Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie announce their engagement.
At last, the sexiest couple in Hollywood, beautiful A-listers Angelina Jolie, 36, and Brad Pitt, 48, are engaged to be married. The engagement has been termed "a promise for the future" as a wedding date is yet to be set.
Such heart-warming news! The chemistry between them is palpable; it is there in their body language and it even comes through in photographs. This writer feels that this is a union that will last.
The couple have been together since 2005 and they have six children together, three of whom are adopted. They both appear to be 'hands-on' parents. The couple have said, in interviews, that the children who were a major factor in their decision to formalise the relationship, are very happy about the news.
Jolie, the daughter of actor parents, Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand, has been married twice before: to actors Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Bob Thornton.
Brad Pitt has had high-profile relationships with actresses Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston, to whom he was married for five years.
The two, together, are well known for their humanitarian causes. Jolie has founded a number of charitable organisations, including the Jolie-Pitt Foundation. In 2001 she was appointed a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
From the start of the relationship, prophets of doom have predicted an early demise of the union. Fans of Jennifer Aniston, led by the veteran comedienne, Joan Rivers resorted to calling Jolie names – home-breaker, husband-snatcher amongst others.
To their credit, the Jolie-Pitts went about their loved-up lives with dignity raising their children, tending their charitable causes and making great movies.
Not surprisingly, the name-callers were noticeably women. Why do women never blame the man? More of that in an upcoming blog.
There was a noticeable lull, for a very short while, when the engagement was announced except for Ms Aniston who inexplicably felt the need to express her happiness for the couple and her own happiness at being in the place where she is now, thanks to Angelina and Brad! Sakes! Her adviser should be fired.
Then the bloggers descended. Quite a number wished the couple a happy life together. The moral crusaders who insist, despite the couple's denial, that Jolie and Pitt started a sexual affair before Pitt's divorce from Aniston are still predicting a short-lived union. In fact it sounds more like a wish than a prediction!
Celebrity marriages are notoriously difficult to sustain especially where both parties of the relationship are famous. A number of factors militate against success of these relationships not least of which are two egos together under one roof.
Impossible-to-fit-together work schedules means that the couple necessarily spends periods of time away from each other. This could make either party succumb to the ever-present temptation of unfaithfulness on location.
As with ordinary people, a number of celebrities get married for the wrong reasons. It might simply be just liking the idea of being married without considering the gravity of such commitment.
A young female celebrity might be afraid of being left 'on the shelf' and so rushes without thought into marriage.
Some get married for the publicity and/or to improve flagging ratings.
Seven years on, six children together and chemistry intact… one has to wish Jolie and Pitt an exciting long-lived union.
Let's take a cheering look at some of the Entertainment World's long marriages.
Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward: One of the most respected, long-lasting marriages ever in Hollywood history. The couple got married in 1958 and were together until Newman's death in September 2008.
Newman famously stated in an interview, "Why go out for hamburger when you have steak at home?"
Bob and Dolores DeFina Hope: 69 years married until Bob's death in July 2003. The couple adopted 4 children together. Interestingly, Bob Hope's infidelity was legendary but seemed not to have affected his wife's steadfastness and the longevity of their marriage.
Bill and Camille Cosby: Comedian Bill Cosby has been married to Camille since January 1964. The couple support various humanitarian causes. Together, they gave Spelman College $20 million, the largest gift ever given to a black school. In 1997, in memory of their slain son, they established the Hello Friend/Ennis William Cosby Foundation dedicated to the vision that no-one with learning differences be denied the lifelong joy and fulfilment of learning.
Sting and Trudy Styler: 6 children and almost 20 years married, this couple actually lived together for 11 years before getting married on August 20, 1992.
They have been together for over 30 years now. Phew, the tantric sex they practice should be prescribed by doctors!
Bono and Ali: The front man for one of the greatest rock bands of all time has been married to Ali for over 25 years. The couple met in their high school days.
Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea: 4 children and 23 years together, this couple met in high school and were married on April 29, 1989 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Considering Jon's good looks, rock star allure and the ever-available bevy of groupies, this couple have a great and extraordinary bond.
Denzel and Pauletta Washington: 4 children together and married since June 1983, Academy Award winner Denzel Washington and his actress wife Pauletta Pearson met on the set of the film "Wilma."
Michael and Catherine Douglas: Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, who share a birthday (September 25), started dating in March 1999 and got married in November 2000. It is famously reported that when they met at the Deauville Film Festival in France in August 1998, Douglas's chat-up line was "I want to father your children".
They have two children together and the union stays strong.
