Joaquin Phoenix sparks marriage rumors after referring to Rooney Mara as his 'wife'

Joaquin Phoenix sparked marriage rumors after calling Rooney Mara his "wife" on a podcast, leading to fan speculation

Joaquin Phoenix has ignited speculation about his marital status after referring to longtime partner Rooney Mara as his "wife" during a recent appearance on the Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso podcast. While discussing how he crafted his 2020 Oscars speech, the actor revealed, "I was talking with my mom and my wife," leading fans to believe that the couple may have secretly married. Phoenix later mentioned Mara by name, saying, “Rooney was like, ‘That’s what you should say!’” but did not clarify whether they are officially married.

Phoenix, 49, and Mara, 39, met on the set of the 2012 film Her, though they didn’t begin their relationship until working together again on Mary Magdalene in 2017. The couple became engaged in 2019 and welcomed their first child, River, in 2020, named after Phoenix's late brother. Earlier this year, the couple welcomed their second child.

Despite the speculation, a representative for Phoenix did not respond to requests for comment. The actor has been known for keeping his personal life private, which has only fueled curiosity around his relationship with Mara.