Keeley Hawes gives a rare insight into working with husband Matthew Macfadyen but says there are some actors that would stop her signing up for a project

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Keeley Hawes enjoys working with her husband, Matthew Macfadyen, who has won an Emmy, but she doesn’t think of them as a ‘power couple’.

The couple first met in 2002 while working on the BBC series Spooks, and they’re celebrating their 22nd wedding anniversary this year.

Fans were thrilled when they worked together again on the 2023 show, Stonehouse, and Keeley has expressed her desire to collaborate with him on future projects.

Keeley, 50, shared with Grazia that she thoroughly enjoys working with her husband, whom she also deeply loves. She praised his excellent taste in scripts, noting how much she values their professional collaboration.

With a combined seven BAFTA nominations, two Emmy Awards, and five decades of acting experience, Keeley Hawes playfully dismissed the idea of she and her partner being a ‘power couple,’ adding…

Do you ever feel truly influential? Not usually. It often just feels like a simple conversation about everyday tasks, like deciding who will pick up the dry cleaning.

Keeley has four children: Myles, 25, with her former husband, Spencer McCallum, and Maggie, 21, and Ralph, 19, with her current partner, Matthew, 51.

Oh my gosh, you will NOT believe this! She just said her youngest son is actually following in her and her partner’s footsteps – he got into drama school! She was SO proud, saying she’s already got a teacher, a makeup artist, and now, fingers crossed, a real actor in the family! It’s everything a fan like me could hope for!

Although she comes from an acting family, the TV star also hinted in a recent interview that she can quickly spot certain fellow actors who are problematic.

In 2019, Keeley started her own production company, which has since produced shows like the black comedy Finding Alice and the BBC thriller Crossfire.

She acknowledged that the production aspect of her work isn’t always exciting, and shared that she usually chooses scripts based on her gut feeling.

I prioritize how easily something can be read – it should flow like a novel. It’s almost an instinctive response. However, a few specific actors immediately make me hesitant to agree to a project.

Keeley and Matthew are known for having a remarkably solid marriage. They first met on the set of the TV show Spooks 23 years ago, back in 2002.

Oh my gosh, can you believe it’s been 21 years for them?! I was practically glued to Instagram waiting for Keeley to post, and when she did… it was EVERYTHING. Just a bunch of adorable pictures of her and Anthony, and the caption? ’21 years. No notes. Love you with all my heart.’ Seriously, it was her most liked post ever, and I totally get why! It just perfectly captured how amazing their relationship is. I’m obsessed with them!

In an interview with You Magazine, she shared that 21 years doesn’t feel like a long time at all. She and her partner simply enjoy each other’s company, and she’s found that getting older brings a sense of ease and relaxation.

After 21 years, honestly, I’d be worried if our relationship didn’t have its ups and downs! But overall, we’re genuinely very happy together. It just feels normal to have those little waves over time, and we’ve built a really solid life.

She explained that the key to their long-lasting relationship is focusing on the small things. Now that their children have grown and left home, they prioritize spending quality time together, especially through travel and simply enjoying each other’s company.

Their path to a happy ending wasn’t easy, and Matthew has even described falling in love with Keeley as a difficult experience.

Keeley, 26 at the time, had recently married DJ Spencer McCallum, and they share a son, Myles, who is now 25 years old.

In a 2005 interview with the Mail on Sunday, Matthew admitted he was deeply troubled when he met Keeley, as he quickly developed feelings for her despite her being married.

He admitted it was difficult realizing he had developed feelings for her. It wasn’t a sudden thing or an inappropriate relationship, but a gradual realization of how strongly he felt. He was very attracted to her – he said everyone who meets her finds her beautiful.

Keeley and Matthew initially became friends, and she maintains that their relationship didn’t become romantic until after her divorce. She jokes that people might assume they had an affair, but she insists that wasn’t the case.

Keeley described the first time Matthew told her he loved her as a sweet, unexpected moment. He simply blurted it out during a rainy day, which she found a bit surprising.

Keeley’s divorce from Spencer was finalized in 2004, but they remain good friends. She explained that they were best friends before getting married and have successfully maintained that close relationship.

Fortunately, my husband and my ex-husband have a great relationship. They’re both kind and giving, both to each other and to our kids.

In November 2004, she wed Matthew after the pair eloped. 

Matt remembered that they each called a friend to come as witnesses, and people brought disposable cameras to take photos.

‘I read a poem and Keeley cried her eyes out. It was wonderful and romantic.

Keeley was expecting our daughter, and everything felt wonderful. I was really excited that we were getting married, I was turning thirty, and we were about to become parents, all close together – it felt like a dream come true.

The couple had their first child, a daughter named Maggie, the next month, and their son, Ralph, was born two years later in 2006.

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2026-04-14 18:08