Joaquin Phoenix had never experienced a serious relationship in his life prior to meeting and marrying actress Rooney Mara. The Joker actor, consequently, struggled to convey the poignant emotions of his character in the critically acclaimed movie, Her. Interestingly, Mara portrayed the role of the wife in the film, from whom Phoenix’s character Theodore is undergoing a divorce.
Phoenix and Mara’s romantic involvement didn’t arise until a significant time later when they collaborated again for the film Mary Magdalene. Nevertheless, the Inherent Vice actor confessed that the Carol actress was the first woman he ever searched for on the Internet.
Joaquin Phoenix Thought Rooney Mara Hated Him While Shooting Her
In the science-fiction romantic drama film, Joaquin Phoenix played Theodore Twombly, a man who develops an intimate relationship with an AI assistant. Theodore falls for the AI assistant, brilliantly voiced by Scarlett Johansson, following his separation from his wife Catherine, played by Rooney Mara. However, Phoenix initially held the belief that the Lion actress did not like him. The Master actor shared with Vanity Fair that he did something unprecedented for him:
“She’s the only girl I ever looked up on the internet. We were just friends, email friends. I’d never done that. Never looked up a girl online.”
The Gladiator actor soon uncovered that The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo actress was distant due to her extreme shyness. Phoenix managed to establish a friendship with Mara, which later blossomed into a relationship.
Joaquin Phoenix Says He Was Never Invested In A Relationship Like This Before
It turns out Joaquin Phoenix had never been deeply invested in a relationship before. He struggled to relate to the heartbreak that Theodore was undergoing, The Village actor confided to Rotten Tomatoes:
“I don’t think I’ve ever been that affected by a relationship — so there was a part of me that was like, ‘What, it’s been more than a year? And you’re saying that I’m still affected by this?’ So it was something that was very foreign to me, ’cause I don’t think I’ve ever been maybe in a relationship that was that involved, you know what I mean?”
Phoenix’s most significant relationship prior to The Social Network actress was when he dated his Inventing the Abbotts co-star Liv Tyler. The former couple parted ways amicably and remained close friends. The Reservation Road actor also dated South African model Topaz Page-Green.
Phoenix and Mara exchanged vows in a very private ceremony, and they welcomed their first child, River Lee, in August 2020. The Signs actor’s upcoming venture involves portraying Napoleon Bonaparte in the historical drama film, Napoleon.
Source: Vanity Fair
