Acclaimed actress Robin Wright, at 59, has made a decisive move across the Atlantic, publicly declaring her departure from the United States, which she controversially described as “a s—show.” In a candid interview with The Times, published on Sunday, August 31, Wright revealed she is now renting a home on the tranquil English seaside, embracing a profound lifestyle shift alongside her new partner, architect Henry Smith, 52.
A Search for Serenity: Leaving the “Rush, Competition, and Speed”
Born in Texas and raised in California, the Emmy-nominated star of *House of Cards*, *The Princess Bride*, and *Forrest Gump* expressed a strong desire to escape what she perceives as the relentless pace and competitive nature of American life. “It’s liberating to be done,” Wright stated, reflecting on her move. “Be done with searching, looking and getting 60 percent of what you wanted.”
She elaborated on her critique of the U.S., explaining, “There’s a freedom of self here [in England]. People are so kind. They’re living. They’re not in the car in traffic, panicked on a phone call, eating a sandwich. That’s most of America. Everything’s rush, competition and speed.” The constant “noise of Los Angeles” and a culture of “everyone’s building a huge house” further solidified her decision to seek the quiet and simplicity she has now found in the U.K.
A New Chapter: Love Found in a Pub
Part of Wright’s newfound contentment stems from her relationship with Henry Smith, whom she affectionately calls “a sweetheart and just a good, decent adult. He’s a man.” The couple’s first encounter, recounted by Wright, was as memorable as it was unconventional. While sitting in a pub, Wright, spotting a dog, asked its owner if she could feed it. The man pointed to Smith, then 6’2″ and standing at the bar, clarifying it was his dog.
What followed was a direct, humorous exchange. “He put his pint down, came over to me and grabbed my shoulders,” Wright recalled. “He goes, ‘Who the f— are you?’ And I said, ‘Who the f— are you?’ And that was it.”
“Seen and Loved for Who I Am”
For Wright, this relationship marks a significant personal milestone. After a public life and several high-profile marriages, including to Sean Penn from 1996 to 2010 – with whom she shares two children, daughter Dylan, 34, and son Hopper, 32 – and later to fashion executive Clement Giraudet from 2018 until their divorce filing in 2022, she expressed a desire for enduring companionship. She was also briefly married to actor Dane Witherspoon from 1986 to 1988.
As she approaches her 60th birthday, Wright articulated a longing for a partner with whom to share life’s next chapter. “It’s so relaxing to be seen and loved for who I am,” she told The Times. “That’s exactly what I wanted. I’m turning 60 and I’m, like, ‘Is this it?’ I love being alone and I’ve done that many times. But I’m, like, ‘I want to grow old with somebody, and travel and see the world.’ “
Wright’s move to the English seaside is not just a change of address but a testament to a pursuit of peace, genuine connection, and a life lived on her own terms, far from the pressures she once experienced.
