'Don't Need a Paper to Be Devoted': What Stars Have Said About Choosing Not to Marry

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Kaley Cuoco

Presley Ann/Patrick McMullan via Getty.

In an April 2022 interview withGlamour,the twice-divorcedFlight Attendantstar said marriage is off the table for her going forward.

“I will never get married again. I would love to have a long-lasting relationship or a partnership. But I will never get married again. Absolutely not. You can literally put that on the cover,” she said.

02of 15Sandra BullockJackson Lee/GC Images"I am someone who went through the divorce process. I found the love of my life,“The Unforgivableactress said onRed Table Talkin December 2021. Bullockfiled for divorce from ex-husband Jesse Jamesin 2010 after nearly five years of marriage. In 2015, she began dating partner Bryan Randall.“We share two beautiful children — three children, his older daughter. It’sthe best thing ever. I don’t wanna say do it like I do it, but I don’t need a paper to be a devoted partner and devoted mother.”

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Sandra Bullock

Jackson Lee/GC Images

“I am someone who went through the divorce process. I found the love of my life,“The Unforgivableactress said onRed Table Talkin December 2021. Bullockfiled for divorce from ex-husband Jesse Jamesin 2010 after nearly five years of marriage. In 2015, she began dating partner Bryan Randall.

“We share two beautiful children — three children, his older daughter. It’sthe best thing ever. I don’t wanna say do it like I do it, but I don’t need a paper to be a devoted partner and devoted mother.”

03of 15Jamie FoxxJamie Foxx.Kevin Winter/Getty Images"The 2.5 children, the wood paneling on the station wagon and the cottage, I didn’t think that was for me,” theSpider-Man: No Way Homestar told E! News’Daily Popin October 2021.“Growing up, [my daughter] Corrine was like, ‘Well, people are married, and that’s what they have, my friends.’ But then a lot of those marriages ended up not doing well as the kids got older,” Foxx continued. “Unfortunately, we saw the kids get fractures from their families. Us, we actually came together more. So I don’t know what that is, I just know that it is different but it’s a whole lot of love.“Foxx credits his decision to never marry as strengthening his bond with his two daughters — Corrine Foxx, 27, whom he shares with ex Connie Kline — and Anelise Bishop, 12, whom he shares with ex Kristin Grannis.

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Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx.Kevin Winter/Getty Images

“The 2.5 children, the wood paneling on the station wagon and the cottage, I didn’t think that was for me,” theSpider-Man: No Way Homestar told E! News’Daily Popin October 2021.

“Growing up, [my daughter] Corrine was like, ‘Well, people are married, and that’s what they have, my friends.’ But then a lot of those marriages ended up not doing well as the kids got older,” Foxx continued. “Unfortunately, we saw the kids get fractures from their families. Us, we actually came together more. So I don’t know what that is, I just know that it is different but it’s a whole lot of love.”

Foxx credits his decision to never marry as strengthening his bond with his two daughters — Corrine Foxx, 27, whom he shares with ex Connie Kline — and Anelise Bishop, 12, whom he shares with ex Kristin Grannis.

04of 15Kurt Russell & Goldie HawnGoldie Hawn and Kurt Russell.Ari and Louise"For people like us, the marriage certificate wasn’t going to create anything that otherwise we wouldn’t have,” Russell toldPEOPLEin 2020 of Hawn, his love of a lifetime.The couple has been together since 1984, raising a tight-knit family unit. The stars share son Wyatt Russell, as well as their children from previous marriages — Russell’s son Boston and Hawn’s kids, actors Kate and Oliver Hudson.“It’s not about the marriage. It’s about the people and the relationship, and the will to stay together,” Hawn added. “And that’s a big one because if you want it, you can have it. You’ve got to give things up, but the joy and the excitement of being together and touching the toes of somebody at night is really a nice feeling.”

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Kurt Russell & Goldie Hawn

Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell.Ari and Louise

“For people like us, the marriage certificate wasn’t going to create anything that otherwise we wouldn’t have,” Russell toldPEOPLEin 2020 of Hawn, his love of a lifetime.

