In a world where celebrity marriages often have the shelf life of a carton of milk, Rachel Griffiths and husband Andrew Taylor are an anomaly. They don't do the tabloid drama. You won't see them leaking "sources say" stories to Page Six. Honestly, in the high-stakes ecosystem of Hollywood and the Australian arts scene, they've managed to build something that feels remarkably grounded.
It’s been over two decades.
That is basically a century in famous-person years. While Rachel Griffiths became a household name through the raw, messy brilliance of Six Feet Under and the family chaos of Brothers & Sisters, her real-life partnership has remained a steady anchor.
Who is the Man Behind the Artist?
People always ask about Rachel Griffiths and husband Andrew Taylor because he isn't an actor. He doesn't crave the spotlight. Andrew is a highly respected Australian painter and printmaker, born in Melbourne in 1967. He’s the kind of guy who’d rather be in a quiet studio with a palette knife than walking a red carpet, though he’s done plenty of the latter to support his wife.
They met long before the Emmy nominations and the Oscar buzz.
Specifically, they were just two young creatives in Melbourne's vibrant 90s scene. They didn't rush into a "Vegas-style" wedding. Instead, they waited until New Year's Eve in 2002 to tie the knot.
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The ceremony was incredibly personal. They held it at the Star of the Sea Chapel in Gardenvale, which is actually where Rachel went to school. It wasn't some over-produced PR stunt; it was a candle-lit, intimate event. Rachel wore a floor-length silk gauze gown by Alberta Ferretti and, in a move that screams "practical Australian," she opted for flat Jimmy Choo shoes.
Smart woman.
The Dynamics of an Artist-Actor Duo
Being married to a painter brings a different vibe to a household than a dual-actor marriage. There's no ego-clashing over who got the bigger trailer or the better billing. Rachel has often mentioned how the family rhythm changes when Andrew is preparing for a show. He "goes a little nutty," as she once put it, which is basically the universal language for "the creative process is happening, please leave snacks at the door."
They have three children:
- Banjo Patrick (born 2003)
- Adelaide Rose (born 2005)
- Clementine Grace (born 2009)
The birth of Clementine was actually quite harrowing. Rachel suffered a ruptured uterus during the delivery in Los Angeles. It was a life-threatening situation that required three days of surgery and a long recovery. Moments like that either break a couple or forge them into something unbreakable. For Rachel and Andrew, it seems to have been the latter.
Moving Back to Australia: A Calculated Shift
After nearly a decade of living the Santa Monica life, the couple made a massive decision in 2012. They packed up and moved back to Australia.
Why?
Because they wanted their kids to have a "free-range" childhood. Rachel has been vocal about the difference between parenting in the US versus Australia. She’s joked about the pressure in America to be a "perfect mommy" who bakes cupcakes from scratch even while working an 80-hour week. In Australia, she says, you just stop at the 7-Eleven, and nobody judges you.
That shift back home was also about their physical space. They settled in Melbourne, buying a stunning Victorian-era home in St Kilda. They later expanded their portfolio with a $2 million designer terrace in Sydney’s Darlinghurst in 2021. This wasn't just a lifestyle choice; it was a way to reintegrate into the Australian arts community where Andrew’s work is highly collected, appearing in the National Gallery of Victoria and the Shepparton Art Gallery.
Navigating the Public Eye
One of the most refreshing things about Rachel Griffiths and husband Andrew Taylor is their lack of pretense. Rachel is a feminist, a practicing Catholic (after a stint as an atheist), and an outspoken advocate for marriage equality. Andrew is the quiet observer.
They’ve navigated the "long-distance" nature of acting work—those "fervent periods" as Rachel calls them—by prioritizing downtime that is "so long the kids grow out of their shoes." It's a healthy way to look at a career that often demands you disappear to a film set for three months at a time.
What We Can Learn From Their Longevity
If you're looking for the "secret sauce" to their marriage, it’s probably a mix of shared values and distinct identities. They aren't trying to be the same person.
- Prioritize the "Home Base": Whether it was Santa Monica or Melbourne, they always created a secure perimeter for their kids.
- Support the "Nutty" Phases: Recognizing that art—whether it's acting or painting—requires intense focus periods.
- Keep it Simple: Rachel’s philosophy of "letting things putter on" is a great antidote to the frantic pace of modern celebrity life.
The reality is that Rachel Griffiths and husband Andrew Taylor have succeeded because they treat their marriage like a partnership, not a brand. They are messy, they are creative, and they are clearly very much in sync.
As Rachel continues to dominate Australian screens and Andrew continues to capture the landscape on canvas, they remain a blueprint for how to handle fame without losing your soul—or your spouse.
Next Steps for Fans: If you want to see the creative side of this duo beyond the screen, check out Andrew Taylor’s latest work at the Olsen Gallery in Sydney. His paintings often reflect the same grounded, textured reality that Rachel brings to her most iconic roles. Supporting local Australian art is a great way to connect with the culture this family worked so hard to return to.