The poetry in the partnership of Matthew Macfadyen and Keeley Hawes has reverberated in the rhythms of a happy marriage for over two decades. The two thespians' lives merged like verses, with each contributing a distinct color and certainty to their long-standing love. They have not only developed as a pair over the twenty years but also as artists, life partners, and fellow travelers through life's ups and downs. Their relationship is like a script of love and comfort, with one half of this power couple boasting a stellar career beyond acting.

There is a lot more to the story of Keeley Hawes than her captivating on-screen presence.

Born on February 10, 1976, in London, Keeley Hawes, who was originally named Clare Julia Hawes, is a BAFTA-nominated English actress, known for her enticing performances encompassing various dimensions across theatre, the silver screen, and TV. Having trained at the Sylvia Young Theatre School as a child, she later moved from modeling to acting and finally earned fame through such lead roles as Zoe Reynolds in Spooks, Lindsay Denton in Line of Duty, and Julia Montague in Bodyguard. In addition to acting, she set up her own production company named Buddy Club Productions in 2019.

Matthew Macfadyen and Hawes met in 2002 on the set of Spooks, when their relationship caught the tabloids' attention, especially after Hawes divorced her first husband, cartoonist Spencer McCallum, with whom she has a son, Myles McCallum. They finalized their divorce in 2004, and Hawes married Macfadyen later that year. While maintaining that their relationship did not begin until after her first divorce, the actress told The Guardian why Spooks is special, "We all had such fun on that, all of us. And I met my husband." Hawes has also been open about her depression as she juggled being a mom, partner, actress, and producer alongside the love of her life that began two decades ago.

Then vs. Now: The ‘Pride & Prejudice’ 2005 Cast’s Surprising Journeys

Almost as romantic as Mr Darcy's hand flex in Pride and Prejudice (2005) is this couple's real-life love story. 

Matthew Macfadyen instantly confessed his love for Keeley Hawes on the set of BBC drama Spooks in 2002, and married on 8 October 2004. Their marriage was humble, followed soon by the arrival of their children. With Macfadyen, she has two children: daughter Maggie, born December 2004, and son Ralph, born September 2006. Their shared dog, named Buster, completes their family. In 2025, they celebrated their 21st anniversary with heart-melting photos on Instagram. 

On the professional front, the couple has also enjoyed joint success, cheering each other on. In 2022, Macfadyen bagged an Emmy for his role in Succession, with Hawes publicly congratulating him online. In 2023, they starred together in ITV's Stonehouse. While both keep fairly private lives, they appear occasionally in tandem in public as a testament to a successful marriage through consistent support and mutual respect.

Has Netflix Found Its Leading Faces for Their 'Pride and Prejudice' Remake? Get All the Inside Info

What are your thoughts on Matthew Macfadyen and Keeley Hawes's two-decade-old love story? Tell us in the comments below.