Goldie Hawn has openly expressed the enduring passion she feels for Kurt Russell, her partner of 42 years. Speaking candidly about her long-term attraction to the “Hateful Eight” star, Hawn emphasized that mutual respect and sexual connection are key to keeping their relationship vibrant over four decades.
Goldie Hawn Discusses the Foundation of Her Relationship with Kurt Russell
During a January 22 interview on The Dan Buettner Podcast, Goldie Hawn shared what sustains her decades-long romance with Kurt Russell. At 80 years old, she highlighted the importance of respect alongside a strong sexual attraction as crucial factors in their bond.
Because I have respect for him, because I think he’s an amazing person,
Goldie stated.
I’m also very sexually attracted to him, and that’s important. And if you have a long-term sexual relationship, that’s actually very healthy.
She described Russell as not only her partner but her “sexual object,” praising his intelligence, sense of humor, acting ability, and enduring handsomeness.
So, he’s my sexual object and he is the person that makes me laugh and he’s so smart,
Hawn added.
He’s such a great actor. And I find him incredibly handsome to this day.
The Family Dynamic Between Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, and Their Children
Their relationship also involves a close family dynamic shared with Goldie’s children from previous relationships and those she and Kurt have together. Oliver Hudson and Kate Hudson, children from her marriage to Bill Hudson, regard Russell as their father figure.
The kids love him, Hawn confirmed. She and Russell also share two sons: Wyatt Russell and Boston Russell. The blended family reportedly enjoys substantial happiness together.
We’re an unbelievably happy family most of the time.
Freedom and Independence: The Secret Ingredients in Their Bond
Goldie credited the longevity and health of their partnership to a fundamental principle of freedom within their relationship. She likened herself to a bird who can choose to fly freely rather than remain caged.
I do believe if I’m a bird and you leave the cage door open, I may never fly out,
she said.
But if you close that door, I, for my freedom and my independence, would probably take all my feathers off.
She described their connection as a “freedom of self” that allows each partner to maintain individuality without losing their sense of who they are.
It’s a freedom of basically not melding into somebody else.
Although Goldie has been married before—to Gus Trikonis and later Bill Hudson—the independence she cherishes in her current relationship is why she is not interested in marrying Kurt Russell officially.
This whole idea of becoming one is not my idea of fun,
she explained. That’s why it works.
Insights from Other Enduring Celebrity Marriages
The willingness of long-term celebrity couples to share their relationship secrets provides varied perspectives on sustaining love and attraction over many years. Like Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, other famous couples emphasize communication, humor, respect, and individuality.
Mariska Hargitay and Peter Hermann on Joy and Forgiveness
Mariska Hargitay, recently married over 20 years to Peter Hermann, illustrates the importance of laughter and grace in marriage. Hermann describes how humor helps them reconcile following disagreements and sustain joy across decades.
I never thought that I would laugh this much in my marriage. That is such a fundamental ingredient of who you are, this insistence on joy,
Hermann shared.
And I think what sustains our marriage is that I know you love me in spite of who I am, and that is the definition of grace.
He also revealed how they use humor to bridge conflicts, signaling a desire to move past arguments without focusing on who was right or wrong.
One of us will test the waters with a joke—about the very thing we were fighting about,
Hermann said.
It’s like one of us says, ‘I’m not saying I was wrong, and I’m not still insisting I was entirely right, but can we at least inch our way back toward the place where we caught at stuff together?’ Once that happens, it’s a pretty good sign that things are on their way to getting patched up.
Chip and Joanna Gaines: Prioritizing Dates and Pursuit
Chip and Joanna Gaines, married since 2003, have managed to keep their relationship strong through consistent date nights and a focus on pursuing each other passionately despite a busy household with five children.
Chip advises maintaining the element of courtship, sharing a heartfelt approach to expressing love regularly to avoid complacency in the marriage.
I’m not saying she’d never cheat on me,
Chip admitted,
but it’s not going to be because I never told her I loved her or because I didn’t send her flowers or I forgot our anniversary.
Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick on Conflict Resolution
Kevin Bacon humorously advises caution about celebrity relationship guidance, while both he and Kyra Sedgwick emphasize the importance of resolving conflicts quickly and maintaining intimacy.
My first piece of advice is not to take advice from celebrities,
Bacon joked.
He and Sedgwick avoid lingering disputes, instead working toward solutions swiftly.
Honestly, we don’t like to fight, so when we actually are in an argument, we’re both looking for a solution,
Sedgwick said.
