I’ve only heard bad things about Billy Crudup as a partner, I’ll start with that. I only remember how he left seven months pregnant Mary-Louise Parker to hook up with his costar, Claire Danes, in 2003. Danes was 24 and Crudup was 35 at the time. Danes has since said that she was in love with Crudup back then, didn’t realize what she was getting into, and that they’re still friendly after having dated four years. (Soon afterwards she met and married her husband, Hugh Dancy, but we’re not gossiping about Danes.) For her part, Parkere has only referred to the affair in a roundabout way, only discussing how it affected her and never saying Crudups’s name. Respect.
It’s been almost 15 years, Crudup, now 49, could have changed since that high profile affair. I can’t find any details of whom he’s dated since, and that may be deliberate on his part after the fallout. So I’m surprised to hear he’s dating Naomi Watts. Watts, 48, announced back in September that she was splitting from her longterm partner and the father of her children, Liev Schreiber. That was maybe not-so-coincidentally the same time that she was filming Gypsy, her widely panned new series for Netflix. Crudup and Watts play husband and wife. Crudup has a history of hooking up with his costars and here we are again.
Naomi Watts and Billy Crudup, who star as husband and wife on the series Gypsy, are now dating in real life, a source confirms to PEOPLE.
The pair was spotted holding hands in New York City over the weekend, according to Page Six, which was first to break the news of the new couple.
An eyewitness told the outlet they spotted Watts, 48, and Crudup, 49, holding hands as they walked into a cafe for lunch. The witness said they “looked happy and were laughing a lot, then left again holding hands.”
So did Watts wait until she knew this relationship had staying power before confirming it? Did Watts and Crudup plan this rollout or did they get seen and decide that it was ok to come out as a couple? I like that they’re both around the same age and hope that Crudup has mellowed and changed as a partner. Watts seems circumspect about getting into relationships and was with Schreiber for over a decade. It’s not like she has a perpetually broken picker, although I bet she went through a lot with him behind the scenes. I can see a similar dynamic playing out with Crudup, but maybe this is something fun for her and she’s taking her time with it. Also, I hate to be that person but this also gives Gypsy a lot of publicity. I don’t think Netflix is above hyping a relationship between costars, but I do believe it’s happening.
This photo is from 2009 so they’ve obviously known each other a while. Notice how drunk Liev looks. (Also, Crudup and Mendez were in a 2005 movie together called Trust the Man. She wasn’t linked with Gosling until 2011 but I don’t think she ever dated Crudup.)
Photos credit: Getty images
I worry she has a (not-so-standup) type, but certainly a gorgeous and talented pair. Too bad Gypsy stinks. NW gives the role her all, but the writing is just plain bad.
I want to give Gypsy a try but I have heard mostly bad things. Watts was so fantastic in Mullhuland Drive…..
Gypsy is disturbing and thought provoking. I have watched the episodes 2 times each, to grasp the complex storylines.
I understand the unspoken dichotomy of appearing to have it all, and feeling suffocated all at once.
Naomi, Blythe, and Billy are brilliant. There is no weak links in the casting, every character is fascinating.
Give Gypsy a chance, if you dare.
It’s a TV show that has a racial slur as it’s title. Has anyone said anything about that?
I loved that show. I was surprised to hear it was poorly reviewed.
I have such a soft spot for her, I hope this makes her happy. I used to find him very attractive before the Danes thing…it would be nice if he’s reformed and that it works out. They do make a gorgeous couple.
let’s hope for Naomi that Crudup has changed his spots.
I enjoyed Gypsy. It could have been condensed into six episodes and tied up a bit better but despite script issues, Naomi was great in a just ok series.
They look related though.
NOOOOOo!!!
That’s what i just yelled at my screen…I don’t think that he is a good guy, plus he has douche face syndrome.
I’m always gonna side-eye him for what he did to Mary-Louise Parker
Awful name for a show.
True. I watched the first season in its entirety and I still have no clue why they gave it that name, really.
It’s inspired by the Stevie Nicks song, referring to the (dumb) core theme of the gorgeous white lady with the perfect married suburban life longing for the passion and excitement of her wild gypsy days. And projecting this onto the wild young woman who provokes obsession in her partners.
Oh Naomi, I hope for the best. I really do.
But something tells me you in (romantic) danger, girl!
Wasn’t there a Blind Gossip item about a couple holding hands and “pretending” to be in a relationship to help their project? Could this be them?? Although Watts doesn’t strike me as the kind of person to engage in that sort of shenanigans.
However, the body language in that top photo is pretty telling!
Couldn’t that be about the new Spiderman?
Oh girl please don’t!
If Eva and Billy had known each other since 2005 and were photographed in what appears to be a double date situation in 2009 and you have no knowledge of either being in a different relationship at the time, is it such a big leap to say they were probably seeing each other at some point around then? Coz thats the leap I just made.
That’s not a double date, that was an event for the 24 hour plays (you can see it on the backdrop). They were in it. Not to mention Eva had a non-famous boyfriend for many years before Gosling.
She’s great on Twin Peaks.
Id rather she dated Dougie than Billy.
So… I really like Naomi and wish her the best so I really hope he won’t be an assh*le.
Hopefully for her, he got the scumbag out of his system when he played scummy Eric MacLeish in Spotlight
Ugh count me in as another one who side eyes this. I never forgot how he dumped a very pregnant MLP for Claire Danes. I wonder if he is even involved with his son.
Oh well Naomi, guard your heart.
The only people I’ve heard her dating publicly are Heath Ledger and the guy she married. I wouldn’t be able to figure out what her type is.
I oddly like this pair. Maybe it’s just because I hate seeing how their marriage is falling apart in the show and have just been routing for them to stay together.
They sort of look alike. Very angular features.
For the record, I loved GYPSY (though I agree the name isn’t great an also doesn’t really fit the series). It’s beautifully acted, it really creates a great conflict of the seduction of NYC vs the ‘burbs. Naomi Watts is superb in it. She’s an unlikable protagonist- that’s nearly impossible to pull off. Give it a try if you like sexy, gritty dramas.
Does anyone else always get these two (Naomi and Liev) mixed up with DianeK and Joshua Jackson? And I get Liev mixed up with Balthazar (sic?) Getty.
Yes