The couple has been together since 1984, raising a tight-knit family unit. The stars share son Wyatt Russell, as well as their children from previous marriages — Russell’s son Boston and Hawn’s kids, actors Kate and Oliver Hudson.

“It’s not about the marriage. It’s about the people and the relationship, and the will to stay together,” Hawn added. “And that’s a big one because if you want it, you can have it. You’ve got to give things up, but the joy and the excitement of being together and touching the toes of somebody at night is really a nice feeling.”

05of 15Drew BarrymoreBryan Bedder/Getty Images"Never. Never, never, never. I will never get married again!“The Drew Barrymore Showhost toldPEOPLEin 2020. “And I also believe people should not say the word ‘never,’ and I will never, with a capital N-E-V-E-R, never get married.““It’s like I have two options: Cut it — this has not worked — or be Elizabeth Taylor. And I have too many more to go,” the star, who has who has been married three times, continued. “I never want to be entwined with someone like that again ever. You break up, and you move on. You get divorced, and it’s just so different.“That’s not to say she doesn’t remain open to the idea of another relationship.“It doesn’t mean that maybe I wouldn’t like to meet someone, especially when my kids go off to college,” Barrymore continued. “Or a year from now, I could be totally in love. I’m open to it; I’m not seeking it. My cup runneth over. I have so much love in my life.”

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Drew Barrymore

Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

“Never. Never, never, never. I will never get married again!“The Drew Barrymore Showhost toldPEOPLEin 2020. “And I also believe people should not say the word ‘never,’ and I will never, with a capital N-E-V-E-R, never get married.”

“It’s like I have two options: Cut it — this has not worked — or be Elizabeth Taylor. And I have too many more to go,” the star, who has who has been married three times, continued. “I never want to be entwined with someone like that again ever. You break up, and you move on. You get divorced, and it’s just so different.”

That’s not to say she doesn’t remain open to the idea of another relationship.

“It doesn’t mean that maybe I wouldn’t like to meet someone, especially when my kids go off to college,” Barrymore continued. “Or a year from now, I could be totally in love. I’m open to it; I’m not seeking it. My cup runneth over. I have so much love in my life.”

06of 15Charlize TheronThomas Kronsteiner/Getty"I never wanted to get married. That’snever been somethingthat’s important to me,” the Oscar winner, who has never married, said onThe Howard Stern Showin 2020.“On the lives of my children, I’ve never been lonely. I’ve never felt alone,” the mom to daughters August, 6, and Jackson, 9, continued.“My life right now just doesn’t allow a lot of room for something like that to happen. But in saying that, there’s not this thing that drives me [to have a romantic relationship].”

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Charlize Theron

Thomas Kronsteiner/Getty

“I never wanted to get married. That’snever been somethingthat’s important to me,” the Oscar winner, who has never married, said onThe Howard Stern Showin 2020.

“On the lives of my children, I’ve never been lonely. I’ve never felt alone,” the mom to daughters August, 6, and Jackson, 9, continued.

“My life right now just doesn’t allow a lot of room for something like that to happen. But in saying that, there’s not this thing that drives me [to have a romantic relationship].”

07of 15ShakiraBruce Glikas/WireImage"To tell you the truth, marriage scares the s— out of me. I don’t want him to see me as the wife. I’d rather him see me as his girlfriend,” Shakira toldCBS Newsof her relationship with Gerard Piqué. The singer and the soccer starfirst met in 2010, and share sons Milan, 8, and Sasha, 6.“His lover, his girlfriend. It’s like a little forbidden fruit, you know? I wanna keep him on his toes,” she teased. “I want him to think that anything’s possible depending on behavior.”

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Shakira

Bruce Glikas/WireImage

“To tell you the truth, marriage scares the s— out of me. I don’t want him to see me as the wife. I’d rather him see me as his girlfriend,” Shakira toldCBS Newsof her relationship with Gerard Piqué. The singer and the soccer starfirst met in 2010, and share sons Milan, 8, and Sasha, 6.

“His lover, his girlfriend. It’s like a little forbidden fruit, you know? I wanna keep him on his toes,” she teased. “I want him to think that anything’s possible depending on behavior.”