For the most part we’re struggling to get back to everything being okay, because it sucks to fight.
There is no Plan B. No matter what, we want to work it out.
Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan’s Approach to Fair Fighting
After 37 years together, Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan have honed a respectful approach to disagreements by avoiding personal attacks and giving each other space after mistakes.
Tracy and I don’t pick scabs,
Fox explained, emphasizing that they do not exploit each other’s vulnerabilities during conflicts.
Fox admits the impulse to immediately fix misunderstandings, but learns to respect Pollan’s need for space.
Sometimes you just have to say to yourself, ‘You know what? He said something schmucky and it made me feel bad. But he’s a good person and I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt that he didn’t realize that what he said hurt my feelings.’
Jamie Lee Curtis Reflects on Enduring Laughter with Christopher Guest
Jamie Lee Curtis credited Christopher Guest with still making her laugh after nearly 40 years of marriage.
He still makes me laugh more than any human being,
Curtis said.
and I’m sure there’s something about me that he likes. I don’t know what it is, but I’m sure there’s something.
Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka on Evolving Attraction
Neil Patrick Harris observes that relationships transform over time, and the nature of attraction shifts, requiring couples to find new ways to connect physically and emotionally through changes.
I think one of the things that has kept us together all of these years is that we both define relationships as something that’s relatively indefinable,
Harris said.
He described how couples experience cycles of attraction and rediscovery, ultimately deepening their connection.
When you have sex with the same person over and over, it gets redundant, and so you try different things. Then one day you don’t like each other, and suddenly you’re not attracted to each other, so you have to figure out how to be reattracted to them—but in a different way because you’re aging.
So in a weird way, we keep falling in love with each other in different ways, over and over.
Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone: Humor and Time Limits on Disagreements
The couple uses humor to extend their lives metaphorically and follows a strict rule not to let arguments last overnight, avoiding exhaustion-fueled conflicts.
Whenever we have a good laugh,
McCarthy explained,
especially a crazy one, when you’re like, Oh, my God, and you’re almost dizzy—we always assign it a specific amount of time that it added to our lives. And I’m always adding it up.
Falcone pointed out the futility of late-night arguments and the benefits of postponing discussions until everyone is rested.
I tried it once, and I realized that in the morning I had forgotten what I was mad about. You’re not getting any answers if you’re parsing out an argument when everybody is tired and possibly had a drink or two.
Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen on Supporting Stepchildren as Friends
Both remarried with children from previous relationships, Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen shared how they embraced their roles as supportive figures rather than disciplinarians in their blended family.
There is no book that tells you how to do it, so the one thing I figured out right away is that they already have a mom—and it’s not me. So what did they need from me?
Danson recalled.
That’s when I realized that everybody needs a cheerleader, right? There’s never too many of those in your life, so that’s what I’ll be. I never set their boundaries, disciplined them, or tried to teach them right from wrong. They have parents who do that.
Steenburgen agreed, emphasizing friendship and presence over control.
I think that’s really wise, to offer yourself as a friend,
she said.
‘I’m not going to discipline you and I’m not going to judge you. What I’m going to do is hang out with you and be there for you.’
Elton John and David Furnish on Communication Through Handwritten Letters
Elton John and David Furnish began their legal union in 2005 after Britain legalized same-sex civil partnerships and remarried following legalization of marriage equality. Despite modern technology, they maintain a personal tradition of exchanging handwritten notes weekly.
There’s something very spiritual and real about handwriting,
Furnish explained.
and the cards are a chance to reflect on the week that’s passed and talk about the week that’s coming up.
John agreed, recognizing this ritual as vital to their lasting success.
It’s part of the success, I think, of a lasting relationship. Communication is the most important thing.
Dr. Mehmet Oz and Lisa Oz: Prioritizing Marriage as a Joint Commitment
The Ozes intentionally built their 40-year relationship away from the public eye, ensuring marriage remained a central priority amid their changing lives.
Marriage is a priority for both of us. And that means that we act on that and refocus when we’ve lost sight of the ball,
Lisa said.
Dr. Oz emphasized unwavering dedication to his wife despite challenges.
The bottom line is this: I would do anything for her. Climb any mountain, take any bullet—in the chest, too, by the way. I might do things that justifiably make her really angry at me, but I would never let anything block me from delivering my love to her,
he vowed.
If you appreciate how valuable marriage is to your long-term happiness, you will never let anyone touch it.
