hackford since 1997 and, although they’ve had their ups and downs over the years, she believes their marriage became indestructible after they built their own home in Salento, Italy because it forced them to lean on one another.
Asked what the secret is to a long-lasting marriage, she explained: "You build houses together. If anything’s going to make you divorce, it’ll be building a house together. If you get through that, that’s a huge triumph."
But the couple have not only just reached milestones together, they have also learnt a lot from one another and are grateful to have someone in their life who brings out the best in them.
She told OK! magazine: "We’re very different but I’ve learnt a huge amount from him, including returning phone calls. If he gets a phone call, he returns it immediately. He’s one of those detail-orientated people. I admire him very much. But then, it’s a two-way street. I’m sure he’s also learnt things from me."
Dame Helen Mirren’s secret to a long-lasting marriage
