Hollywood actress Sarah Michelle Gellar has candidly shared the fundamental rule that she believes underpins her enduring marriage to actor Freddie Prinze Jr. The couple, who have been married since 2002, credit a surprisingly practical domestic arrangement for their relationship's longevity.
The Key to Marital Success
During a recent appearance at the red carpet premiere for Netflix's Star Search reboot, where Gellar serves as a judge, the 48-year-old actress revealed her secret. 'Separate bathrooms. That's what I always say,' Gellar told E! News when asked about the key to her successful 23-year marriage to the 49-year-old actor.
The former Buffy the Vampire Slayer star explained that this simple domestic boundary has helped maintain harmony throughout their relationship. The couple first met on the set of the 1997 horror film I Know What You Did Last Summer and became one of Hollywood's most recognisable couples during the late 1990s.
Family Support at Premiere
Gellar's children, 16-year-old daughter Charlotte and 13-year-old son Rocky, attended Tuesday night's premiere to support their mother in her new role. The actress and her husband have consistently maintained their children's privacy, rarely sharing images of their faces publicly.
'Well my daughter was a little upset with some of my decisions,' Gellar told ET about her family's reactions to her judging performance on the live five-week talent competition. 'But my husband said I did very well and my son said I did a very good job which, from him, is huge.'
A Hollywood Partnership
Gellar and Prinze Jr., who starred together as Fred and Daphne in both Scooby-Doo live-action films in 2002 and 2004, celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary this past September. Their children's birthdays also fall in September, just one day apart.
Last year, Prinze Jr. offered his own perspective on marriage to Variety, stating: 'Marriage is hard, no matter what business you're in. What works for us might not work for everyone else. We work at it. I'm not perfect. She's not perfect. We piss each other off, but we respect one another.'
Public Tributes and Private Life
The couple occasionally shares glimpses of their relationship on social media. On Prinze Jr.'s birthday last March, Gellar posted throwback black and white images of them together on Instagram with a heartfelt caption: 'Happy Birthday @realfreddieprinze. The world got very lucky the day you were born, but no one more so than me (and our children) I'm so glad I get to grow old with you.'
Similarly, Gellar marked her daughter's 16th birthday last September with an Instagram post featuring baby photos and a black Jeep Wrangler gift, writing: 'Charlotte, you are strong, you are inspiring, you are kind, you are funny and most importantly you are one of a kind.' The following day she celebrated her son's 13th birthday with equal affection.
New Professional Chapter
Gellar currently serves as a judge on Netflix's Star Search reboot alongside Chrissy Teigen and musician Jelly Roll, hosted by Anthony Anderson. The live talent competition represents a new professional chapter for the actress, who rose to fame in the 1990s.
Despite their Hollywood careers and public profiles, the couple has successfully maintained a relatively private family life while navigating the challenges of long-term marriage in the public eye. Their practical approach to domestic arrangements appears to have served them well through more than two decades together.
