Felicity Huffman on her 17 year marriage to William H Macy: ‘I just adore him’

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For all the flashy weddings and conspicuous oversharing in Hollywood, there are some couples who have quietly stayed together for years. Felicity Huffman, 51, and William H Macy, 64, have been married since 1997 and have two children together, daughters Sophia Grace, 14, and Georgia Grace, 12. (That’s cute that they gave both their daughters the middle name Grace.) In a new interview with HuffPost Live, a fan asked Huffman about the secret to her successful marriage. She joked that her advice was to “marry William H Macy.” That’s sweet! Then she got serious and explained that they value communication in their relationship. She didn’t just come out with platitudes, she explained a practical, simple thing that she and Bill do every week to make sure that they understand each other. She also gushed about him and you could see how happy she was to talk about her husband. You can see the video on Huffington Post and here’s a partial transcript:

On how grateful she is for Bill
I’m not kidding when I say marrying Bill Macy was the smartest move I ever made. I just adore him. He walks in the room and I go ‘it’s Bill!’

On if she has rules for a successful marriage
We used to have those rules and then we had two children and it’s gone out the window. I’m loathe to talk about this [and] give advice because I happened to luck out in marriage… but once a week we do sit down and make sure we take half an hour, each person gets 15 minutes, just to talk with no crosstalk. I talk, then you talk.

On how it works to just listen
You kind of just deeply check in with the other person. When you have 15 minutes to talk which is endless, by the way, and if you want to sit there in silence you can but when you have 15 minutes to talk, you kind of actually see what’s going on with the other person without any talk-back.

On if they enjoying working together
I love it. We started off working together… so our work relationship is actually great… also I admire him so much so it’s kind of like when you play tennis with someone who’s better than you, the level of your game raises.

An old rule they gave up
We couldn’t talk about acting in bed… A lot times you’d go “oh I have an idea for that,” we’d get out of bed and talk about it. Now we’re too old to get out of bed. We talk about acting and storytelling and movies and theater all the time.

[From Huffington Post]

I think I officially have a new favorite Hollywood couple. I’ve always loved William H Macy, he’s an excellent actor, and it’s so nice to hear that he’s a great husband too. I’m sure that goes both ways. Look at how cute these two are together! All of these photos are from the past few months, and they’re hanging all over each other.

I looked for interviews of William H Macy talking about Felicity and I found this gem from 2011 when he said that he had no idea why she likes him. “I don’t understand it completely, but she adores me. She thinks I’m funny.” He added that “She’s my best friend; she’s hysterically funny. I adore talking to her; she’s a great confidante. She’s really good at sorting things out. She’s invaluable that way, when I don’t know what to do.”

It’s rare to hear a couple married this long speak so adoringly about each other. Macy also told The Guardian that he was married before “to someone who didn’t want what’s best for me, as a matter of fact, she hated my guts.” Macy’s first wife isn’t listed in his wiki or imdb biographies, and maybe that’s for the best.

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photo credit: WENN.com

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65 Responses to “Felicity Huffman on her 17 year marriage to William H Macy: ‘I just adore him’”

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  1. Virgilia Coriolanus says:

    Now I feel bad for thinking that William H Macy looks like an unwashed creep. I don’t know what it is, but he could play a serial killer, stalker, or a rapist and be completely convincing just by looking at his face……

    • Charlotte says:

      Nooo! Virgilia! Nooooo! You must embrace the Macy. Your life will be forever enriched.

      • Tanguerita says:

        THIS!

      • Bella bella says:

        I LOVE BILL MACY. And love their great relationship!!

      • susiecue says:

        Lol “Embrace the Macy”.

        EMBRACY!

      • mayamae says:

        Virgilia, watch Door to Door, where he portrays a real door to door salesman with Cerebral Palsy. You will love him. And if you have extra time, look at an interview with the real Bill Porter – he was an amazing man.

      • I Choose Me says:

        Okay, I have a serious case of the dawwws. They’re one my most favourite Hollywood couples. I love how they adore each other and I hope this interview doesn’t jinx them.

        Seriously, embrace the Macy. Such an underrated actor. Love his portrayal on Shameless.

    • HughJass says:

      That beard certainly doesn’t do him any favors. But such is the life of a character actor – to look “interesting”, and not “handsome”.

      Love him to bits!

