Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara's Relationship Timeline

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty

VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty

Joaquin PhoenixandRooney Maraare going to parents — again!

Phoenix and theNightmare Alleystar, who have been together since 2016, already share a son, River, whom they welcomed in 2020.

From meeting on a movie set to getting engaged, here is a complete timeline of Mara and Phoenix’s relationship.

01of 192012: Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara meet on set of ‘Her’Elisabetta A. Villa/WireImagePhoenix and Mara met in 2012 on the set ofHer, in which Mara played Phoenix’s ex-wife.Things weren’t romantic right away for the costars. In fact,Phoenix toldVanity Fairin 2019 that he thought Mara didn’t like him at all, but it turns out she was just shy.“She’s the only girl I ever looked up on the internet,“he said.“We were just friends, e-mail friends. I’d never done that. Never looked up a girl online.”

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2012: Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara meet on set of ‘Her’

Elisabetta A. Villa/WireImage

Phoenix and Mara met in 2012 on the set ofHer, in which Mara played Phoenix’s ex-wife.

Things weren’t romantic right away for the costars. In fact,Phoenix toldVanity Fairin 2019 that he thought Mara didn’t like him at all, but it turns out she was just shy.

“She’s the only girl I ever looked up on the internet,“he said.“We were just friends, e-mail friends. I’d never done that. Never looked up a girl online.”

02of 192016: Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara costar in ‘Mary Magdalene’Dave J Hogan/GettyPhoenix and Mara reunited on-screen when they costarred in the 2016Mary Magdalene.Mara played the titular role, and Phoenix portrayed Jesus.“I was looking for something meaningful,” Phoenix explained toT Magazinein 2017 on what drew him to the film. “I was looking for an experience. I was friends with Rooney.“The film wasn’t released in the United States until April 2019, over a year after premiering in London in February 2018.

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2016: Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara costar in ‘Mary Magdalene’

Dave J Hogan/Getty

Phoenix and Mara reunited on-screen when they costarred in the 2016Mary Magdalene.Mara played the titular role, and Phoenix portrayed Jesus.

“I was looking for something meaningful,” Phoenix explained toT Magazinein 2017 on what drew him to the film. “I was looking for an experience. I was friends with Rooney.”

The film wasn’t released in the United States until April 2019, over a year after premiering in London in February 2018.

03of 19May 28, 2017: Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara appear together at the Cannes Film FestivalPascal Le Segretain/GettyPhoenix and Mara made their first public appearance as a couple at the closing ceremonies for theCannes Film Festivalon May 28, 2017. The pair sat together and interacted like a couple, including holding hands and embracing after Phoenix won the festival’s best actor award for his role in 2017’sYou Were Never Really Here.“They were talking to one another nonstop,” asource told PEOPLEat the time. “Small talk between them. Then they went for their car, and he’s holding her hand like it was unconscious. Like it fits. They seem a totally natural and easy couple.”

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May 28, 2017: Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara appear together at the Cannes Film Festival

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

Phoenix and Mara made their first public appearance as a couple at the closing ceremonies for theCannes Film Festivalon May 28, 2017. The pair sat together and interacted like a couple, including holding hands and embracing after Phoenix won the festival’s best actor award for his role in 2017’sYou Were Never Really Here.

“They were talking to one another nonstop,” asource told PEOPLEat the time. “Small talk between them. Then they went for their car, and he’s holding her hand like it was unconscious. Like it fits. They seem a totally natural and easy couple.”

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September 2017: Joaquin Phoenix reveals Rooney Mara has a thing for true-crime docs

Rich Polk/Getty

In September 2017, the actor toldT Magazinethat he and Mara live together in the Hollywood Hills. Although Phoenix did not share details on when the two started cohabitating, he revealed how they spend their downtime at home.

Phoenix also said that he and Mara binge-watched the Netflix true-crime documentaryThe Staircasebecause Mara wanted to, and he let the cat out of the bag that his favorite movie at the time was Disney’s 2016 animated filmMoana. “I thought it was beautiful,” he said, before changing his answer toThe Lost City of Z.

05of 192019: Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara get engagedPascal Le Segretain/GettyThe couple privately got engaged in 2019. Rumors of an engagement sparked when Mara wasphotographed wearing a large diamond ringon her left hand.However, representatives for Mara and Phoenix did not comment when asked about their relationship status.

