The celebrity world of Hollywood evolves so quickly that it’s difficult to keep track of who’s coupled with who over the years.
Take for example Robert Downey Jr. and Sarah Jessica Parker. The two acting heavyweights were together for a total of seven years, and yet I’d completely forgot that they were ever an item.
In fact, it wasn’t until SJP decided to dish some dirt in a recent interview with The New Yorker that it all came rushing back. Iron Man star Downey Jr. and Sex and the City legend Parker first started dating after appearing in Firstborn (1984) together, and would go on to have quite a turbulent time of things.
By all accounts it was a difficult period in Downey’s life, marred by substance abuse, and SJP’s now gone on record to say that the couple’s relationship left her “embarrassed”.
You never truly know what’s going on behind the scenes in any relationship or marriage. The intimate nature of such engagements often means that struggles are well hidden by the parties involved, the pain masked with friendly smiles and the presentation of the idea that everything is under control.
According to Sarah Jessica Parker’s recent profile piece with The New Yorker, there was indeed pain and struggles during her seven-year relationship with Robert Downey Jr.
Parker was just 22 when she began dating Downey. At the time, the latter was locked in his now infamous battle with substance abuse.
“People around him would be dismissive of me, but I had given him stability and tried to create a steady heartbeat that allowed him to show up on time,” Parker told The New Yorker.
“That made me angry and embarrassed me.”
Downey himself has touched upon his relationship with Parker in the past. In a 2008 interview he explained: “I liked to drink, and I had a drug problem, and that didn’t jibe with Sarah Jessica, because it is the furthest thing from what she is.
“She provided me a home and understanding. She tried to help me. She was so miffed when I didn’t get my act together.”
Parker, meanwhile, maintains that she never knew about her ex-boyfriend’s drug addiction while they were together.
“There was a huge amount of time spent making sure he was OK,” Parker told People Magazine.
“At a certain point, I had the courage to say, ‘I’m going to walk away, and I’m just going to pray that you don’t die.’”
Following the break down of their relationship, Parker went on to marry Matthew Broderick. Downey has been married twice since, once to Deborah Falconer and then again to his current wife Susan Downey.
I’m just happy Robert Downey Jr. was able to get his act together and make a truly inspiring comeback.
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