    • Brittney B says:

      He plays “unwashed creep” to PERFECTION in Shameless. Every time I read about him in real life, I have to take a second and wash Frank Gallagher out of my brain before proceeding. They’re such polar opposites, it makes me admire his performance even more.

    • serena says:

      Well he has to keep that look because of his role on ‘Shameless’ , but I enjoy seeing him in this “unkept” state, I don’t know it just suits him. He’s just too cool.

    • mkyarwood says:

      hahaha, well, his main job is ‘unwashed creep’ at the moment!

    • Rae says:

      Is his show Shameless still on Showtime? I don’t have Showtime, so I’ve never watched it. But doesn’t he play an unwashed creep on that show? So it’s for a role? I’ve certainly seen him look very dapper over the years. He’s such a wonderful actor. The kind of actor you forget about because he’s always in the background, but then you see him in something and think “Oh, I love that guy!”

    • Jaderu says:

      I think he’s cute. I’m kind of a weirdo though, so take that however you want.

    • doofus says:

      he was also brilliant as Jerry Lundegaard in “Fargo”.

      I think that may have been the first thing I saw him in and I was blown away. he made you feel sorry for how pathetic Jerry was, even though he had his wife kidnapped by ruthless, violent men.

      great actor, wonderful man…and Felicity Huffman is great, too!

      • bettyrose says:

        Don’t forget Dr. Morgenstern (sp?) the drunken Irish-Jewish doctor on ER!

      • doofus says:

        bettyrose, I didn’t watch ER, but if he performed anything like he did in other roles, I’m sure he KILLED it.

      • Santolina says:

        You’re right — in Fargo, he created a sympathetic character, as despicable as he was. That’s how you know you’re in the hands of a master.

      • holly hobby says:

        He was the uptight vice principal in Mr. Holland’s Opus. He was also the dad in Pleasantville. No, he wasn’t always an unwashed creep. He looks good when he’s cleaned up.

        Also, how can anyone hate on the narrator of Curious George?

    • littlestar says:

      I’ve always liked him, there’s just something about him! I get good vibes from him, from both of them actually. I remember when she was nominated for an Oscar and how PROUD he obviously was of her.

      She’s looking great too, can’t believe she’s in her 50s. And her fashion game is on point.

  2. Rachel says:

    Do they have a movie coming out that they did together or something?

    • Brittney B says:

      They’re both in Cake with Jennifer Aniston.

      • serena says:

        Oh damn, I didn’t know that thanks! Now I absolutely have to watch it!

      • Charlotte says:

        Fark. That’s almost reason to sit through it. Damnit.

      • Luca26 says:

        I don’t know if that movie will ever see the light of day, it didn’t get a distributor at TIFF.

      • Virgilia Coriolanus says:

        Doesn’t Felicity play the group therapy leader, or something along those lines? Who does WHM play as?

        @Luca26
        I don’t understand how JA is/was getting Oscar buzz for a movie that didn’t even get a distributor.

      • Luca26 says:

        @VC the buzz was that the movie was bad and her performance was good (although it’s very probable it was just her PR machine spinning away the whole time).

  3. Charlotte says:

    These are my favourite of all time ever, as my Jeremy Renner post of several days ago can attest to. I love them. True love dies with them. The end.

    Huffmacy for ever.

  4. Eleonor says:

    That’s so beautiful to see !!!
    And I like Felicity Huffman I’d love to see her more often, I think she really is a good actress.

  5. aims says:

    That’s what’s it’s all about. To love someone deeply, respect them, be friends and have a good time. This is refreshing, a solid marriage that’s loving and healthy.

  6. Brittney B says:

    I always forget these two are together, which is definitely a good thing. I still remember that Sports Night story arc with William as a guest star. It had every ingredient of the classic will-they-or-won’t-they/enemies-turned-lovers shows and movies, but it was squeezed into just a few episodes, and it worked so well. And it definitely proved they have sizzling chemistry; their symbiotic timing was something to behold.

    Also, “He walks in the room and I go ‘it’s Bill!’”… that is just perfect. And I can definitely hear her saying that. They give Kyra & Kevin a run for their money!

    • mia girl says:

      Sports Night. I loved it.

    • Sunny says:

      They were great together on Sports Night. That show was amazing and the entire cast was so so talented!

