Success stories frequently include fascinating accounts of collaboration that develop into epic love stories. The story of Greta Gerwig and her husband, Noah Baumbach, and their extraordinary collaborations, both professionally and personally, is an intriguing example of this.
Before becoming a renowned filmmaker and actress, Gerwig made her name in independent cinema with her endearing and novel performances. But what really catapulted her into the spotlight was her connection to the Mr. Jealousy director. Baumbach, an accomplished filmmaker in his own right, saw Gerwig’s early talent and encouraged her professional growth, resulting in her breakthrough role in Greenberg.
Because of his work on the Ben Stiller-starred $7.3 million film Greenberg, he became instrumental in helping his wife land her first major break in the film industry.
How Greta Gerwig’s First Major Break in Hollywood Was Made Possible by Noah Baumbach
Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach first became acquainted, according to New York Magazine, when the latter saw one of the Barbie director’s films and decided to cast her in his 2010 romantic comedy-drama film. He was so enthralled with her performance that he pushed his agent to see her work, which helped Gerwig land a Hollywood agent and Florence Marr’s role alongside Ben Stiller in Greenberg.
We also learned from the outlet that Baumbach’s then-wife, actress Jennifer Jason Leigh, co-wrote the film with him. However, The New Yorker claimed that Gerwig had no involvement in the former couple’s divorce. The article said:
“Baumbach and Gerwig firmly place the start of their romance at a point after his separation.”
Gerwig and Baumbach have discussed their creative process and collaboration, but they have kept many aspects of their private lives under wraps. The Little Women director did disclose what her normal weekend entails in a 2019 interview with Vogue, stating:
“Just hanging out with Noah and the baby, and writing, and making each other laugh.”
In an interview with Vulture, Gerwig clarified that she did not like being referred to by the media as “Baumbach’s muse” after her initial few collaborations with her husband:
“I did not love being called a muse. I didn’t want to be strident about it or say, ‘Hey, give me my due,’ but I did feel like I wasn’t a bystander.”
Their co-written film, Frances Ha, which debuted at the Telluride Film Festival in September 2012, marked Gerwig and Baumbach’s yet another epic collaboration. The original idea was developed by Baumbach, the film’s director, and presented to Gerwig, who even starred in the film as Frances. The process of co-writing helped the two become closer; they have been dating since late 2011.
Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig Tied the Knot After 12 Years of Dating
Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig are described as a “real-life couple” in a Los Angeles Times article about the movie. Twelve years after they first started dating, the couple finally tied the knot at New York City Hall in December 2023, according to PEOPLE.
Both have had a busy year; in July, they revealed in an interview with Elle UK that they had secretly welcomed a second son. The Lady Bird director confirmed this to the outlet.
“The little guy is sleeping through the night. But I’m still doing that thing where I wake up, every hour to 90 minutes, and just hover. You just keep wanting to look at that baby. So I’m slightly in a twilight state.”
The couple welcomed their first child in March 2019. Baumbach, 54, discussed with Vogue in December of that year why he likes working with his now-wife:
“I think the pleasure of writing for us is that it seeps into everything. I’d show her a cut of my movie, and then a few months later, I’m watching her movie. I don’t want to sound sickeningly happy, but it’s a truly great thing to watch someone you love make something and love the thing they make..”
Anyway, it is impossible to overstate Baumbach’s contribution to Gerwig’s career and the two have proven to be an actual team. As of right now, they are happily married and the proud parents of two sons, born in March 2019 and February 2023.
You can stream Greenberg on Netflix.
