TBT: Uma Thurman Called Her Marriage to Gary Oldman a "Mistake" (2024)

Not only are actorsGary OldmanandUma Thurmansome of the biggest names in showbiz, but they are also former co-stars and lovers. That's right, years before Oldman and Thurman picked up an Oscar win and nomination, respectively, these two Hollywood heavyweights were each other's lawfully wedded husband and wife. The marriage was Thurman's first, Oldman's second, and neither's last (though by far the shortest for both).

During the course of their two-year matrimony, the pair remained tight-lipped. Sure, they made the occasional red carpet appearances together and mastered the art of couple dressing way beforethe Clooneys. Other than that, not a whole lot is known about their relationship. These two were moreKirsten Dunst and Tobey Maguire's vibethan, say,Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson. Regardless, Thurman and Oldman ultimately came to the realization that their marriage wasn't working, which is why they decided to call it quits in 1992.

Here's a look back at Uma Thurman and Gary Oldman's relationship.

1988-89: Uma Turman and Gary Oldman first meet

There are many rumors surrounding the actors' introduction — thatSean Pennintroduced Thurman to Oldman while the men were shootingState of Gracein 1989; that Thurman was datingState of Gracedirector Phil Joanou when she met Oldman on set — but there doesn't appear to be much backing either of these theories.

In 2014, JoanoutoldFilmmakerMagazinethat Oldman and Thurman were dating whileState of Gracewas filming and "got married right after the movie," wrapped in September 1989. That same year, both Thurman and Oldman worked onHenry & June, filmed in France.

According to bothPeopleandAnOtherMagazine, the pair first met in London. Thurman told Vanity Fair that she met a then 30-year-old Oldman when she was 18, which would have been in 1988 or early 1989.

1990: Uma Thurman and Gary Oldman get married

Oldman divorced his first wife, actress Lesley Manville (with whom he shares a son, Alfie), in 1990. He and Thurman wed the same year, although few details — if any — are known. As a married couple, the actors continued to keep a low profile, apart from their work-related red-carpet appearances, that is. Thurman and Oldman (the latter, in particular) chafed at the public price of fame, which we assume is why there is so little information available about their time together.

In 2014, theDraculaleadtoldPlayboyabout the mistake he made early in his career of "being overly forthcoming in interviews."

"Now, because of the internet and all that, people just go to the f—king morgue, open the drawer and write, 'Son of welder, once married to Uma Thurman,'" he (morbidly) joked. "I'm so tired of it. I sometimes fantasize about sitting down in a situation like this and actually saying, 'You know, it was all made up. You will never know who my real father was. He wasn't a f—king welder. I was just having a lark with you all.'" (We're pretty sure he was actually married to Thurman, though).

1992: Uma Thurman and Gary Oldman break up

In 1992, less than two years after they wed, Thurman and Oldman went their separate ways. In retrospect, both actors seemingly agreed their union was a mistake. In 1996, theKill Billstar actually used that very term, tellingVanity Fairthe marriage was "a mistake," though she admitted her ex is "a truly great actor."

"We met when I was 18," she told the publication. "He was 12 years older. It was a crazy love affair that ended as it needed to. He was my first love. I had no prior experience."

For Oldman, who has been married five times, he's said that "relationships are very, very hard."

He joked toPlayboythat one of said marriages was "for 10 minutes," likely alluding to his relationship with Thurman, the shortest of the lot. "I don’t think it meant very much to either of us," he said.

Thurman would likely agree with Oldman’s assessment, as evidenced in her 2008 cover story forAnOtherMagazine, where she said, "Teenage weddings are among the things that don’t count."