      They both are talented and seem lovely.

    • From North of Boston says:

      I’m late to this, but just wanted to add my love of Sports Night.

      And these two.!

  7. Tiffany27 says:

    I glanced at the headline and thought it said they were divorcing and I almost started to cry. They’re wonderful.

    • Charlotte says:

      I’m way too emotionally invested in this couple. I love them. I would cry. I’d blame baby hormones, but in truth it would be love leaking out of my pores. Forever.

    • Tracy says:

      I had a quick second of panic too that the story was about divorce…. I love them as a couple.

      I read a story about them a few months ago. They were on a family vacation and people recognized them on the plane and would come say hi or ask for autographs and both of them were very gracious and friendly. Made me like them even more. 🙂

  8. LadyJane says:

    God, she has perfect arms.

  9. serena says:

    I adore him too!

  10. Hawkeye says:

    I love them individually and I love them together. (And I will harp on this for the rest of my life but Felicity Huffman was robbed of that Oscar for Transamerica.)

  11. HBIC says:

    They’ve always been so cute together. Congrats to them on their happy marriage.

  12. Jackson says:

    Aww. I want to be married to them.

  13. GingerCrunch says:

    Fell in love with her on “Sports Night” waaaayyyy back when! Nice antidote to all the Alamooney coverage, thanks!

  14. Charlotte says:

    As per the Jeremey Renner pot, i LOVE that ‘Bill’ is the one all the neighbours ring when they have a problem. He does it all. He’s eveyman.

    I love this couple.

    Love.

    Never fade, Huffmacy.

  15. JudyK says:

    Sweet and refreshing.

  16. QQ says:

    I love em!

    and her arms also as well

    And You know what?? I literally ran that by the Boyfriend from Narnia yesterday about how i Thought it’d be a good Relationship Hygiene Thing to just have a time once a month or whatever to talk about anything we might be thinking about/bothering us/future heavy plans etc and he really was down with it… I thought we can make it casual or sit at the table or make it a nice dinner just us whatever and he really agreed to it! so yeah this Game nerd guy i lucked out with is officially perfect

  17. Azurea says:

    I want that! 🙂

  18. dimsumum says:

    He broke my heart in Magnolia.

    Love that they really seem to appreciate each other and work hard at keeping their marriage strong.

  19. Tippy says:

    “… couples who have quietly stayed together for years.” is an understatement.

    Their daughters are 12 and 14 and have probably never been photographed by the paps.

  20. Suzy from Ontario says:

    So nice to hear and I believe it. They seem to have a really great marriage. 🙂

  21. InVain says:

    She stole my heart when she was in DH as Lynette. And he stole mine YEARS before that. These too are such an “under the radar” couple that they’re easy to forget about. I love them both and it’s so great to hear that they have been able to make it work and still have so much love and respect for each other. I seriously didn’t realize their age difference was that big though!

  22. kri says:

    I know Bill isn’t H’wood Handsome, but that never bothered me. The man is brilliant-they both are. Tbh, this relationship seems much more like a fairytale I’d want to have vs. Amal/George.

  23. lucy2 says:

    I love them, separately as actors and together as what sounds like a great, solid couple. They are both super talented.

  24. Ag says:

    this is so great and heartwarming. they’re lovely. i hope to have that 17+ years into our marriage (we’ve been together for 5 years). 🙂

  25. Pabena6 says:

    Happy, Texas.
    He’s adorable.

  26. Pants says:

    I just love the two of them. And I am thoroughly, unhealthily obsessed with Shameless. He just IS Frank Gallagher when he’s in that role. Perfection.

  27. Tiffany :) says:

    I love these two. I also love that photo where he is making scary arms/face behind her. So freakin adorable!

  28. Dara says:

    Felicity is who I want to be when I grow up… smart, beautiful, funny, strong. The fact that she adores “Bill” makes me like him that much more. Long may they live and love.

    And now for the superficial… why is she carrying a shoe in that second photo?

  29. jenny12 says:

    Just beautiful. What happens when two smart, strong people find one another.

  30. Tara says:

    I’ve loved her since Desperate Housewives, and I love the fact that she’s holding ballet flats on the red carpet in the first picture.

  31. notasugarhere says:

    I think they were together for over 10 years before they married, so they’re around the 30 year mark as a couple.