Amy Madigan Reveals the One Rule That Saved Her 40-Year Marriage to Ed Harris

Amy Madigan is enjoying renewed attention in Hollywood, both for her work on screen and for her long personal life with actor Ed Harris. The two have been married for more than 40 years and are still going strong after tying the knot in 1983.

In a recent interview with PEOPLE, Madigan spoke openly about their relationship while attending the New York Film Critics Circle Awards on Jan. 6. She made it clear that there is no secret formula behind their marriage. We just love each other and we work really hard at that and in our work, she said. She explained that commitment and effort have always been at the center of their life together.

Madigan was at the event to accept the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in the 2025 horror film Weapons. The movie became a major hit after its release last summer and earned strong reactions from both critics and audiences. Madigan played Aunt Gladys, a dark and unsettling character that quickly became one of the most talked-about parts of the film.

She said that Harris was deeply impressed by her performance. He loved it, she said, adding that he understood the role on a personal level. He’s known me a long time and he saw all the parts of myself melded into Aunt Gladys. She also shared that support at home has made a big difference during this busy time in her career. So, I have a very supportive family, my daughter also, so I’m very lucky.

Madigan and Harris share one daughter, Lily Harris, who is also working as an actor. Lily has appeared on television and in films in recent years. Madigan said her family continues to encourage her as awards season continues. They’re just saying, ‘You can do it. Hang in there,’ she said. I’m like, ‘I don’t want to get hair and makeup done again,’ and they’re like, ‘It’s okay.’

Her work in Weapons has brought several major honors. She won the Critics Choice Award earlier this month and received a Golden Globe nomination.

Madigan also spoke about what these moments mean to her as an actor later in life. I think really what it means is that if you get an opportunity to work on a wonderful script and it’s a great part, regardless of who you are, and where you live, and what age you are, she said. If you’re an actor, you wait for those opportunities and moments, so it just feels great.

She is now nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 2026 Academy Awards, marking the first Oscar nomination of her career. She is also preparing for her next role in the Apple thriller Sponsor, directed by James Ponsoldt, alongside Jason Segel and John C. Reilly.

There may also be more Weapons in her future. Director Zach Cregger has confirmed that a prequel centered on Aunt Gladys is being discussed. Ed Harris is also busy with upcoming projects, including the black comedy thriller How to Make a Killing, set to arrive in early 2026. The couple has also expressed interest in working together again on The Ploughmen, which Harris plans to direct.

Madigan’s career is seeing a strong rise after decades of steady work. Known for past roles in Field of Dreams, Pollock, and her Emmy-winning performance in Roe vs. Wade, she is once again at the center of major conversations in film.

Amy Madigan’s story is a reminder that success does not have an expiration date. Her honesty about marriage, work, and aging in Hollywood feels refreshing and real. What do you think about her career comeback and her approach to a long-lasting marriage? Share your thoughts in the comments.