Actor Ben Stiller has opened up about rekindling his relationship with wife Christine Taylor following their separation, sharing how their time apart ultimately strengthened their marriage.
The couple, who married in 2000 and are parents to daughter Ella, 22, and son Quinlin, 19, separated in 2017 but found their way back to each other during the COVID-19 pandemic when they moved back in together.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Stiller, 59, reflected on their journey, explaining that the separation gave them space to evaluate their relationship and appreciate their family unit. Despite being apart for three to four years, they maintained a connection throughout.
"In my mind, I never didn't want us to be together," Stiller revealed. The pandemic created an unexpected opportunity for reconciliation when they found themselves living under the same roof again. The couple spent almost a year sharing a home before officially reuniting.
Taylor, 53, previously shared on The Drew Barrymore Show that their initial separation stemmed from growing in different directions after marrying quickly early in their relationship. She emphasized that despite their separation, they "always stayed a family unit."
The time apart allowed both partners to grow individually and understand themselves better. Now back together, they've discovered a new appreciation for their relationship. As Stiller expressed, "There's nothing like that, when you come back. You have so much more appreciation for what you have, because we know we could not have it."
The couple's reunion, which became public in February 2022, has been a positive development for their entire family. Their story stands out as an uncommon but heartwarming example of couples finding their way back to each other after separation.