Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have captured the hearts of many movie lovers as one of the most beloved couples in the entertainment industry. The lovers have shared a remarkable bond for over three decades; however, their love story was not without its challenges because Hanks was still married to another person when he first crossed paths with his current wife.
During the filming of Volunteers in 1985, the Forrest Gump actor found himself in a very complicated situation- falling in love with Rita Wilson on the production set of the movie while still married to his first wife, Samantha Lewes, with whom he had two children, Collin and Elizabeth.
Tom Hanks reveals that he could not keep his feelings for Rita Wilson
The actor has acknowledged that there was infidelity involved in the early stages of their relationship. Hanks revealed in an interview published by Esquire magazine that even though he was married at the time he came in contact with Wilson, it was love at first sight, and he could not contain what he felt at that moment.
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“Rita and I just looked at each other and – kaboing – that was that. I asked Rita if it was the real thing for her, and it just couldn’t be denied,” the 65-year-old reminisced. “I did happen to be married at the time. And there’s nothing to celebrate about that.”
Hanks eventually ended his first marriage in 1987 and tied the knot with his soulmate just a year later, in 1988.
Tom Hanks Shares details about his personal struggles after cheating on his first wife
Hanks openly disclosed that his personal vulnerabilities exerted significant influence on his initial marital relationship. He also stated that he was a bit afraid to leave his first marriage because of his two children. “I was too young and insecure,” Hanks admitted. “I was looking for something I had not found as a kid, and a broken marriage meant I was sentencing my own kids to the sort of feelings I had at their age.”
While making an appearance in an episode of In Depth with Graham Bensinger, the 65-year-old shared that he was subject to a barrage of emotions when he finally decided to be with his current wife. “I felt like I was a complete abject, total failure, and everything I thought was working was actually not working,” the actor confessed.
The actor says he went through self-development to become a better person
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After his marriage to Rita Wilson, Hanks was determined to make the union work, so he took time out to discover his flaws and address them while acknowledging the role they played in the dissolution of his first marriage. “You work through that till you figure out that,” Hanks stated. “You know, number one, you have been an idiot, but number two, you’re no longer an idiot.”
The 65-year-old credits the triumph of his relationship with Wilson to their maturity and an open, profound connection. During a discussion with Oprah Winfrey, Hanks identified personal development and nurturing a resilient emotional bond as the crucial elements for a thriving partnership.