HE’S the Hollywood hunk hotly tipped to take over from Daniel Craig as the next James Bond – but unlike 007, he only has eyes for one woman.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 33, has been in a relationship with his director wife Sam, who is 24 years his senior, since 2008, when she cast him in the Beatles biopic Nowhere Boy.
Their age gap romance has regularly hit the headlines over the years, with the Kick-Ass star dubbed Sam's “red carpet toyboy” when they first went public.
The couple, who married in 2012, remain madly in love and share two children - Romy, 11, and Wylda, 13 - as well as two kids from Sam’s previous marriage.
With Aaron poised to sign on the dotted line to play MI6's most famous spy and ladies man, we take a look inside their touching romance.
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Unconventional meeting
The couple have often described their romance as like a fairytale, and the way they met involved a helpful twist of fate.
Aaron was due to audition for Sam’s debut feature film, the Beatles biopic Nowhere Boy, in 2008 but the only day he was available was when she was busy.
She had recently split from her art dealer husband of 11 years Jay Jopling, and was moving out of their marital home on the day Aaron requested to audition for the role of John Lennon.
“It was so inconvenient,” Sam told The Times. “In the end I was like, ‘OK, he’ll have to come to my home.’ I opened my door to John Lennon. I instantly knew he was the guy.”
Aaron impressed Sam with how much research he’d done for the part, including studying the late singer's voice and mannerisms.
She made an impression on the actor, too, who years later said he could still picture how she looked at that 2008 audition.
"I remember it very, very clearly. I know exactly what she was wearing," Aaron said. "This white shirt that she still has, that I love. It definitely changed my life, though not in the way I expected."
'Intense' pursuit
On set, Sam claimed there was an “intense connection” between them, but insisted there were no saucy antics, adding: "We were very professional through the entire film… No funny business at all."
She added to Harper's Bazaar: “As soon as we finished, he told me he was going to marry me. We had never been on a date, or even kissed."
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It was a bold move from Aaron, then 18, who according to Sam, then 42, was the one who pursued her and took the initiative.
“He was very intense and absolutely mind made-up,” she said, adding that while the age gap made her initially hesitant, it "wasn’t [for] long. Aaron was, ‘Have no fear'".
Speaking about their connection, Aaron said: “When I met Sam I'd already lived a life far beyond that of most of my contemporaries.
"I didn't relate to anyone my age. I just feel that we're on the same wavelength."
'Red carpet toyboy'
When the couple went public they faced backlash from people sceptical about their 24-year age gap.
Aaron spoke about there being “a lot of negativity from other people” but insisted: “That’s their problem and their issues and however they perceive life.
"I live my life to its fullest and I operate from my instincts and from my heart, and I try to be as open as possible.”
For him their connection was never in question, with the actor admitting: “I knew instantly with Sam that I’d found my soulmate”.
I remember it very, very clearly. I know exactly what she was wearing. This white shirt that she still has, that I love. It definitely changed my life, though not in the way I expected
Aaron Taylor Johnson
By 2009 they were engaged, with Aaron proposing "a year to the minute" after they met.
“I knew instantly that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with this person," he said.
"I knew I wanted a family with her, I knew I wanted kids, and a month later she was pregnant with our first child.”
Sam admitted she knew some of her friends wouldn't approve - but it didn't affect how she felt.
“I could predict who was going to take a step back and who was going to say, ‘Are you happy? Great'," she said.
“I didn’t really care... People could have protested and I would have been, like, ‘Whatever'. I was in it so deep.
“You may have noticed, I never care about anything that anyone says. I’ve always been fearless in my work and my relationships.”
'Off the rails'
Aaron, who was raised in “a nothingy sort of place” near High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, was relatively new to the spotlight when he met Sam.
His first major breakout roles came in films Kick-Ass and Angus, Thongs And Perfect Snogging, but he'd been acting since age six.
Aaron's first part was in a Persil advert, then two years later he starred alongside Rufus Sewell in a West End production of Macbeth as Macduff's son.
After landing the role of identical twins in the 2002 film Tom & Thomas, starring Sean Bean, aged 10, he spent six months living in Amsterdam’s red-light district with his mum, who gave up her job to accompany him.
In his teens Aaron had bit-parts in TV dramas The Bill and Casualty.
Like many young actors, he admits he had a "self-destructive moment".
"Luckily, it all went under the radar. I started drinking really early," he explained.
I just went a bit f*****g mad. I blew a s***load of money, and had two years that I cannot even remember... I was f*****g up all my work and my life
Aaron Taylor-Johnson
“I grew up in a remote little village, what else are you going to do? By the time I was 15, I was going to clubs in London.
“Then I just went a bit f*****g mad. I blew a s***load of money, and had two years that I cannot even remember... I was f*****g up all my work and my life.
“It was a s***ty, dark moment. I was having a bit of trouble, transitioning, understanding why I was so... the one that was so... successful maybe.”
Thankfully this streak came to an end shortly before Nowhere Boy, which Aaron was grateful for because he got it out of his system and could move on.
“If I didn’t do that then, I’d be breaking down now. I wouldn’t be able to raise a family, or be in control, or feel responsible enough to do what I do,” he admitted.
Sweet nickname
Sam and Aaron welcomed the first of their two daughters – Wylda Rae - in 2010, and Romy Hero in 2012. They tied the knot later that year.
Aaron is a devoted stepfather to Angelica and Jessie Phoenix, from Sam's first marriage.
He previously revealed his priority has always been his family and he's reluctant to film back-to-back projects to ensure he spends enough time with them.
Though he's still managed to bag a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for 2017 film Nocturnal Animals, and blockbuster roles in Marvel flick Kraven The Hunter and Bullet Train, alongside Brad Pitt.
“My whole thing, my priority, is my family, my kids and my wife. That's my future. I don't really care about what role is next,” Aaron said.
“I wanted, purely, to be with my babies... I didn’t want to be taken away from them.
My friends call him Benjamin Button because he has — on the outside — such youth, and on the inside, he is so wise and settled
Sam Taylor-Johnson
"I enjoy the normality of things, the everyday stuff. Getting my kids ready in the mornings, taking them to school and activities – that’s plenty. That feeds my soul.”
Sam told The Guardian: “The great thing about Aaron is that he’s happy not working and being at home with the kids while I work.
“He’s like, ‘No no, I like being an at-home dad, doing the cooking and the school runs.’
"What happens next depends on what comes up, on whether Aaron decides to do another blockbuster or an independent movie.”
Sam said her friends call Aaron 'Benjamin Button' - the character played by Brad Pitt who ages in reverse - because "he has, on the outside, such youth, and on the inside, he is so wise and settled".
“He doesn’t like parties. He likes being at home and cooking for the family. He likes walking the dogs," she said.
"He loves his chickens – he collects the eggs and makes breakfast for everyone."
Matching tattoos
The couple regularly profuse their love for one another online – including in a 2022 post where they renewed their wedding vows after 10 years, with Aaron calling Sam his "world" and "soulmate".
Other social media snaps show the couple’s fun side, including one with them both doing a handstand, captioned: “When you’re lucky enough to find someone as mad as you. I love you.”
In 2021, the couple flaunted matching chest tattoos to commemorate their love – Aaron had her name inked just above his heart and Sam had his name etched on her collarbone.
Last week, to mark Sam's birthday, Aaron posted: “You’re an exceptional woman, there’s really no one quite like you.
"I couldn’t be more proud and excited for this year ahead.”
