Brian Cox and his wife, Nicole Ansari-Cox, maintain a “good creative relationship” — by living in completely separate homes.
The “Succession” alum opened up about the couple’s 24-year marriage and why they prefer “keeping things separate” during an interview with the Times published Friday.
“By keeping things separate, we are responsible for our own mess,” Cox, 79, explained. “It’s as simple as that.”
He continued, “Her space is very important for her, and my space is very important for me. I think if we’re thrown together, we feel locked together, and that’s not a good creative relationship. You should be free.”
Although the “Manhunter” star and Ansari-Cox, 57, live in the same Primrose Hill neighborhood of London, they reside in different homes separated by a nearly 10-minute walk.
Cox also told the outlet that he and his wife have separate bedrooms at their homes in New York City and upstate New York.
But giving each other space isn’t the only way the actor and Ansari-Cox maintain their relationship after more than 20 years of marriage, because he revealed that they attend couples counseling as well.
“Nicole gave up a lot for me,” the “X-Men” star shared. “It was tricky for her, but she gave up a lot, and I feel that she needs to be honoured.”
Cox and his wife first met when the actor was performing in a production of “King Lear” in Germany in 1990, he told the Times.
However, the pair didn’t become a couple until eight years later, when they ran into one another again in New York City.
They tied the knot in Las Vegas in 2002 and have since welcomed two sons: Orson, 24, and Torin, 21.
The actor and Burt were married from 1968 to 1986, and tied the knot one year after Cox split from his first wife, Lilian Monroe-Carr, with whom he was with from 1966 to 1967.
“We’re about to have our silver wedding,” Cox said before gushing over Ansari-Cox. “She’s considerable, she is considerable. She’s one of the most generous and caring people.”
He continued, “The problem with Nicole, and we discuss this, is she’s got too many friends. At my age, I’m trying to get rid of them. Well, most of mine are dying off.”
Elsewhere during his interview, Cox discussed how he stays in such good shape both physically and mentally ahead of his 80th birthday on June 1.
“Gym three times a week,” he shared. “You really have to be responsible for your body, because it’s dying. You can’t give in to that.”
As for his fear of developing dementia, Cox acknowledged that there are “all kinds of protocols” he “can take” to prevent the condition.
“I’m very careful about it, because I need to learn my lines to keep working,” he concluded.
Cox’s interview with the Times also made headlines for the actor’s surprising remarks about Margot Robbie, and more A-listers.
“F–k it, I don’t want to be careful anymore! I’ll be 80 this year,” he said after criticizing the Hollywood stars. “F–k it! I’m gonna say what I want to say.”
