The Truth About Morena Baccarin And Ben McKenzie's Relationship
Hollywood has produced some of the greatest love stories ever — on-screen and off. With the long hours that go into making some of our favorite movies and television shows, actors usually find themselves spending a lot — and we mean a lot — of time together. While their time together varies from role to role, film stars frequently form very special bonds with their co-stars — which sometimes last well after filming is over. It is therefore no surprise that a lot of stars end up falling in love on set and bringing their romance to the real world.
When television fans were first introduced to Dr. Leslie "Lee" Thompkins and James Gordon in the Fox series "Gotham," little did they know that the stars playing these roles — Ben McKenzie and Morena Baccarin – were another Hollywood love story in the making. The pair fell in love, and as the saying goes, "the rest is history." But despite fans watching them come together on screen, McKenzie and Baccarin mostly prefer to keep their real-life relationship under wraps. However, they do talk about it from time to time. From an awkward first meeting to a lowkey yet memorable wedding ceremony, here is everything you need to know about Ben McKenzie and Morena Baccarin's love story.
The couple met in the mid-aughts
Morena Baccarin and Ben McKenzie go way back — as far back as the mid-aughts. In fact, "Gotham" was not their first time together on the same set. She recounted their first meeting to PeopleTV, revealing that they initially crossed paths in 2006 on the set of "The OC," McKenzie's breakout series, where Baccarin also made a few episodic appearances. The most interesting part of the story, however, is that the actor did not fancy her at all back then. "I really just honestly wanted to say hello and meet him," Baccarin said. "And he doesn't even remember the encounter so that just goes to show you how far below the scale I was at this point."
Verifying the story, McKenzie admitted to blowing her off when they first met. "So I'm thinking, 'What kind of idiot would blow off this beautiful, gorgeous, sophisticated, intelligent, successful woman?' Then I thought of what sort of boy I was at 25, and [I was] that kind of idiot," the actor said during an appearance on "The Late Late Show."
But even though they were never really in the same scenes on "The OC," Baccarin jokes that perhaps if McKenzie had not ignored her initially, they could have started dating a lot earlier. In her words, " ... he could have had me in my prime."
Their relationship took off on a controversial note
Though it was not until years later that Ben McKenzie and Morena Baccarin reunited on the set of "Gotham," this time, the pair got off on the right foot — and a very controversial one at that.
In June 2015, Baccarin's then-husband Austin Chick filed for divorce from her, citing "irreconcilable differences" in court documents (per E! News). Things took an even more dramatic turn a few months later in September 2015 when reps confirmed that she was dating McKenzie and — wait for it — expecting the actor's baby.
Subsequently, Chick filed another legal case against Baccarin, alleging that she conceived before their separation. "This places the moment of conception right in the first week of June 2015, the time she was telling me she wanted to work on our marriage and well before we stopped sharing a bed," he wrote, per TMZ. But Baccarin was not having it with the allegations as she countered him, claiming that they were in fact no longer together when she became pregnant with McKenzie's baby. Talk about a whole lotta drama!
Morena Baccarin married Ben McKenzie on her birthday
Ben McKenzie and Morena Baccarin welcomed their daughter, Frances Laiz, in March 2016. By November of that year, the couple was "very happily engaged," according to Us Weekly. And as soon as they got engaged, McKenzie and Baccarin started planning to get married, a source told People.
They couple eventually tied the knot eight months later in an intimate ceremony at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens on June 2, 2017 — a day that also doubled as Baccarin's 38th birthday.
McKenzie revealed during an appearance on "Harry" that his wife had no problem getting married on her birthday, as long as he gives great anniversary and birthday gifts every year. "It's sweet, and half of her loves that and I think she just wants me to be clear that she is going to get a birthday present and there is going to be an anniversary gift and it's a whole week. She's Brazilian and birthdays are very special," he said.
She thinks he is a great dad
A remarkable actor, a great husband, and an even better dad — that's a triple threat! Morena Baccarin has many times in the past gushed about Ben McKenzie — and very particularly, his parenting skills. "It's wonderful to watch him every day with our kids. I couldn't ask for a better partner," she told People in 2018.
But is it really surprising how well the actor has warmed up to parenthood? Not in the least. Before their daughter was born, McKenzie had all the excitement of an expectant parent and could barely hold back on how much he looked forward to being a dad. "It's exciting and it's something that I've wanted for a long time," he said to People. "I'm very happy about all of it. Poop, diapers, and everything. It'll be fun."
In addition to their daughter and Baccarin's first son, Julius, McKenzie and his wife are also parents to son Arthur, born in March 2021. But even as their family continues to grow, McKenzie undoubtedly continues to bask in the joys of fatherhood. "I had no idea what it would be but it is wonderful and constantly challenging and fantastic," the actor told Us Weekly.
She would love to work with her husband again
In an example of art imitating life, it seems only appropriate that Morena Baccarin and Ben McKenzie's characters on "Gotham" got married – just like the real-life duo. As it happens, her character's pregnancy was a "total coincidence," she explained to People: "They were already planning on doing that with [Ben and my] characters when I got pregnant. When I told them they were like, 'Okay, great!' and I was like, 'What?' It worked out perfectly."
Apparently, it's not enough that she gets to wake up next to McKenzie every morning — she also hopes they can be co-stars again someday. Despite having worked together twice in the past, Baccarin is open to many more future collaborations. When PeopleTV asked in 2020 if she would consider working with her husband again, she replied, "Yeah, sure," adding sheepishly that the previous experience was fun. "I mean, it was really fun. We work well together ... it was very relaxing to be at work together and not be home with the children."
While it is uncertain if and when Baccarin and McKenzie will be in a movie together again, whenever it does happen, you can be sure these two will bring all the heat. What is better than one great actor on screen? Two remarkable actors who, you know, just so happen to be married.