5 Amazing Stories of Celebrities Who Found the Love of Their Life after 40

Love can find anyone in the least expected moments and at any age. Barbra Streisand, Cameron Diaz, Keanu Reeves, and more Hollywood celebrities prove this point with their enthralling love stories.

Celebrities can teach us a lot about love, especially those who've managed to find it after the age of 40. From Bruce Willis and his current wife to Barbara Streisand and her longtime partner, the following five celebrity couples prove anything is possible.

Barbra Streisand Was Reluctant to Meet Her Soulmate at Age 55

Six years after Don Johnson broke her heart, Barbra Streisand was set up on a blind date by her godchildren's mother, Christine Peters. Peters told the actress, then-55, about James Brolin and how she felt they would like each other.

However, the singer was unconvinced, citing her busy schedule as one thing that might hinder any relationship. Brolin had seen her twice before, at a luncheon and the Oscars, and was impressed by the singer. Streisand agreed to meet him at a dinner party, and with no expectations, she told her editors to wait and that she would leave the dinner and rejoin them.

The songstress expected a man with brown hair and a beard, but when she laid eyes on Brolin, his head was clean-shaven, and he had no beard. The actor had recently shaven most of his hair, stopped dyeing the gray, and went natural.

The singer subsequently walked over to him, placed her hands on his head, and asked what happened to his hair. Although it took the musician a few days to figure out Brolin was the love of her life, the latter knew immediately when she asked him about the hair.

They were interested in each other, and Streisand had to call her editors because she would not return. While Brolin was on set filming a movie in the Philippines, he spent almost all his money calling the songstress in America.

By the time he got back, the two had gotten closer. On July 1, 1998, two years after they were set on a blind date, Barbra Streisand and James Brolin exchanged marital vows.

Bruce Willis’ Wife Fell for Him When He Was 52

Bruce Willis and Emma Heming met at a gym after being introduced by a mutual friend, who also served as their fitness trainer.

Heming recalled her first thought of Willis from their initial meeting, saying, "When we first met, I was surprised at how charming and how funny he was – and extremely handsome." The "Die Hard" actor, who was 52 during their first meeting, also gave his confession, stating:

"I was already in love with her."

The couple got married in 2009 after dating for about a year. On March 21, 2019, Bruce Willis renewed his vows with his wife on their 10th wedding anniversary. Speaking with US Weekly, Heming, who is a model and an actress, opened up about what makes their relationship work, saying:

"I think we've always had a lot of respect for each other, which has really helped build a great foundation."

She also noted how he makes her laugh, is funny, intelligent, crazy, and always keeps her on her toes. With Heming, the "Red" actor is content and happy with his life.

Heming frequently shares Instagram pictures of her and her famous husband, like in April 2022, when their daughter, Mabel Ray, took photos of them enjoying nature off the grid.

The previous month, Willis' family shared the heartbreaking news that the actor was diagnosed with aphasia, which impacts his cognitive abilities. The illness forced him to step away from his career, but his family said they are moving through the challenge "as a strong family unit."

The Instagram message was signed with love from his wife, their two daughters, his ex-wife, and their three daughters. Two days after Christmas in 2023, Emma Heming returned with two stunning pictures of her and Willis embracing outside, showing her standing by her husband.

In the post's caption, she noted how she celebrated "16 years with this special man" before revealing how her adoration and love for him continue growing.

Mariska Hargitay's Husband Realized during Her 40th Birthday That She Is the One

When Mariska Hargitay, then 55, landed her role on "Law & Order: SVU," she did not expect to meet her future husband. However, that's precisely what happened. The couple was first introduced in 2002 when Peter Hermann, then 51, guest-starred on the crime drama "NCIS."

They claim they "instantly clicked," and the actress was smitten. Hargitay's "NCIS" co-star, Christopher Meloni, recalled how she tried denying any attraction towards Hermann, but anyone watching her could tell.

Shortly after that, the pair started dating, their first date being quite unique. They attended a church service together after they finished filming. According to Hargitay, she knew then and there that Hermann was "the one," adding:

"As a little girl, you're told, 'Oh, when it's the right person, you'll know.' But listen, I had been engaged previously, and I never knew."

She felt their connection was like being "hit with a lightning bolt." However, after dating for a while, Hargitay came to work one day looking crushed. She told Meloni that she and Hermann had a long and deep conversation and decided things would not work out for them.

The actress disclosed that they had both cried as they talked. As Hargitay narrated her predicaments to Meloni, all he could think about was how the love birds would get together and get married. And they did! The pair worked through their differences and got back together.

Hargitay even revealed that she felt so overwhelmed by the lighting bolt feeling that she sobbed in the middle of their first date to a service at his church. Hermann assumed the service moved her, but the star set the record straight, saying:

"It was because I was just overwhelmed, realizing he was the one."

The actress might have been entirely in love, but Hermann took a little longer to realize his feelings. However, he does remember precisely when he knew she was the woman he wanted to marry. He recalled that it happened during her 40th birthday.

Hermann saw Hargitay surrounded by all the people she loved, describing it as such, "It was like seeing this person who was now in the soil, that she was just dying to be planted in it. Right?" He felt she had abundant people and love and wanted to be "part of that soil."

