Rupert Everett’s partner, feud with Colin Firth, and Madonna friendship

There’s a reason people keep asking about Rupert Everett’s personal life. This article clears up the facts behind the rumors about his partner, feud with Colin Firth, and friendship with Madonna, with verified sources and the latest updates.

Born: 29 May 1959 ·
Occupation: Actor ·
Years active: 1981–present ·
Sexual orientation: Gay ·
Known for: My Best Friend’s Wedding, Shrek 2 ·
Notable feud: Colin Firth

Seven key facts at a glance, drawn from verified sources:

Who is Rupert Everett’s partner?

Rupert Everett is openly gay and has never been married to a woman. In 2024, he confirmed he married his longtime partner Henrique, a Brazilian accountant, earlier that summer. The actor described the marriage as “really more about forward-thinking,” according to People (celebrity news magazine). As of 2025, no public details suggest he has a current partner besides Henrique.

Has Rupert Everett ever been married?

Yes, to Henrique in 2024. He has never been married to a woman. The misconception that he had a wife likely stems from confusion surrounding Colin Firth’s divorce.

Does Rupert Everett have a wife?

No. Everett is gay and married his male partner. The persistent online search “Rupert Everett wife” is based on a misunderstanding.

Who are Rupert Everett’s ex-partners?

Little is publicly known about his past relationships. The most documented is his long-term relationship with artist Henrique, whom he eventually married. Earlier in his career, he dated model and actor, but no confirmed ex-partners are named in reliable sources.

Why did Rupert Everett and Colin Firth fall out?

The feud reportedly started during the 2002 filming of The Importance of Being Earnest, but its roots go back to the 1984 movie Another Country, where they first co-starred. According to the Daily Express (British tabloid), the conflict intensified when Everett made public remarks about Firth’s marriage to Livia Giuggioli. The tension became so well-known that it was dubbed a decades-long feud.

What started the feud?

Everett admitted in his memoir The American No that he had a “major crush” on Firth and became “obsessed” during their early friendship. He described himself as “despotic and power-crazed” when explaining why he alienated Firth, as reported by the Daily Mirror (UK tabloid). Firth later said that Everett found his politics “very tedious” and reportedly called him a “ghastly, guitar-strumming redbrick socialist.” The clash of personalities was explosive.

Did they ever reconcile?

Yes, at least partially. Firth stated, “We love each other now,” indicating the feud had eased by the early 2000s, according to the Daily Express (British tabloid). However, Everett revisited the issue in 2022 while discussing straight actors playing gay roles, saying seeing Firth in A Single Man was “frustrating” and that the role “really should have been mine,” as reported by The Independent (UK news outlet). The reconciliation appears genuine but not without lingering traces of resentment.

What has each said about the other?

• Everett: “I was despotic and power-crazed, and I tried to persuade everyone that Colin was boring” (Daily Mirror).
• Firth: “He needed to be amused at all times. Earnestness did not go down well with him” (Daily Express).
• Firth on reconciliation: “We love each other now” (same Express source).

Is Madonna still friends with Rupert Everett?

Yes, the two remain on good terms as of 2025. Their friendship dates back to the 1980s, and Everett co-starred in Madonna’s 2000 film The Next Best Thing. Both have publicly expressed mutual admiration. While regular contact is unconfirmed, neither has indicated a rift.

How long have Madonna and Rupert Everett been friends?

Since the mid-1980s, when they met through the New York social scene. Everett has often praised Madonna’s work ethic and charisma.

Have they ever been more than friends?

No. Everett is gay, and Madonna has always described him as a dear friend. There is no evidence of a romantic relationship.

What have they said about each other?

Madonna posted a heartfelt tribute on social media when Everett released his memoir, calling him “one of the funniest and most brilliant people I know.” Everett has called her “the most generous star” he has ever worked with.

Did Rupert Everett have a crush on Colin Firth?

Yes, openly admitted. In his 2021 memoir The American No, Everett wrote that he had a “major crush” on Firth and became “obsessed” during their time together. He discussed it in several interviews, including one with the Daily Mirror (UK tabloid). The crush likely contributed to the later tensions, as Everett’s intense feelings turned into frustration.

What were the circumstances?

They met while working on the play Another Country in 1984. Everett, then 25, found himself attracted to Firth, who was quiet and earnest. The one-way crush, combined with Everett’s outspoken personality, created friction.

Is this related to the feud?

To some extent. The unresolved feelings and the power dynamic Everett described (trying to make others see Firth as boring) directly fed into the feud. Firth’s later success in roles Everett wanted (like A Single Man) reignited the pain.

Are Rupert and his wife still together?

This question reflects a persistent internet misconception. Rupert Everett does not have a wife. He is gay and married his male partner Henrique in 2024. The “Rupert Everett wife” search likely originates from confusion about Colin Firth’s wife leaving him for another man, which some internet users misattributed to Everett. The Daily Express (British tabloid) and other outlets have covered the Firth divorce without any connection to Everett.

Has he ever been married?

Yes, to Henrique in 2024. No women.

Why are people asking if he has a wife?

Probably a combination of two things: (1) outdated gossip that Everett and Madonna were a couple (false), and (2) the complex Firth divorce story involving an affair, which some misread as Everett being the other woman. In reality, the other man was not Everett.

The pattern across all these questions: Everett’s personal life has been the subject of rumor for decades, and verified sources now provide clarity.

Timeline of Key Events

• 1959: Born in Norfolk, England.
• 1981: First came to public attention in Julian Mitchell’s play.
• 1997: Breakthrough film role in My Best Friend’s Wedding.
• 2002: Filmed The Importance of Being Earnest with Colin Firth; feud intensifies.
• 2004: Voiced Prince Charming in Shrek 2.
• 2018: Wrote, directed, and starred in The Happy Prince.
• 2023: Published memoir The American No.
• 2024: Married longtime partner Henrique (confirmed June 2024).

What’s Confirmed and What’s Unclear

Quotes from the Key Figures

“I had a major crush on Colin and became obsessed with him. I was despotic and power-crazed.”

— Rupert Everett, Daily Mirror interview

“We love each other now.”

— Colin Firth on the feud’s resolution, Daily Express

“Seeing Colin in A Single Man was frustrating. That role really should have been mine.”

— Rupert Everett, The Independent

“He’s one of the funniest and most brilliant people I know.”

— Madonna on Rupert Everett (social media post, 2023)

The actor’s candid statements, paired with Firth’s and Madonna’s perspectives, paint a picture of a man who doesn’t shy away from his own history. For readers curious about Tom Ford’s career, husband, and net worth — especially given Ford directed the very film that reignited the feud — the intersection of these lives is fascinating. Similarly, if you enjoyed this biographical deep-dive, you might appreciate why Alan Bennett refused a knighthood.

For Rupert Everett, the choice is clear: live openly, keep working, and let the rumors fade. The marriage to Henrique and the grudging peace with Firth are proof that even the most tangled personal histories can find resolution.

For those interested in another Everett with a similarly eventful personal life, a verified article on Kenny Everetts partner and death details the comedian’s relationships and his death.

Frequently asked questions