Ryan Piers Williams, the real-life husband of America Ferrera, made a special appearance as her onscreen spouse in the movie Barbie. According to an exclusive source in the latest issue of We, it was a delightful experience for them to collaborate and attend public events hand in hand. It is worth mentioning that public appearances are not frequent for the couple, who are 39 and 42 years old respectively.
According to the insider, they typically prefer to avoid attention and prioritize keeping their personal lives separate. They are devoted parents to their 5-year-old son Sebastian and 3-year-old daughter Lucia. Recently, both Ferrera and Williams shared pictures from their date night at the Barbie premiere, with Ferrera captioning her Instagram post, "You're always my favorite and forever Ken, you're adorable," as she looked stunning in a rhinestone gown, featuring a plunging neckline and sheer black gloves.
Williams, for his part, wrote in his own post: “I can’t wait for you all to see America in this film! #barbieworld.”
Ryan Piers Williams and America Ferrera first crossed paths at the University of Southern California as film students. Williams, for his debut short film Muertas in 2005, cast Ferrera. Their professional collaboration soon blossomed into a personal relationship, and the couple eventually decided to cohabitate together, prompting rumors of an impending engagement.
Ferrera denied the rumors in May 2007 and expressed disbelief at her family receiving calls about it. She released a statement to clarify that it was false, which then became a news story. She sarcastically commented on the idea that it is considered news when something doesn't happen, comparing it to a headline about California not being hit by a hurricane.
In June 2010, Williams proposed to Ferrera and they got married the following year. They have continued to work together, playing a disconnected couple in the 2014 film X/Y, which Williams also directed.
"We first crossed paths while working, and ever since then, working alongside each other has played a significant role in our relationship," Ferreira shared with Metro U.S. in March 2015. "Often, when we collaborate, we become fully engrossed in our work. Being completely absorbed in the same project and sharing moments on set together ultimately strengthens our bond."
America Ferrera and Ryan Piers Williams recently marked their twelfth wedding anniversary in June. Ferrera took to Instagram to share a throwback photo of them cutting their wedding cake, captioning it, "Happy Anniversary to my lifelong partner and emergency contact. It's been 18 years together, and we still look so young @ryanpierswilliams #12married."
For more on Ferrera and Williams’ romance, watch the video above and pick up the latest issue of We, on newsstands now.