Eight months later, on August 28, 2004, they walked down the aisle together. To honor the beginning of their love story, they exchanged vows in the same church they had their first date. Till now, they are both sure they picked the right partners.

Hargitay once revealed in an interview that they both knew their marriage would be good when they married. She'd never imagined it being as good as it is and is often reminded throughout their journey that she "married the right one."

Hermann agreed, saying he knew they'd always have a good life together. They now have three children: August, Amaya, and Andrew. Fans of this next actor might agree that he's one person who deserves to find love.

Keanu Reeves Met His Current Girlfriend in His 40s, Years Before They Decided to Date

Following the tragic events of his life - being abandoned by his father, losing his daughter with Jennifer Syme, and then her - Keanu Reeves developed an interesting lifestyle. The actor never settled anywhere; he either rented out apartments or hotels.

Reeves reportedly lived out of his suitcase for most of his adult life. In one instance, the actor said he had mastered his hotel life so much that he joked, "I'm down to one bag now and smaller rooms in hotels." However, in an interview with People in 2006, Reeves confessed that turning 40 changed his perspective on life.

The star realized he did not want to be alone and on the go anymore and bought his first house because he wished for a home. The actor also wanted to get married and have children. A few years later, Reeves seems to have found that special person in his life, Alexandra Grant.

The couple first met at a party in 2009, but their relationship was platonic for a while. Grant and Reeves collaborated on a book titled "The Ode to Happiness" in 2011, which features some of the actor's poetry and her artwork.

They worked together again in 2015 for Reeves's book "Shadows," and Grant created illustrations for the actor's poetry. It is unclear when the artists started dating, but a friend of Grant, Jennifer Tilly, said the artist confessed that Reeves had been her boyfriend for a couple of years.

Grant and Reeves have kept their relationship private, but the couple first publicly appeared in 2019 at the LACMA Art + Film Gala in Los Angeles. When the actor was 52, he had an interview with Esquire, and the question of kids reappeared.

But this time, the star believed the ship had sailed for him to have children. "I am 52. I am not going to have kids," he said. Following his and Grant's public appearance, the artist said she got called by almost everyone she knew about her relationship with the movie star.

It was a peculiar experience for Grant. However, when asked if she foresaw marriage with Keanu Reeves, she avoided the question and said she believed in every love stage. However, she was confident that she did not want to be alone and loved the experience of being in a relationship.

Cameron Diaz Fell in Love With a Twin at Age 41

Cameron Diaz met rockstar Benji Madden through her sister-in-law Nicole Richie in 2014. Although the actress first met Benji's identical twin brother, Joel, she was only attracted to the former. Although Benji and his twin look so much alike, Cameron revealed that they are different people with distinctive characters.

Benji made an immediate impact the first time they met, and she was instantly attracted to him. Aged 41 at the time, she confessed: "I saw him walking towards me, and I was like, 'Huh, he's hot. I haven't seen him before,'" and when she found out who he was, she thought,

"Oh, you, you, you're special. You're the guy. You're the hidden gem in my life."

The duo got engaged after seven months of dating. While speaking to reporters about the engagement, Diaz said she believed one has to find a person who is in the same place as they are. She also thinks the timing is everything.

The couple tied the knot in 2015 in an intimate ceremony held at Cameron's Beverly Hills home. The actress, who did not plan on ever getting married, serenaded her husband with praises in her 2016 book, "The Longevity Book: The Science of Aging, the Biology of Strength, and the Privilege of Time," writing:

"I never knew what love was until I found you. How did I ever live without your love, your friendship, your brilliant mind, your genius sense of humor, and your enormous, loving, beautiful heart?"

She thanked him for inspiring her and praised Benji for being her best friend, life partner, and teacher. Benji returned the favor with his Instagram post to celebrate her 44th birthday in August 2016. He gushed over Diaz and praised her for being humble, selfless, loyal, and compassionate.

Cameron said she would never have discovered some traits without the help of her husband.

The actress's sister-in-law and her "Charlie's Angels" co-star Drew Barrymore were the bridesmaids at the beautiful, heartwarming ceremony. Notable attendees include Lionel Richie, Gweneth Paltrow, Judd Apatow, and Samantha Ronson.

The wedding procession reportedly lasted 15 minutes before guests were convinced to enjoy their cocktails and music underneath a tent placed outside. The adorable duo spent their first night as a married couple at the house before leaving for Wyoming later that month on their honeymoon.

In January 2020, the couple delighted fans when they announced the birth of their child, Raddix. During an interview, the actress said: "[Marriage] was the biggest thing I've done in my 40s, and it opened me up in different ways."

Diaz described the institution as awesome and confessed that it was something she hadn't anticipated doing. The star also admitted that she doesn't know if she would've gone through with it if she hadn't met her husband because it surprised her.

During an appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," Diaz spoke about her husband and the best and worst things about marriage for her. The super-talented actress explained that discovering herself has been the most beautiful thing about marriage.

Cameron Diaz said she would never have discovered some traits without the help of her husband. Finding those traits was also the worst thing about marriage because she wished she never learned what she did about herself. The veteran actress said:

"So it's like this double-edged sword. But I'm just so grateful for it because I couldn't do it without my husband, and I couldn't do it with anybody else except for him."

The mother of one also stated that she has discovered that having a fulfilled relationship is an essential aspect of life.