Photo © EraGem
Sexiness wears thin after a while and beauty fades, but to be married to a man who makes you laugh every day, ah, now that's a real treat. ~Joanne Woodward
by Angela Magnotti Andrews
January 2008 marked 50 years of marriage for Hollywood's golden couple. Paul Newman first laid eyes on Joanne Woodward on the Broadway set of William Inge's Picnic. In the beginning, theirs was only a working relationship. The show placed them together frequently, and they developed a strong friendship. "We could talk to each other, we could tell each other anything without fear of ridicule or rejection. There was trust," Joanne said once {3}.
This deepening friendship eventually led to strong attraction, and later, love. They kept themselves at a distance for a long while, given that Ms. Woodward had no desire to be a home wrecker.
However, over the next several years, the two friends found themselves pulled together, not only by the laws of attraction, but by the laws of Hollywood. Both top-notch actors, the two were often cast together in films. Naturally, their attraction and friendship deepened.
As time went on, Mr. Newman felt a greater and greater distance between he and his wife, Jackie. Having kept things under wraps for so long, Mr. Newman realized that he was not going to just get over Joanne. He asked Jackie for a divorce, but she refused.
Another film came along, The Long, Hot Summer, and once again the screen stars were cast together, this time opposite each other in the leading roles. His confession to his wife seemed to galvanize his resolve. While on location in Louisiana, he was openly demonstrative of his affection for Joanne.
Shortly after his return from New Orleans, Jackie finally relented. Less than a week after the divorce was finalized, Paul and Joanne were married at the Hotel El Rancho Vegas in a civil service performed by District Judge Frank McNamee.
The couple honeymooned in London, where, according to Mr. Newman, "There were no tourists to speak of and we would drive off into the country till we were lost and then check into country inns at nightfall" {4}.
Returning to the States, the newlyweds shied away from the glitz and glam other Hollywood couples were choosing. Instead, they settled in an old colonial built in 1760 in Westport, Connecticut.
This is where they made their life, raised their children, and grew old together. The Silver Screen beckoned often, so they kept homes in New York and Malibu, but Connecticut was home.
This may have been the true secret to their success, although Mr. Newman credits affection, patience, and unconditional support as the bulwarks of one of Hollywood's longest romances. I think the best clues to their success are hidden within the poem that was read on their wedding day.
A few lines stand out, capturing the essence of what I imagine their love to have been like:
It is not looking for perfection in each other. It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humour. ... It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal. It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.
(excerpted from The Art of Marriage, by Wilferd A. Peterson)
Notes
- Bradford, Wade. "Picnic by William Inge," About.com/plays. Accessed February 26, 2014. http://plays.about.com/od/plays/a/Picnic-By-William-Inge.htm.
- Griffin, Nancy. "Paul Newman's Luck," AARP The Magazine, May & June, 2005.
- Levy, Shawn. Paul Newman: A Life. Random House LLC, 2009.
- Levy, Shawn. "Paul Newman's Marriage Secrets Revealed," Daily Mail UK, May 3, 2009.
- Stritof, Sheri & Bob. "Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward Marriage Profile," About.com Marriage. Accessed February 26, 2014. http://marriage.about.com/od/entertainmen1/p/paulnewman.htm.
- True Love Stories. "Paul Newman's Own Love, Joanne." Accessed February 26, 2014. http://trulovestories.com/news/celebrity-romance/paul-newmans-own-love-joanne/.