Al Roker and Deborah Roberts on Respecting Communication Styles
Deborah Roberts, a journalist, initially disliked casual phone check-ins with her husband Al Roker, but a friend helped her understand the comfort his calls bring. She now responds warmly, recognizing the significance of hearing each other’s voice for reassurance.
If you’re calling just to say, ‘So, what’s up?’ no, I do not like that.
she remarked. After reconsidering, she said:
And if it means something to him, then it should mean something to me. I have learned to take a breath and say, ‘Sweetie, I’ve got some stuff going on, but what’s going on with you? Great. I’m glad to hear from you. Got to go. Talk to you later. Love you.’ That makes all the difference in the world to him, and it doesn’t kill me for two minutes to be nice and sweet.
The couple observed their 29th anniversary in September 2024.
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos: Learning to Pause and Breathe During Hard Moments
The foundation of Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos’s nearly 30-year marriage was built on navigating early challenges together and learning to de-escalate tensions before they grow.
Early in a marriage, it’s easy to let little things become big things—whether it’s financial strain or career strain or you have kids and you’re sleep-deprived,
Ripa explained.
But Mark taught me to walk away and take a breath. That’s when you figure out that it’s not a marriage-defining moment.
Consuelos underscored the strength that emerges from overcoming hardships together.
Anytime you see a couple who seems truly happy, you can bet they’ve gone through some crazy, crazy stuff together and they’ve survived,
he said.
That’s something to be proud of.
Viola Davis and Julius Tennon: Embracing Differences in Marriage
Viola Davis shared how her and Julius Tennon’s contrasting personalities have shaped their relationship since marrying in 2003. She identified as introverted, while he’s an outgoing “mayor of everywhere.”
Despite differing traits, their commitment to accept each other—and love through frustrations—defines their marriage.
Marriage does not start when you walk down the aisle,
Davis explained.
Your marriage starts when you look over at a person who you love more than anything, and there’s something about him—just one character trait that makes you say to yourself, ‘Oh man, that’s going to drive me crazy. I don’t know if I can deal with this.’ And then the next minute you say, ‘But you know what? I love him.’ That’s when your marriage starts.
Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner’s Strategy for Keeping Peace
Lily Tomlin, in a relationship with Jane Wagner for over 50 years, shared how she often takes responsibility for smoothing conflicts quickly to avoid prolonged anger damaging their bond.
Usually, I’m the one who apologizes. It’s not hard because I love her and can’t bear for her to feel lonely for even five minutes.
She cautioned against saying hurtful things in anger, noting the emotional toll it takes on both partners.
Remember, when you’re angry at your partner and say something hurtful, you will be more angry at yourself later for having said hurtful things to the person you love. You’ll feel angry twice. Not good for your blood pressure, and certainly not good for your relationship.
Judy Sheindlin and Jerry Sheindlin on Accepting Each Other
Judy Sheindlin and Jerry Sheindlin’s relationship illustrates the need to accept partners as they are instead of attempting to change them.
Every relationship is different, but there is a common thread of unhappiness, and that unhappiness comes from trying to make another person different from who they are. You can try, but they’re always going to resent it,
Sheindlin stated.
I don’t think you should marry anyone with the expectation of changing who they are.
After reuniting and remarrying following a brief separation, the couple found harmony in embracing their true selves.
Daniel Dae Kim Honors the Patience of Mia Kim
Daniel Dae Kim credited his wife, Mia Kim, for the stability she provides their family throughout his ever-changing career, which includes travel and work commitments.
My wife—being patient as I traipse around the world, going from job to job—she’s kept our family stable. She’s been fantastic.
He acknowledged how Mia and their two sons help keep him grounded.
They shape my values,
he said.
It’s great to have that perspective and North Star.
Long-Term Attraction and Relationship Success: The Role of Respect, Freedom, and Laughter
Goldie Hawn’s reflections on Kurt Russell highlight that long-lasting relationships require more than just emotional connection; mutual respect and an enduring sexual attraction form the foundation holding them together. Their relationship thrives on freedom, allowing both partners to remain individuals while nurturing shared love.
Complementing Hawn’s candid admissions, the experiences of other longstanding celebrity couples underscore how humor, communication, acceptance, and patience collectively foster marital longevity. Whether it’s nurturing joy as Mariska Hargitay and Peter Hermann do, or embracing evolving attraction like Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, these couples maintain bonds through intentional commitment to understanding and supporting each other.
As Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell prove, the ability to sustain a passionate, respectful partnership for over four decades is rare but achievable when couples prioritize personal freedom alongside deep affection. This balance reinforces that relationships can continuously evolve without losing the spark that initially drew two people together.
