Naomi Watts and Billy Crudup’s Full Relationship Timeline
Naomi Watts and Billy Crudup kept their relationship very quiet to start, waiting half a decade before they even walked the red carpet together. They then surprised everyone with a wedding at a New York City courthouse—and then with a second wedding one year later!
The couple knew one another for years before they were cast as husband and wife on Netflix’s short-lived series, Gypsy. But those roles changed the course of their friendship. Here’s the full timeline of their romance so far.
Watts and Crudup reportedly met almost a decade before they began dating, participating in a benefit called 24 Hour Plays, according to Broadway World, which raised money for New York City public schools’ art education programs.
At the time, Watts was in a relationship with Liev Schreiber, with whom she welcomed two children, Alexander and Kai.
Watts and Schreiber announced that they had split up after 11 years together in September 2016. They released a joint statement reading, “Over the past few months we’ve come to the conclusion that the best way forward for us as a family is to separate as a couple.”
They continued, “It is with great love, respect, and friendship in our hearts that we look forward to raising our children together and exploring this new phase of our relationship. While we appreciate your curiosity and support, we ask the press to be mindful of our children and respect their right to privacy.”
That same month, Watts and Crudup were reunited as they began filming Gypsy for Netflix, where they were cast as husband and wife.
Watts and Crudup were first linked romantically in spring 2017. They were spotted on what looked like a date in New York City, grabbing a sushi lunch together.
They kept their budding relationship quiet for a while. In fact, Watts told Red Magazine a few months after she and Crudup were first seen together that she wasn’t dating at all.
“Right now I’m at a point where I’m healing and just wanting to protect the family unit, and we’re doing, so far, a pretty good job with that,” she shared. “[Dating] just seems completely frivolous and counterproductive and just not really in my world right now.”
She then called herself “single” while speaking to Vogue Australia.
“I mean, I’m single, I’m co-parenting. I’m doing okay,” she said.
Crudup also shared his dating status around that time in an interview with Mr. Porter.
“There’s a lot of pressure in acting...It’s hard to maintain all of your relationships,” he said. “My son is with me part-time, so if I’m not working, I’m with him. And I have a great group of friends in New York. But I’m happiest when I’m in a relationship, for sure. And I have great faith that I’m going to find one to persevere with.”
Watts and Crudup were seen together in New York again in July 2017, per Page Six. An eyewitness saw them in a Tribeca restaurant, saying, “Naomi Watts and Billy Crudup walked in holding hands. We didn’t know they were a couple. Pretty cool seeing two big stars so into each other.”
The witness added that they “looked happy and were laughing a lot, then left again holding hands.”
In February 2018, the couple reportedly attended Vogue’s BAFTAs after-party in London and were seen holding hands as they left.
Watts attended the opening of Crudup’s one-man play, Harry Clarke, in New York at the Minetta Lane Theatre on March 18, 2018.
Crudup talked about the show with Entertainment Tonight and declined to comment about Watts. He said, “I try to make it a point of not commenting publicly one way or the other about my personal life...I don’t particularly see the advantage of people knowing too much about me if I’m constantly trying to trick them into thinking I’m someone else.”
Crudup thanked Watts while accepting his award for Best Supporting Actor at the 25th annual Critics’ Choice Awards for his role on The Morning Show. He said, “Thanks to them and…my son and my friends and family and Naomi and everybody, so thanks a lot.”
He thanked her again after winning an Emmy Award for the same role in September 2020, also thanking her children in his acceptance speech.
“And to the young people in my life: my glorious son, Will, my nephews, and all my godchildren, Sasha and Kai, please save us,” he said. “Sorry to ask. I love you, and thank you.”
The couple were photographed walking her dog in New York City, laughing and sharing a conversation.
They were seen out with the puppy again in early June, wearing masks.
Watts and Crudup finally made their red carpet debut at the 2022 SAG Awards in Santa Monica after five years together. Crudup was nominated for his role on The Morning Show.
