Aaron Taylor-Johnson has cemented himself as a heartthrob Hollywood star, with rumors of exciting new projects on the horizon. But off-screen, the actor has already played his most significant role — a devoted husband.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson at the Madrid photocall for “Acqua di Dio” by Giorgio Armani on March 7, 2024, in Spain. | Source: Getty Images
He and his wife’s love story began on the set of a 2009 film. However, over the years, their relationship has weathered intense media scrutiny and harsh public judgment due to their age difference. Despite this, the couple has built a beautiful life together and carved unique career paths.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson and his wife at the world premiere of “Back to Black” on April 8, 2024, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
Hollywood Star Rumored to Be the Next James Bond
Since 2022, Aaron has been a strong contender to don the iconic tuxedo as the next James Bond. By 2024, reports alleged that the “Kick-Ass” star had been formally offered the coveted role, with insiders suggesting he would succeed Daniel Craig as MI6’s most famous spy.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson at the Armani Beauty Passione Party during the 81st Venice International Film Festival on August 31, 2024, in Italy. | Source: Getty Images
Aaron, known for his charisma and intensity on-screen, seemed a natural fit for the role, cementing his status as one of Hollywood’s most versatile talents. His rise to fame began with his breakout performance in the action-comedy “Kick-Ass,” where he played a teenager-turned-superhero.
He followed this with other notable roles, including his portrayal of Quicksilver in “Avengers: Age of Ultron” and a chilling performance in the psychological thriller “Nocturnal Animals,” which earned him a Golden Globe.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson during the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards on January 8, 2017, in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images
However, it hasn’t just been his acting that captivated the public’s attention. Since the late 2000s, Aaron has been in a loving relationship with Sam Taylor-Johnson, an artist and film director. Continue reading to learn more about the actor’s wife.
Meet Sam Taylor-Johnson
Sam made a name for herself as a groundbreaking artist long before meeting her famous actor husband. After graduating from Goldsmiths College in 1990, she became a prominent figure in the London art scene with her evocative photography and installations.
Sam Taylor-Johnson circa 1997. | Source: Getty Images
Her work earned critical acclaim, and she quickly became one of the most celebrated contemporary artists of her time. However, behind the glitz and glamour of her career lay significant personal struggles that would shape her life in profound ways.
Sam Taylor and Hugh Grant at the Sensation Benefit and Exhibition Preview in New York circa 1999. | Source: Getty Images
In 1997, at age 30, she married Jay Jopling, a wealthy art dealer, and the couple shared a luxurious life together. They had two daughters, but Sam later revealed that the high-society lifestyle left her feeling unfulfilled.
“I lived it large for a little while. But I wasn’t happy in the glitzy-glamour, high-market, fancy living. That was a big lesson,” she revealed.
Sam Taylor and Jay Jopling circa 2000. | Source: Getty Images
Around the same time, she was diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent a major surgery to remove part of her intestine. Though the treatment was successful, she revealed that it wasn’t until after her recovery that she fully understood the gravity of her diagnosis.
Sam Taylor-Johnson circa 2001. | Source: Getty Images
Just three years later, Sam faced another health battle when she discovered a lump in her breast. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 and underwent a mastectomy, reconstruction, and chemotherapy. This time, she said the experience deeply changed her perspective.
Sam Taylor-Johnson at an exhibition in London, England, in 2002. | Source: Getty Images
Instead of rushing back into her career, she took the time to focus on her family and herself. “I took all the creative energy I normally spent and I just saved it and kept it inwards. I focused all my energy on staying strong,” Sam admitted.
Sam Taylor-Johnson at the Turner Prize 2003 award ceremony on December 7 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
This period was one of the calmest and most meaningful times in her life. “I was so weak, going through chemo and stuff that I just spent hours and hours playing with Angelica on the floor, with toys,” she recalled.
Sam Taylor-Johnson during the 6th Annual White Tie & Tiara Ball to Benefit the Elton John Aids Foundation in 2004 in Windsor, England. | Source: Getty Images
Emerging stronger from her second battle with cancer, Sam decided to channel her creative energy into filmmaking. In 2008, she signed on to direct “Nowhere Boy,” her first feature film. The drama, which explored John Lennon’s teenage years, would showcase her artistic talent and change her life.
Sam Taylor-Johnson circa 2005. | Source: Getty Images
Falling in Love on Set
During the casting process for “Nowhere Boy,” Sam met Aaron, an 18-year-old actor already gaining recognition in Hollywood. Renowned casting director Nina Gold insisted that Aaron audition for the lead role, even though Sam initially hesitated due to scheduling conflicts.
Aaron and Sam Taylor-Johnson at a charity fundraising event on June 18, 2009, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
When Aaron arrived, Sam was immediately impressed by how deeply he had embodied the character of Lennon. “[…] So I thought, ‘Yup, you’re hired.’ I knew instantly — I could see how much research he’d done already just by the way he was standing and the few words he said,” she revealed.
Sam and Aaron Taylor-Johnson at the “Kick-Ass” European film premiere on March 22, 2010, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
A year to the day after they met, Aaron proposed, saying, “I knew instantly with Sam that I’d found my soulmate. I knew instantly that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with this person.”
“I’ve got a wonderful woman. She’s lovely and she’s a fantastic mother,” the actor said at just 19. Shortly after their engagement, Sam became pregnant with their first child, and in 2012, the couple married in a private ceremony, each taking the other’s last name.
Sam and Aaron Taylor-Johnson at the European premiere of “Godzilla” in 2014 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
Despite the love and happiness they found together, their relationship became the subject of widespread public scrutiny. However, Sam dismissed the negativity, pointing out that her marriage to Aaron had lasted longer than many of her peers’ relationships.
“People like to talk about it. I’m like, ‘Yeah, but it works better than my last marriage,” she stated. Aaron, for his part, stood by his wife unwaveringly.
Sam and Aaron Taylor-Johnson at the LACMA Art + Film Gala on November 3, 2018. | Source: Getty Images
He often spoke about how meeting her changed his life and how their partnership helped him grow into the person he wanted to be. “What you gotta realize,” he said in one interview, “is that what most people were doing in their twenties, I was doing when I was 13.”
Sam and Aaron Taylor-Johnson at the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 24 in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images
“You’re doing something too quickly for someone else? I don’t understand that. What speed are you supposed to enjoy life at? It’s bizarre to me,” the actor added.
“There are times where it’s uncomfortable,” Sam candidly said of the raised eyebrows the couple attracts. “Most of the time we zone it out and stay pretty private. We tend to retreat. Kids and school runs keep you pretty grounded.”
Sam and Aaron Taylor-Johnson with their daughters at the premiere of “Nowhere Boy” during The Times BFI London Film Festival on October 29, 2009, in England. | Source: Getty Images
In addition to raising her two daughters from her previous marriage, the couple welcomed two more daughters together. “My whole thing, my priority, is my family, my kids and my wife. That’s my future,” Aaron said.
The public’s reaction to their relationship has remained divisive over the years, with some admiring their resilience and loving bond.
