Alfre Woodard Says Her 40-Year Marriage Is About 'Constant Discovery': We 'Continue to Fall in Love' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Alfre Woodard and Roderick Spencer in New York City on Sept. 29, 2022.Photo:Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty

Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty

ForAlfre Woodard, love is about growing together.The award-winning veteran actress recently opened up to PEOPLE about her new role in theStephen Kingfilm adaptationSalem’s Lot, now streaming on Max, and also took some time to touch on her nearly 41-year marriage to producerRoderick Spencer.“It’s that thing of partnering up. You just know your partner,” says Woodard, 71. “Your partner just happened to be good in bed, but your partner, it’s your trust place. It’s family, but in a way that has nothing to do with DNA. It’s constant discovery and renegotiating and continuing to fall in love.“She also stressed the importance of laughter “even in the difficulty” of life, explaining, “You can cry about it, you can argue about it, and then sometimes in the middle of it all, you don’t know why, but something will make you laugh.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.Alfre Woodard and Roderick Spencer in the 1980s.Ron Galella Collection via Getty"And if there’s an irreverence there, that either of you can make each other laugh or look at something that makes you both laugh — because the thing is, it’s all always all right,” Woodard says. “And the laughter and the humor that you’ll share, it is a principle. It’s always there.“The couple — whoshare two children, daughter Mavis, 33, and son Duncan, 30 — will celebrate 41 years of marriage on Oct. 21.Asked if they did anything extra special to mark their 40-year milestone in 2023 or have something planned for this year, theSummer Campactress tells PEOPLE, “You know what? When it’s real, you don’t stop to mark a date.““We just would do what we would be doing,” she adds. “Yeah, we don’t renew vows. I still have my same wedding band. If I want another ring, I put it on another hand.“The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!Alfre Woodard inSalem’s Lot(2024).New Line Cinema/MaxWoodard’s new role inSalem’s Lotsees her as Dr. Cody — with a big change from King’s 1975 sophomore novel, in which Cody was a man.Asked whether the gender shift made it easier or more difficult to play, the four-timeEmmywinner tells PEOPLE there was “a lot of freedom” in her version of the character, as it’s “the only one I know.““She’s a woman because I am,” Woodard says. “I think it was written for a man, and it became me, the choice to do it. And I like to believe this because [writer-directorGary Dauberman] felt that as an actor, whatever aspect to focus on Dr. Cody, that I could embody that in his mind.“Salem’s Lot, from New Line Cinema, is now streaming onMax.

ForAlfre Woodard, love is about growing together.

The award-winning veteran actress recently opened up to PEOPLE about her new role in theStephen Kingfilm adaptationSalem’s Lot, now streaming on Max, and also took some time to touch on her nearly 41-year marriage to producerRoderick Spencer.

“It’s that thing of partnering up. You just know your partner,” says Woodard, 71. “Your partner just happened to be good in bed, but your partner, it’s your trust place. It’s family, but in a way that has nothing to do with DNA. It’s constant discovery and renegotiating and continuing to fall in love.”

She also stressed the importance of laughter “even in the difficulty” of life, explaining, “You can cry about it, you can argue about it, and then sometimes in the middle of it all, you don’t know why, but something will make you laugh.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

Alfre Woodard and Roderick Spencer in the 1980s.Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Ron Galella Collection via Getty

“And if there’s an irreverence there, that either of you can make each other laugh or look at something that makes you both laugh — because the thing is, it’s all always all right,” Woodard says. “And the laughter and the humor that you’ll share, it is a principle. It’s always there.”

The couple — whoshare two children, daughter Mavis, 33, and son Duncan, 30 — will celebrate 41 years of marriage on Oct. 21.

Asked if they did anything extra special to mark their 40-year milestone in 2023 or have something planned for this year, theSummer Campactress tells PEOPLE, “You know what? When it’s real, you don’t stop to mark a date.”

“We just would do what we would be doing,” she adds. “Yeah, we don’t renew vows. I still have my same wedding band. If I want another ring, I put it on another hand.”

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Alfre Woodard inSalem’s Lot(2024).New Line Cinema/Max

New Line Cinema/Max

Woodard’s new role inSalem’s Lotsees her as Dr. Cody — with a big change from King’s 1975 sophomore novel, in which Cody was a man.

Asked whether the gender shift made it easier or more difficult to play, the four-timeEmmywinner tells PEOPLE there was “a lot of freedom” in her version of the character, as it’s “the only one I know.”

“She’s a woman because I am,” Woodard says. “I think it was written for a man, and it became me, the choice to do it. And I like to believe this because [writer-directorGary Dauberman] felt that as an actor, whatever aspect to focus on Dr. Cody, that I could embody that in his mind.”

Salem’s Lot, from New Line Cinema, is now streaming onMax.

source: people.com