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2019: Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara get engaged

The couple privately got engaged in 2019. Rumors of an engagement sparked when Mara wasphotographed wearing a large diamond ringon her left hand.

However, representatives for Mara and Phoenix did not comment when asked about their relationship status.

06of 19June 2, 2019: Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara protest together during National Animal Rights DayBG69/Bauer-Griffin/GC ImagesPhoenix and Mara are both passionate activists, and in 2019, they joined a protest together on National Animal Rights Day.The couplemarched in West Hollywoodholding dead animals during the demonstration. At the end of 2019, Phoenix was namedPETA’s person of the yearfor his animal rights activism.

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June 2, 2019: Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara protest together during National Animal Rights Day

BG69/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

Phoenix and Mara are both passionate activists, and in 2019, they joined a protest together on National Animal Rights Day.

The couplemarched in West Hollywoodholding dead animals during the demonstration. At the end of 2019, Phoenix was namedPETA’s person of the yearfor his animal rights activism.

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Ernesto Ruscio/GC Images

At the 2019 Venice Film Festival, Phoenix and Mara made a grand entrance for the world premiere of his filmJoker. The couple was all smiles as theyarrived on a boat. Phoenix wore a tux and Mara a white gown.

The movie would laterwin the festival’s big prize, the Golden Lion, for best film.

08of 19September 9, 2019: Joaquin Phoenix says “I love you” to Rooney Mara after receiving TIFF honorRooney Mara (L) and Joaquin Phoenix.Kevin Winter/GettyAfter winning the inaugural TIFF Tribute Actor Award at theToronto International Film Festivalin September 2019, Phoenix used his acceptance speech to honor his late brotherRiver Phoenixand thank his fiancée for her support.“One last thing — somewhere here, I don’t know where, is a filthy dragon, and I want to rip its wings off and fasten a blanket and sleep with it forever,” he said.“I love you. Thank you.”

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September 9, 2019: Joaquin Phoenix says “I love you” to Rooney Mara after receiving TIFF honor

Rooney Mara (L) and Joaquin Phoenix.Kevin Winter/Getty

After winning the inaugural TIFF Tribute Actor Award at theToronto International Film Festivalin September 2019, Phoenix used his acceptance speech to honor his late brotherRiver Phoenixand thank his fiancée for her support.

“One last thing — somewhere here, I don’t know where, is a filthy dragon, and I want to rip its wings off and fasten a blanket and sleep with it forever,” he said.“I love you. Thank you.”

09of 19October 8, 2019: Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara are spotted together in L.A.Just days afterJokerhad the biggest box office opening weekend in history, Phoenix and Marawere seen together in L.A.with friends.Phoenix wore a black T-shirt, black jeans and black shoes, while Mara wore a white T-shirt, black pants and a black sweatshirt tied around her waist.

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October 8, 2019: Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara are spotted together in L.A.

Just days afterJokerhad the biggest box office opening weekend in history, Phoenix and Marawere seen together in L.A.with friends.

Phoenix wore a black T-shirt, black jeans and black shoes, while Mara wore a white T-shirt, black pants and a black sweatshirt tied around her waist.

10of 19January 5, 2020: Joaquin Phoenix smiles at Rooney Mara on the Golden Globes red carpetFrazer Harrison/GettyPhoenix looked on lovingly as Mara posed for photos at the 2020 Golden Globes, where the couple made a rareappearance on the red carpettogether.Later that evening, Phoenix received the Golden Globe for best performance in a motion picture drama for his role inJoker.

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January 5, 2020: Joaquin Phoenix smiles at Rooney Mara on the Golden Globes red carpet

Frazer Harrison/Getty

Phoenix looked on lovingly as Mara posed for photos at the 2020 Golden Globes, where the couple made a rareappearance on the red carpettogether.

Later that evening, Phoenix received the Golden Globe for best performance in a motion picture drama for his role inJoker.

11of 19February 9, 2020: Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara make their Oscars red carpet debutRooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix.VALERIE MACON/AFP via GettyThe pair stunned on the 2020 Oscars red carpet. Phoenix would go on towin Best Actorfor his performance inJoker. In his speech, he spoke passionately about bettering the world: “I think that’s when we’re at our best, when we support each other … when we help each other grow, when we educate each other, when we guide each other towards redemption. That is the best of humanity.“After Phoenix’s big win, the couple visited Monty’s Good Burger in L.A.’s Koreatown tocelebrate with plant-based burgers.

