Brian Cox and his wife, Nicole Ansari Cox, maintain a “good creative relationship” — by living in completely separate homes.
The “Caliphate” alum spoke about the couple’s 24-year marriage and why they prefer to “keep things separate.” During an interview with The Times Published Friday.
“By keeping things separate, we are responsible for the mess we make,” Cox, 79, explained. “It’s that simple.”
He continued, “Her space is very important to her, and my space is very important to me. I think if we come together, we feel locked together, and that’s not a good creative relationship. You have to be free.”
Although the “Manhunter” star and Ansari Cox (57 years old) live in the same neighborhood of Primrose Hill in London, they live in two different homes separated by approximately 10 minutes on foot.
Cox also told the outlet that he and his wife have separate bedrooms in 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 are maintaining their relationship after more than 20 years of marriage, because he revealed that they attend couples counseling as well.
“Nicole has given up so much for me,” the “X-Men” star said. “It was hard for her, but she gave up so much, and I feel like she needs to be honored.”
Cox first met his wife when the actor was performing in a production of “King Lear” in Germany in 1990, he told The Times.
However, the pair did not become a couple until eight years later, when they met again in New York City.
They tied the knot in Las Vegas in 2002, and have since been blessed with two sons: Orson, 24, and Tauren, 21.
Cox also has a daughter, Margaret, and another son, Alan, with his second wife, Caroline Burt.
The actor and Peart were married from 1968 to 1986, tying the knot one year after Cox separated from his first wife, Lillian Monroe Carr, to whom he was married from 1966 to 1967.
“We’re about to have our silver wedding,” Cox said before gushing over Cox’s supporters. “She’s great, she’s great. She’s one of the most generous and caring people.”
He continued, “The problem with Nicole, which we discussed, is that she has a lot of friends. At my age, I’m trying to get rid of them. Well, most of my friends are dying.”
Elsewhere during his interview, Cox discussed how he stays in good shape physically and mentally ahead of his 80th birthday on June 1.
Join the gym three times a week. “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 this, because I need to learn my lines to keep working,” he concluded.
Cox’s interview with The Times also made headlines due to the actor’s surprising statements about Margot Robbie, and more celebrities.
He said: “Damn it, I don’t want to be careful anymore! I’m going to be 80 this year.” After criticizing Hollywood stars. “Shit! I’ll say what I want to say.”