Aaron and Sam Taylor-Johnson's Unforgettable Path: From Colleagues to Parenthood and Beyond

Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Sam Taylor-Johnson have consistently stood by their love story, defending both their relationship and the significant age gap between them over the years. The couple's journey began when Aaron auditioned for Sam's directorial debut, Nowhere Boy. Despite his busy filming schedule for Kick-Ass, Aaron made time to audition at Sam's home.

Sam, who was in the midst of a divorce from Jay Jopling, expressed her frustration during a 2017 interview with The Sunday Times UK, describing the situation as highly inconvenient. Eventually, she made the decision to have John Lennon come to her home instead. As soon as she opened the door, she immediately sensed that he was the one. According to the director, she and Aaron had a strong connection while collaborating on the project, with him displaying a determined and unwavering belief in their potential romantic involvement.

In 2009, the couple revealed their engagement and welcomed two daughters into their family. (Sam, on her part, was already a mother to two children with Jopling.)

"I immediately knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with this individual," shared the Anna Karenina actress with The Telegraph UK in 2017. "I was certain that I wanted to start a family with her, have children, and just a month later, she became pregnant with our first child."

After getting married in 2012, Aaron and Sam decided to adopt the surname Taylor-Johnson, combining their last names. Aaron, who is known for his role in Marvel movies, expressed the significance of having his new surname featured in the credits of his upcoming films. He revealed that he had also wanted the change for the movie Savages, but unfortunately, the posters had already been printed. Determined to have his new name recognized, Aaron fought for the alteration in other projects, stating that it was an important and meaningful decision for him.

In their journey together, Aaron and Sam have consistently defended their relationship against criticism regarding their 10-year age difference. Back in 2017, the accomplished actor, known for his role in Godzilla, strongly criticized the invasive reactions they faced when they decided to make their relationship public.

Reflecting on the experience, he candidly expressed, "However, going through that at the beginning of my career actually helped me develop a thicker skin, enabling me to swiftly adopt a 'screw it' attitude, rather than feeling the urge to retaliate aggressively towards those who ask uncomfortable questions," he revealed in an interview with New York Magazine.

The photographer expressed her deep connection with Aaron, describing him as her soulmate. In 2017, she expressed her gratitude for the happiness she feels every day and mentioned that they spend every minute together.

Furthermore, she shared that her friends affectionately refer to Aaron as Benjamin Button, as he appears youthful on the outside but possesses great wisdom and stability on the inside. He is not fond of social gatherings, preferring instead to spend time at home and cook for the family. He enjoys taking the dogs for walks and has a special fondness for his chickens, collecting their eggs and making breakfast for everyone. Overall, he is described as an incredible man.

The executive producer of Solos expressed her indifference towards the age gap between her and Aaron, attributing it to their long-lasting relationship. In an interview with The Daily Beast in 2019, she stated that their decade-long companionship diminishes the need for discussions on the matter. She further added that the age difference does not concern her and is not a challenging topic to address, as their story is a positive one. Their ability to work together and raise a resilient family after a decade is seen as an encouraging message for others.

Scroll down to relive Aaron and Sam’s romance:

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Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Sam Taylor-Johnson's Relationship Timeline: From Coworkers to Parents and Beyond

Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Sam Taylor-Johnson have steadfastly stood by their love story, defending their relationship and the age gap between them over the years. Their journey began when Aaron auditioned for Sam's directorial debut, Nowhere Boy. Despite his busy filming schedule for Kick-Ass, the English actor made time to audition at Sam's residence.

During a 2017 interview with The Sunday Times UK, Sam, who was undergoing a divorce with Jay Jopling at the time, expressed her frustration, stating, "It was so inconvenient." Eventually, she decided that Jay would have to come to her place. To her surprise, when she opened the door, it was John Lennon standing in front of her, and she instantly felt a strong connection with him.

Reflecting on their collaboration, the director mentioned that she felt a deep bond with Aaron, emphasizing his intense nature and unwavering determination to pursue a romantic relationship with her.

In 2009, they revealed their engagement and welcomed two daughters into their family. Sam, who already had two children with Jopling, became a mother once again. The Anna Karenina actress shared in a 2017 interview with The Telegraph UK, "From the moment I met this person, I was certain that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with them. I knew deep down that I wanted to build a family together, and just a month later, we discovered she was pregnant with our first child."

Shortly after getting married in 2012, Aaron and Sam decided to adopt the combined last name of Taylor-Johnson. Aaron, who is known for his role in Marvel movies, expressed the significance of having his new surname displayed in the credits of his upcoming films. He revealed that he had also wanted the change to be reflected in the movie "Savages," but unfortunately, the posters had already been released. Undeterred, Aaron persisted in his efforts to see his altered name in future projects, emphasizing how important and meaningful it felt to him.

Over the years, Aaron and Sam have consistently defended their relationship against criticism of their 10-year age difference. In 2017, the actor known for his role in Godzilla strongly criticized the invasive reactions they received when they made their relationship public.

"However, facing such challenges early on in my career has ultimately shaped my ability to brush it off and not let it bother me," he revealed in an interview with New York Magazine.

