- Paul Thomas Anderson met Maya Rudolph after seeing her on SNL and pursued her; they’ve been together since 2001.
- The couple lives in the San Fernando Valley and shares four children: Pearl (20), Lucille (16), Jack (14) and Minnie (12).
- Their family keeps a deliberately private, low-key life despite Anderson’s awards attention and occasional on-screen collaborations.
How they met and stayed private
Paul Thomas Anderson first noticed Maya Rudolph when he watched episodes of Saturday Night Live. He later told interviewers he saw her name on a call sheet and felt an immediate change in his life. The pair met at an after-party in 2001; Anderson returned from a London shoot to ask her out, and they’ve been together ever since.
Though often described as celebrity royalty, both have kept a deliberately private profile. They rarely attend red carpets together and favor family time at home in the San Fernando Valley, where Anderson grew up and says he plans to remain.
Family life in the San Fernando Valley
At home the couple are primarily parents. Their four children—Pearl (20), Lucille (16), Jack (14) and Minnie (12), named for Rudolph’s late mother Minnie Riperton—are central to their daily routine. Anderson has described the household as noisy and musical, with kids playing instruments and making a lively, chaotic family scene.
Rudolph left SNL when Pearl was 2 because commuting between New York and Los Angeles became impossible with small children. She has spoken about parenting as a priority and finding ways to work while making home life a steady foundation for their kids.
Both parents have involved their children in film projects: all four appeared in Licorice Pizza (2021) and Pearl had a role in Anderson’s One Battle After Another. Still, Anderson and Rudolph avoid turning publicity into a family brand and keep most of their children’s lives out of the spotlight.
Film collaborations and awards season
Anderson’s latest film, One Battle After Another, led Golden Globe nominations and put the director back in awards-season headlines. Rudolph has made small performances in Anderson’s films—brief turns in Inherent Vice and Licorice Pizza—but she generally follows her own career path in comedy and acting rather than acting as a constant on-screen partner.
They’ve attended notable ceremonies together when supporting one another, including Oscars and Gotham Awards, but remain selective about public appearances. The couple refer to each other as husband and wife in interviews even though they have not formally married.
A stable base amid Hollywood life
The pair’s story is one of balance: Anderson’s intense, award-minded film career and Rudolph’s sketch and acting legacy meet in a steady home life oriented around parenting. By choosing a longstanding home in the San Fernando Valley and keeping family details private, they’ve built a life that supports both creative work and raising four children away from the constant glare of Hollywood publicity.
Image Referance: https://www.eonline.com/news/1427143/paul-thomas-anderson-maya-rudolph-private-world-with-4-kids