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February 9, 2020: Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara make their Oscars red carpet debut

Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix.VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty

The pair stunned on the 2020 Oscars red carpet. Phoenix would go on towin Best Actorfor his performance inJoker. In his speech, he spoke passionately about bettering the world: “I think that’s when we’re at our best, when we support each other … when we help each other grow, when we educate each other, when we guide each other towards redemption. That is the best of humanity.”

After Phoenix’s big win, the couple visited Monty’s Good Burger in L.A.’s Koreatown tocelebrate with plant-based burgers.

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2020: Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara welcome their first child together

The couplewelcomed their first child, a son named River, afterPhoenix’s late brother, who died in 1993.

Mara laterconfirmed River’s namewhen she mentioned her son in a Mother’s Day 2021 campaign for Farm Sanctuary.

13of 19October 6, 2021: Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara take a walk in N.Y.C.Phoenix and Maramade a rare appearance togetherin N.Y.C. in October 2021.The couple was spotted walking through Manhattan, with Phoenix wrapping his arm around Mara’s shoulders at one point.

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October 6, 2021: Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara take a walk in N.Y.C.

Phoenix and Maramade a rare appearance togetherin N.Y.C. in October 2021.

The couple was spotted walking through Manhattan, with Phoenix wrapping his arm around Mara’s shoulders at one point.

14of 19November 18, 2021: Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara speak out against eating turkeys for ThanksgivingPhoenix and Mara once again teamed up touse their platform to advocatefor adopting, not eating, turkeys during the Thanksgiving holiday for Farm Sanctuary’s Adopt a Turkey initiative.“In this season of giving, please join us in adopting a turkey and leaving them off your plates,” the couple said in a statement.

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November 18, 2021: Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara speak out against eating turkeys for Thanksgiving

Phoenix and Mara once again teamed up touse their platform to advocatefor adopting, not eating, turkeys during the Thanksgiving holiday for Farm Sanctuary’s Adopt a Turkey initiative.

“In this season of giving, please join us in adopting a turkey and leaving them off your plates,” the couple said in a statement.

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October 24, 2022: Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix Are Cast in “The Island” Together

News broke thatMara and Phoenix will starin in Pawel Pawlikowski’s next thriller,The Island.

16of 19December 20, 2022: Rooney Mara Talks About Parenting with Joaquin PhoenixMaraopened up about parentingwith Phoenix on herLaunchLeftpodcast.The actress spoke to guestRain Phoenix, Phoenix’s sister, about how “lucky” she is to have the option to stay home with her son and explained that she never expected to raise children with another actor.“It doesn’t feel like a two-actor house because I didn’t work for the first three and a half years we were together,” Mara said. “Basically since we’ve been together, I only worked one or two times and one was really small and short. It feels like a creative household, we’re constantly talking about creative things.”

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December 20, 2022: Rooney Mara Talks About Parenting with Joaquin Phoenix

Maraopened up about parentingwith Phoenix on herLaunchLeftpodcast.

The actress spoke to guestRain Phoenix, Phoenix’s sister, about how “lucky” she is to have the option to stay home with her son and explained that she never expected to raise children with another actor.

“It doesn’t feel like a two-actor house because I didn’t work for the first three and a half years we were together,” Mara said. “Basically since we’ve been together, I only worked one or two times and one was really small and short. It feels like a creative household, we’re constantly talking about creative things.”

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October 14, 2023: Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix host a screening ofThe Smell of Money

Amanda Edwards/Getty

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Dominique Charriau/WireImage

19of 19September 29, 2024: Joaquin Phoenix sparks marriage rumors when he calls Rooney Mara his “wife"During an appearance on theTalk Easy with Sam Fragosopodcast, Phoenix sparked marriage rumors when he referred to Rooney as his “wife.” He did not clarify whether or not the couple had gotten legally married.

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September 29, 2024: Joaquin Phoenix sparks marriage rumors when he calls Rooney Mara his “wife”

During an appearance on theTalk Easy with Sam Fragosopodcast, Phoenix sparked marriage rumors when he referred to Rooney as his “wife.” He did not clarify whether or not the couple had gotten legally married.

source: people.com