In a town where "til death do us part" usually means "until the next franchise deal," Annette Bening and her husband have done something borderline miraculous. They stayed together. For over thirty years. Honestly, if you follow celebrity gossip, you've probably seen a thousand headlines about "The Taming of the Shrew," but Hollywood had its own version: The Taming of Warren Beatty.
So, if you're wondering who is Annette Bening married to, the answer is the legendary actor, director, and former quintessential bachelor Warren Beatty.
They didn't just have a whirlwind romance that fizzled out after a couple of red carpets. They built a life that basically redefined what a "power couple" looks like when the cameras aren't rolling. It's a relationship rooted in a very specific moment in 1991, a lot of garlic chicken, and a shared decision to put family ahead of the relentless Hollywood grind.
The meeting that changed everything (and ruined a lunch)
Warren Beatty was the guy everyone thought would never settle down. We’re talking about a man whose dating history looked like a "Who's Who" of the 20th century—Madonna, Diane Keaton, Julie Christie. You name a star, he probably took them to dinner.
Then came Bugsy.
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Beatty was casting the role of Virginia Hill for his 1991 mobster epic. He met Bening for a business lunch to discuss the part. He later told People magazine that within about 20 seconds of meeting her, he lost all interest in his garlic chicken. And apparently, it was really good chicken.
He knew right then.
He actually promised her he wouldn't hit on her during filming. He kept that promise—mostly—until the very end of production when he finally asked her out to dinner. She hesitated. Just for a second. But she said yes, and the rest of the story moved at lightning speed.
A wedding and a quiet revolution
They didn't wait around. By the time Bugsy premiered in late 1991, Bening was already pregnant with their first child. They got married in a private ceremony on March 12, 1992.
It was a shock to the system for the industry. People expected a "starter marriage." Instead, they got a partnership that has lasted over 34 years as of 2026.
The four children of Bening and Beatty
One of the most authentic things about their marriage is how they handled parenthood. They didn't just hire a fleet of nannies and keep working 80-hour weeks. Beatty actually took a massive hiatus from the spotlight—roughly 15 years—to focus on being a dad.
They have four children:
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- Stephen Ira Beatty (born 1992): Their eldest, a writer and activist who identifies as a trans man. Both parents have spoken with immense pride about his "intelligence and style" in navigating his journey.
- Benjamin Beatty (born 1994): He’s dipped his toes into the family business as an actor.
- Isabel Beatty (born 1997): A writer and actress who often shares glimpses of the family's surprisingly normal life on social media (think Thanksgiving spreads and birthday cakes).
- Ella Beatty (born 2000): The youngest, a Juilliard graduate who has been making her own waves in the acting world, recently appearing in high-profile projects like Feud: Capote vs. The Swans.
Why their marriage actually works
Bening has been pretty candid about the fact that they don't have some "magic secret." It’s mostly just work and respect. She once told Drew Barrymore that their relationship started with a foundation of friendship.
They don't compete.
Bening famously limited herself to an average of one movie a year after they got married. She wanted to be present. While she was out winning SAG awards and getting Oscar nods for American Beauty or The Kids Are All Right, Beatty was often the one holding down the fort at home.
It’s a trade-off.
In 2024, Bening earned her fifth Academy Award nomination for Nyad. Throughout that whole press cycle, she spoke about how Beatty still surprises her every day. He does the "unexpected thing," which apparently keeps the spark alive after three decades.
The 2026 status update
As of early 2026, the couple remains one of the most stable fixtures in the industry. While Beatty, now in his late 80s, keeps a much lower profile than he used to, Bening continues to be a powerhouse.
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There’s a lot of noise online—vague YouTube videos or tabloids wondering why they aren't spotted at every single party. But the reality is simpler: they value privacy. Beatty has always said that having two famous parents is a "burden" for kids, so they’ve intentionally kept their home life a sanctuary.
Basically, they’ve managed to stay married by treating their relationship like a private reality instead of a public performance.
Actionable insights for fans
- Watch their collaborations: To see the chemistry that started it all, go back and watch Bugsy (1991) or the 1994 remake of Love Affair.
- Follow the next generation: Keep an eye on Ella Beatty's career; she’s proving that the Bening-Beatty talent is very much alive in the Gen Z era.
- Value the "Hiatus": Take a leaf out of Beatty’s book—sometimes stepping away from the "grind" to focus on family is the most successful career move you can make.
The story of who Annette Bening is married to isn't just about a celebrity spouse. It's about a choice two people made to be regular humans in an irregular world.