Anastasia Shirley Was a Makeup Artist - Facts about Robert Carlyle’s Wife

Robert Carlyle and his wife, Anastasia Shirley, have celebrated over two decades of marriage since meeting on a movie set. While Robert Carlyle has made a name for himself in front of the camera, his wife has enjoyed a career behind it as a makeup artist that dates back to the 1990s.

While her husband is commonly known for his acting career and roles in "Trainspotting," "The Full Monty," and "The World Is Not Enough," Anastasia Shirley has spent years working behind-the-scenes as a makeup artist.

Her earliest acting credit came in 1995 when Anastasia Shirley was an assistant makeup artist on the crime drama "Prime Suspect: The Lost Child" written by John Billing. In 1998, she worked with Peter Mullan and Louise Goodall in "I am Joe Black," with the film earning 13 awards.

Her last credit came in 1999 when Shirley was a hair and makeup designer for "Ratcatcher." However, the makeup artist did not only work on film and television show sets; it was also where she met her future husband.

Anastasia Shirley Met Her Husband in the 1990s

Although there are mixed reports about which film Shirley and Carlyle were working on when they met, the couple's meet-cute occurred on a movie set. "She saw past the nutter, thank God," Carlyle humorously shared.

After falling in love, the couple tied the knot in 1997 at Skibo Castle, which, according to reports, was Madonna and her ex Guy Ritichie's first choice of wedding venue. However, they were beaten to it by Shirley and Carlyle. The actor said:

"I was very fortunate that I met my wife at just the right time. I'm blessed I met her. I had (found) someone to accompany me in life's journey."

Shirley's husband admitted that he never thought he would marry one day. As an actor, his craft often consumed his life and he often had to make sacrifices for his career. However, Carlyle sweetly admitted that even his younger self would have chosen Shirley to be his wife, as she is perfect for the "Summer" star. "I love her to bits," he said.

Anastasia Shirley and Her Husband Have Three Children

During an interview, Shirley's husband revealed that his happiest moment was when his first child, Ava, was born on July 4, 2002. Two years later the couple welcomed their son Harvey and two years after that their family grew again when their youngest, Pearce, was born.

Shirley's husband's upbringing, which lacked a strong sense of family, influenced his choice in choosing her to start a family with, and while sharing how much his family meant to him, the actor added:

"It is everything for me to be a dad and have that family unit. Something I was deprived of as a kid."

Welcoming Children Influenced Which Projects Anastasia Shirley’s Husband Took On

Although Shirley's career seemingly paused a few years before she became a mother, her husband has continued working. However, Carlyle revealed that he's given more thought to the roles he accepts since becoming a father.

Before Ava, Harvey, and Pearce's birth, Carlyle used to go "with the flow." However, now the actor is more picky about which roles he accepts as his career can be "incredibly intense."

"It's not always possible to get that balance, but I do try," Carlyle said. Shirly and her family were living in Canada when her husband agreed to film a fifth season of "Once Upon a Time," co-starring Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas.

However, her actor-husband shared that he planned to relocate back home after making enough money to make the lower-budget films he loved. While speaking about fatherhood, Carlyle said:

"I suppose it made me a little bit more responsible for my actions. It makes you look over your shoulder a little bit more, at what you're leaving behind."

Shirley's husband also opened up about the guilt he felt about the world he would leave behind for his children, and regretted the times he threw out a bottle or used plastic. The actor has also been more conscious about leaving work behind for his children to watch. However, the thought that there would be movies of his that his kids would only see when he's gone also left Carlyle with a pang of sadness.