Helen Mirren’s Husband Taylor Hackford Recalls ‘Instant Passion’ Meeting Her: ‘Very Sexy Girl’ (Exclusive)

Taylor Hackford gets candid about maintaining his relationship with Helen Mirren.

The director and producer told PEOPLE at Thursday night’s 37th American Cinematheque Awards (sponsored by Miraval) in Los Angeles, which honored Mirren, that he knew from the beginning that the actress was the one he wanted to be with.

“When we first met, the passion was instant,” recalled Hackford, 79. “And she’s a very hot girl and still is. But the reality is that over time you begin to – mature.”

He said that one of the things that keeps his relationship with Mirren (78) alive is that they do the things they love together. These include renovating houses, although they sometimes clash over design and other elements.

“We had these big adventures, and I know it sounds weird, with houses,” Hackford said. “We do not employ architects. We do not hire an interior designer. We design and choose ourselves.”

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Taylor Hackford and Helen Mirren at the American Cinematheque Awards in Beverly Hills, California on February 15, 2024.

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See all the stars at the American Cinematheque Awards in LA — including Helen Mirren, Harrison Ford and Pierce Brosnan

“Sometimes there are fights, because it’s ours,” he continued. “But on the other hand, we always reach a consensus. We always finish [agreeing]. And I think it has to do with the relationship. There is mutual respect and love.”

Hackford said their relationship – which spans more than 30 years – hasn’t changed that much over the decades and described it as “interesting”, as they both work often and “not always together”.

“When she’s working and I’m not, I try to visit her, but I don’t stay long… and also when she goes with me,” he said. “And that generosity and lack of, what can I say, jealousy about, ‘Oh, you’re working, I’m not, not at all.’ We got it. We’ve always had it.”

“We will still have him, but mostly we would like more time together,” added the director.

Helen Mirren and Taylor Hackford at the SAG Awards in Santa Monica, California on February 27, 2022. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images from Helen Mirren’s 24-year marriage to Taylor Hackford

Despite being away from each other for work, Hackford noted that he still “always” finds “surprises” in his relationship with Mirren, whom he married in 1997 in Scotland.

“She is simply a fantastic person to live with, have a family with,” shared the caring husband. “We have no children [together]but I’ve had kids and she’s got nieces and nephews and we’re all a very close-knit group and that’s nice.”

“And she’s one of the most relaxed and down-to-earth people outside of work,” he added. “And that’s a pleasure.”

Mirren, whose career spans more than six decades, received the 2023 American Cinematheque Award for her contribution to the entertainment industry on Thursday night, where she was honored in 1923 actor Harrison Ford.

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Source: HIS Education