Watts and Crudup were one another’s date at the wedding of InStyle’s former editor-in-chief Laura Brown in Hawaii. Watts posted pics on Instagram that included shots of her and Crudup together. She captioned them, “We adored the romance, found the light, bum-rushed the dance floor, over ate and drank, and we don’t regret any of it. Congratulations to the beautiful couple.”
Watts and Schreiber celebrated the middle school graduation of their younger child, Kai, in June 2022, and were joined by Crudup.
In the caption, she used the hashtag #modernfamily.
For Crudup’s 54th birthday, the actress shared a selfie of them both from a trip to Paris, writing, “Happy Birthday my love.”
Watts joined Crudup at the 74th Emmy Awards, where he was nominated again for his role on The Morning Show. She posted a few Instagram photos from the event, writing, “Shout out to: @Prada for the frock! 👗Billy for the fun 😘.”
In a second post, she shared a pic of them together, writing, “What a night... What a dress... What a gent... ❤️✨.”
Watts and Crudup were both at the party celebrating the release of her wellness brand, Stripes, which “targets menopause-related symptoms from ‘scalp to vag,’” according to an interview she did with InStyle.
They also attended ELLE’s 29th Annual Women in Hollywood celebration at the Getty Center in Los Angeles on October 17.
They were guests at the UNICEF Winter Gala at in St. Barths on December 29.
Watts was Crudup’s date at the premiere of Hello Tomorrow.
Engagement rumors sparked in late April 2023 when Watts was seen in New York City wearing what looked like a diamond ring on her left hand.
On June 9, Page Six reported that the couple might be married after photographers saw them wearing matching rings. On June 10, Watts announced their marriage herself, sharing a picture of them on the steps of a Manhattan courthouse, with the caption, “Hitched! 🕊️🪢♥️.”
She wore a long sleeveless dress with white lace overlay and square neckline by Oscar de la Renta, and Crudup wore a navy suit.
A source told People shortly after, “They love going on dates to different restaurants. They often bike around NYC and hang out on the beach in the Hamptons with friends. Naomi always smiles with Billy.”
While promoting Stripes at a wellness event in Hampton Bays, Watts shared some details of her and Crudup’s intimate life. She stated that communication goes a long way, especially in the bedroom.
“Whatever it is you're going through, if you can talk to your partner and take away the awkwardness...and most of the time, if they’re good people, they will be empathetic,” she said. “And that’s hot—that’s really hot when you can be honest and the conversation lands really well.”
The couple attended the US Open, sitting beside actor Sam Rockwell and his partner Leslie Bibb.
The couple enjoyed the Golden Globes in Los Angeles.
A year after their legal wedding, Watts and Crudup had a second ceremony and celebration in Mexico City. The actress’s brother, Ben Watts, shared a clip from the event in which Watts can be seen in a stunning white dress.
Watts shared another European vacation photo for Crudup’s birthday.
Both Watts and Crudup were nominated at the 76th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, Watts for her role in Feud: Capote vs. The Swans. Crudup won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for The Morning Show. He praised Watts in his acceptance speech.
“This is an incredible honor. Thank you all,” he said. “I’m happy to be here with my piece of eye candy there, my wife, who also happens to be an immigrant and also gave a searing performance this year for which she’s nominated. And she starts businesses, too. So nice to be by her side.”
Watts shared a photo of her kissing his cheek as he held his Emmy statue, writing in the caption, “Proud of you Billy.”
That same month, Watts celebrated her birthday by playing pickleball with “the hubster.”
The pair walked the red carpet at the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards.
They attended opening night of Angry Alan at Studio Seaview Theatre on June 11.
The pair giggled together on the red carpet at the Venice International Film Festival.
On September 4, the couple went to the premiere of TASK in New York at Perelman Performing Arts Center.
Watts joined Crudup at the season 4 premiere of The Morning Show at the Museum of Modern Art on September 9.
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