How Milla Jovovich Became the Starring Actress of Paul W. S. Anderson’s Movies and the Love of His Life
Milla Jovovich became famous after the science fiction thriller The Fifth Element entered the theaters in 1997. At the time, she also drew the attention of mass media due to the fact she married the director of the movie, Luc Besson. However, their marriage lasted for only 2 years. The actress eventually found happiness with another film director whom she also met on set.
At CHEERY, we would like to tell you the love story of Milla Jovovich and Paul W. S. Anderson. We also found out the secret of their strong 20-year-long relationship.
Milla Jovovich and Paul William Scott Anderson met in 2000, but they began dating a year later while they were filming Resident Evil. Anderson was the scriptwriter and director of the movie, and Jovovich was the star.
By that time, the actress was already famous — she had starred in movies such as Return to the Blue Lagoon (1991), The Fifth Element (1997), and The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999). Apart from that, she worked as a model and took part in campaigns for fashion brands, namely: Hugo Boss, Guess, Calvin Klein, Chanel, Tommy Hilfiger, Tiffany & Co., L’Oréal, and many others.
As for her personal life, Jovovich had been married twice before she met Anderson. In 1992, 16-year-old Milla married 21-year-old Shawn Andrews. The marriage was annulled by her mother 2 months later because the actress was still underage.
Her second marriage was to the film director Luc Besson. Their marriage took place between 1997 and 1999, but they started dating in 1995 while they were filming the movie The Fifth Element, which made her an internationally famous movie star.
When the production of Resident Evil started, Paul W. S. Anderson was also quite a famous film director and scriptwriter. He was known as a director of action and science fiction movies. His filmography included Mortal Kombat (1995), Event Horizon (1997), and Soldier (1998).
It’s not known whether Anderson has had a long-term relationship before meeting Jovovich. Paul and Milla started dating while filming the iconic zombie movie. In 2003, he proposed to Milla, and they got married in 2009. By that time, they already had a 2-year-old daughter, Ever Gabo Anderson.
They wedded at a private ceremony with only 50 of the dearest people to them present. Their nuptials took place in the back garden of their Los Angeles home. The bride wore a floaty sixties-inspired Grecian dress she designed herself. Anderson was dressed in a beige suit.
In an interview, the actress said, “My dad was a playboy, so I’ve made sure I stay away from bad boys. In the end, I went for the man who would take care of me and my family. Paul is an incredible dad to our daughter, Ever; he’s not crazy or wild. What could be better? I have a talented, handsome, successful husband who adores me.”
After their marriage, Milla became her husband’s muse, and they’ve formed a wonderful creative duo — Anderson directs movies, and Milla stars in them. Together, they’ve made 6 Resident Evil movies, which have grossed over $1.2 billion. Jovovich is delighted by the life the T-virus has given her.
“I think that the franchise has definitely made me who I am today. And I have 2 kids and an amazing husband because of it,” the actress said in 2016.
The actress is proud of her family, but she admits that they have their ups and downs, “Relationships aren’t easy. At first, there’s so much passion and it’s any time, any place, anywhere and then years pass and you think, ‘Where’s it gone?’ There have been times we could have split but we both want this and toughed it out.”
The couple had 2 more children — their second child, daughter Dashiel Edan, entered this world in 2015, and their third daughter, Osian Lark Elliot, was born in 2020. In 2019, the actress confessed that she had had a miscarriage a couple of years prior when she was 18 weeks pregnant.
Milla says that there is an innate sense of respect in her family that is often lacking with some of the other parents and children. In 2019, she admitted that she and her husband were still sharing a bed with their 2 daughters. Milla explained that she and Paul often make movies together and work long hours, so nighttime is the easiest time for them all to bond.
“My husband and I, when we make movies together, we’re working 15 hours a day. We get to see the kids at lunch, but we don’t get that time to connect. So sometimes nighttime is the time of day to reconnect.”
Milla thinks that sleeping together prevents behavioral problems from appearing in her children. She adds that they don’t have to deal with the problems many parents find typical, such as arguing, defiance, tantrums, interrupting, disrespect, disobedience, screaming, etc.
Milla also says that she and Paul never forget about keeping their romance. “We do date night every week. On Friday night we go to a hotel, we go have dinner, and we just have some time together,” she says with a smile on her face.
What is your secret to a strong relationship? Tell us in the comments below.