Did David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly Date?

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David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly co-starred in Labyrinth, which garnered Connelly critical acclaim. Connelly’s character was a kind of love interest, and their chemistry was widely acknowledged. But Did David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly Date?

David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly never dated each other as Connelly was only 16 at the time of the film’s release. Their relationship on set was completely professional. Connelly appreciated Bowie’s genius calling him a hero and an extraordinary artist. 

The Jim Henson-directed film resulted in a massive success that changed the culture.

Connelly and Bowie’s onstage performance got stuck in the minds of generations. However, Bowie’s death in 2016 ended the adventure, his one-of-a-kind discography, and composed persona.

Years later, Jennifer Connelly opened up about her experience working with David Bowie on The Graham Norton Show, where she said, “David was so kind and made me feel so comfortable during the filming.” But did Jennifer and David work together again? Did they date each other in later life?

Let’s get some more details about the actors!

What did Jennifer Connelly think of working with David Bowie?

Jennifer Connelly thought David Bowie was amazing to work with. He was so kind to her and taught her many things about acting.

After a family friend suggested the idea to her parents, Connelly started her career as a child model. She stepped up into the industry when she was a ten-year-old. Being a newbie on the scene, Connelly knew nothing about making a progressive career in the film industry.

She did a little bit of modeling here and there and already figured she wanted to become a veterinarian or any other profession that worked with animals. But as fate had already decided, she landed her career’s milestone when Jim Henson offered to work in Labyrinth.

This was the first time she met David-who took the world by storm with his acting skills. Connelly became an international star overnight.

Connelly told The Sun,

“After working with him, he became a real hero of mine because he was so kind to me- I was a 14-year-old kid and knew nothing. He was funny and gracious and made me feel so comfortable. He was amazing. Subsequently, I became a huge fan of his music.”

After the movie’s release, Jennifer delved into Bowie’s music, and he became an influential icon for her. She lamented the loss of her hero when Bowie passed away in 2016.

Why did Jareth fall in love with Sarah?

Jareth falls in love with Sarah for her creativity and Imagination. At first, Jareth is drawn to her for her innocent, child-like spirit. She has pure dreams in stark contrast to his reality. Jareth is miserable as The Goblin King, but Sarah is full of life and hope. She believed in creatures like him and accepted them as potentially real, something rare in modern society.

I have seen this movie at least five times, and here is my analysis on why Jareth falls in love with Sarah:

Her ambitions and fantasy love for theater give her dreams so much power that Jareth could never have. As Sarah goes into the Labyrinth to find her baby brother that she was babysitting, Jareth is instantly drawn to her. Her steadfast will and determination are rarely found in mortal girls.

He is amazed by her refusal to be defeated.

She is a clever girl who knows how to get through the puzzle. The more frustrated Jareth becomes at his inability to defeat her, he falls in love. The Labyrinth channeled Jareth’s complicated personality that Sarah quickly solved as she got to know him.

Finally, Jareth understands what love is.

Who was David Bowie dating when he made Labyrinth?

David Bowie dated actress Melissa Hurley when he made Labyrinth. Melissa was 20 years younger than Bowie, and the pair spent two years and ten months during 1987-1990. 

Like his music, nothing was conventional about David Bowie’s love life either.

The singer dated several women, including:

  • Susan Sarandon
  • Ava Cherry
  • Elizabeth Taylor
  • Tina Turner

And there are rumors about sexual encounters with both Mick Jagger and Iggy Pop.

No one quite really knows his sexual orientation to this date. Married twice, Bowie enjoyed a string of promiscuous relationships with over 40 women. Biographers often labeled him as a “sexual addict.”

Bowie himself admitted that he “got his leg over a lot.” Honestly, his lifestyle was the stuff of legends.

Before Iman (his second wife, 1990-2016) walked in his life, Bowie had a short-lived affair with actress Melissa Hurley. But their relationship didn’t last long and ended in 1990.

Did Jennifer Connelly know David Bowie later in life?

In later years, Jennifer Connelly did not know much about David Bowie, and they did not maintain contact. That said, she deeply appreciated working with Bowie, whom she considered her hero. 

In 1986, child actor and model Jennifer Connelly shared the big screen with singer-musician David Bowie. It was her breakthrough role.

She had an extraordinary experience in the movie, mostly because Bowie was so kind and funny.

Connelly spoke to an entertainment magazine and shared some fond memories of working with the celebrated star, Bowie. Connelly said:

“To me, not only was he a genius, he was a genius who had the time to be kind. That was my experience with him.”

Apart from these, Connelly did not work with Bowie, which could be why she didn’t know much about Bowie in later life.

Are Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany still married?

Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany married in 2003 and are still married. The couple has over a decade of marriage under their belt, making them a power couple in Hollywood.

Paul Bettany was born in London and Connelly in New York.

They met each other on the sets of the movie “A Beautiful Mind”, for which Jennifer Connelly also won the Oscar award in Best Supporting Actress.

Connelly told the Evening Standard, “The two were drawn to each other. Bettany was more direct.” The duo started a relationship in 2002 and tied the knot in 2003. They have been married since.

The actress told Town & Country that:

“part of their strength as a couple comes from their different dispositions, noting that her husband is infinitely more engaged with people and comfortable in any room than she is.” 

The actress further states that “I’m more reserved. I can be kind of shy in a group. I manage it pretty well, but he’s much more outgoing than I am.”

Of course, anyone in a long-term relationship knows there is so much more to a relationship than sharing beds. The duo has supported each other through thick and thin, and their marital status remains a goal for many.

They are as successful in their personal life as in their careers.

Jennifer Connelly for "Labyrinth" 1986 - Bobbie Wygant Archive

Conclusion

Jennifer Connelly was 14 years old when she shared the cast with David Bowie in the 1986 super hit movie Labyrinth.

With the release of this movie, Connelly became an international icon. Her role as Sarah was deeply appreciated, and her chemistry with Bowie was critically acknowledged.

But many fans have wondered if the lead actors ever dated each other.

In reality, David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly never dated because Connelly was too young. Bowie, on the other hand, was already dating Melissa Hurley.


Photo which requires attribution:

IMG_5908 by Jasmin Hunter was licensed under CC2.0 and was cropped, edited, and merged onto another image with a text overlay added.

Image by Jae Rue from Pixabay