In 2017, the photographer expressed her admiration for the deep connection she developed with Aaron, describing him as her soulmate. She considered herself fortunate to wake up each day filled with happiness, as they spent every moment together.

According to Sam, her friends affectionately referred to Aaron as "Benjamin Button" due to his youthful appearance juxtaposed with his wisdom and contentment. He preferred the comforts of home and enjoyed preparing meals for the family, walking their dogs, and tending to his beloved chickens. Sam concluded by praising Aaron as an incredible individual.

The executive producer of Solos expressed her lack of concern about the age gap between her and Aaron, attributing it to their long-standing relationship. In an interview with The Daily Beast in 2019, she stated that their decade-long partnership diminishes the need for discussions on the matter. She further emphasized that the age difference does not trouble her and is an easy topic to address due to the positive narrative surrounding their story – being able to work together, raise a resilient family, and continue their journey together after a decade. This, she believes, can serve as an inspiring message for others.

Scroll down to relive Aaron and Sam's romance:

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2008

The duo met when Aaron auditioned for the role of John Lennon in Nowhere Boy. At the time, the Nocturnal Animals star was either 18 or 19 years old while his now-wife was 42.

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2008

Sam confirmed her divorce from Jopling, with whom she shares daughters Anjelica and Jessie.

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2009

After filming wrapped on Nowhere Boy, Aaron and Sam started dating and announced their engagement that same year.

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2010

Aaron and Sam expanded their family with daughter Wylda Rae.

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2012

The former coworkers welcomed daughter Romy Hero.

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2012

The BAFTA nominee enthusiastically shared his choice to adopt his spouse's last name following their wedding. In an interview with Evening Standard, he expressed his belief that women shouldn't feel obligated to take their partner's surname. He emphasized his desire to be equally involved in their relationship, stating that he wanted to be a part of her life just as much as she wanted to be a part of his.

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2015

"Having emerged from a challenging relationship, I am now basking in the bliss of an incredible partnership," shared Sam with The Guardian. "This newfound stability has empowered me to embark on this monumental project. What's truly remarkable about Aaron is his contentment in being a stay-at-home dad, taking care of the children while I pursue my career. In fact, we sometimes find ourselves engaged in a friendly disagreement over it. He insists, 'No, no, I genuinely enjoy being an at-home dad, taking charge of the cooking and the school runs.'"

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2017

During his acceptance speech at the Golden Globes, Aaron expressed his gratitude towards his wife with a heartfelt acknowledgement.

"I am immensely grateful to my wife for standing by my side and providing unwavering support throughout this journey. Thank you for enduring my difficult moments during the portrayal of this character. You are my soulmate, and I cherish you dearly," he expressed. "I consider myself truly blessed as I have been blessed with the presence of four remarkable daughters: Anjelica, Phoenix, Wylda, and Romy. My love for all of you knows no bounds."

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2017

"I find more fulfillment in my role as a father than in my career as an actor. There are times when I contemplate giving it all up," expressed the star of Avengers: Age of Ultron in an interview with Mr. Porter, as he reflected on the next phase of his life. "Their mother is an incredible woman, one of the strongest and most independent individuals I have ever known. She is truly a role model."

Aaron expressed that he does not actively "analyze" his marriage, but instead, he simply knows that it functions well. He feels a strong sense of security, love, and safety within the relationship. They share a deep connection and are in perfect harmony.

On the other hand, Sam shared her perspective by stating that if she paid attention to what others thought, she would be extremely unhappy and possibly still trapped in a miserable marriage. Despite people's inclination to discuss her current relationship, she confidently affirms that it surpasses the success of her previous marriage and has outlasted many of her friends' unions.

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2019

"When I crossed paths with Sam, my life had already surpassed the experiences of my peers. I found it challenging to connect with individuals of my age group. However, there was an undeniable sense of resonance between us," shared Aaron during an interview with The Telegraph UK in 2019.

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2019

The longtime collaborators expressed their experience of working together on A Million Little Pieces as "the pinnacle of our achievements," as shared by Sam in a joint interview with Harper's Bazaar. Aaron further emphasized the significance of their collaboration by stating, "It surpasses all other accomplishments, especially because we accomplished it side by side."

In their revelation, the duo, who coauthored the screenplay, disclosed that they have been inseparable for the entirety of their marriage, with only a mere two or three days spent apart.

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2021

Sam got Aaron's name tattooed on her after he previously added hers on his chest.

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2022

Following 10 years of marriage, Aaron and Sam celebrated by renewing their vows.

"It was a celebration filled with love and happiness!" expressed the Bullet Train star on Instagram. "We commemorated a decade of blissful matrimony. The day was enchanting and unforgettable, with the sun radiating its warmth upon us. We feel immensely blessed. Sammy, you are my one true love, my life partner, my soulmate, my beloved wife, my entire world!" 

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June 2023

Sam expressed her heartfelt wishes to her husband on his 33rd birthday, acknowledging him as a loving husband and an exceptional father to their daughters. She conveyed her love for him through a message posted on Instagram.

In the following days, Sam delighted her fans by sharing a captivating poster of her husband for his upcoming film, Kraven the Hunter. The director playfully captioned the post, humorously expressing her desire for her talented spouse.