08of 15Oprah WinfreyJason Merritt/Getty"Both he and I now say, ‘If we had married, we would not be together,’ " the media mogul toldPEOPLEin 2019 of her longtime partnership with Stedman Graham, whom she met in 1986.“No question about it — we would not stay married, because of what that would have meant to him, and I would have had my own ideas about it.”

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Oprah Winfrey

Jason Merritt/Getty

“Both he and I now say, ‘If we had married, we would not be together,’ " the media mogul toldPEOPLEin 2019 of her longtime partnership with Stedman Graham, whom she met in 1986.

“No question about it — we would not stay married, because of what that would have meant to him, and I would have had my own ideas about it.”

09of 15Kris JennerMike Coppola/FilmMagic"I don’t have the need to put ona long, white dressand walk down an aisle. I’ve done that,” Jenner said on theDivorce Sucks! Podcastin 2018.“I think that I just feel really grateful and blessed for my past experiences and I’m looking forward to my future and I just don’t think that I want to go there.“TheKeeping Up with the Kardashiansalumna been married and divorced twice: first to the late Robert Kardashian Sr. from 1978 to 1991, and then toCaitlyn Jennerfrom 1991 to 2014. Since splitting with the Olympian, the momager has dated boyfriend Corey Gamble.

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Kris Jenner

Mike Coppola/FilmMagic

“I don’t have the need to put ona long, white dressand walk down an aisle. I’ve done that,” Jenner said on theDivorce Sucks! Podcastin 2018.

“I think that I just feel really grateful and blessed for my past experiences and I’m looking forward to my future and I just don’t think that I want to go there.”

TheKeeping Up with the Kardashiansalumna been married and divorced twice: first to the late Robert Kardashian Sr. from 1978 to 1991, and then toCaitlyn Jennerfrom 1991 to 2014. Since splitting with the Olympian, the momager has dated boyfriend Corey Gamble.

10of 15Ricky Gervais & Jane FallonJon Kopaloff/Getty"We’re not married because neither of [us] are fussed,” Fallon told theDaily Mailin 2018 of her partnership with the comedian; the couple has been together since 1982.“I think if one of us really cared then we would probably do it but it’s not really been anything that either of us have ever really needed,” she added.

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Ricky Gervais & Jane Fallon

Jon Kopaloff/Getty

“We’re not married because neither of [us] are fussed,” Fallon told theDaily Mailin 2018 of her partnership with the comedian; the couple has been together since 1982.

“I think if one of us really cared then we would probably do it but it’s not really been anything that either of us have ever really needed,” she added.

11of 15Whoopi GoldbergJenny Anderson/ABC via Getty"No, I think I’m not that interested [in marriage.] I’m much happier on my own. I can spend as much time with somebody as I want to spend, but I’m not looking to be with somebody forever or live with someone,” the co-host ofThe ViewtoldThe New York Timesin 2016. “I don’t want somebody in my house.““I’m the round peg, and marriage is the square hole,” the EGOT winner, who has been married three times, continued. “You can’t have a square hole, can you?”

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Whoopi Goldberg

Jenny Anderson/ABC via Getty

“No, I think I’m not that interested [in marriage.] I’m much happier on my own. I can spend as much time with somebody as I want to spend, but I’m not looking to be with somebody forever or live with someone,” the co-host ofThe ViewtoldThe New York Timesin 2016. “I don’t want somebody in my house.”

“I’m the round peg, and marriage is the square hole,” the EGOT winner, who has been married three times, continued. “You can’t have a square hole, can you?”

12of 15Ryan GoslingEva Mendes and Ryan Gosling.Sonia Recchia/Getty"I know that I’m with the person I’m supposed to be with,” the Golden Globe winner toldHello!in 2015 of his relationship with Eva Mendes, which began in 2011. Famously private about their partnership and family life, the couple share daughters Esmeralda, 7, and Amada, 5.When pressed in the interview about what he looked for in love, Gosling insisted that the other thing that mattered is “that she’s Eva Mendes. There’s nothing else I’m looking for.”

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Ryan Gosling

Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling.Sonia Recchia/Getty

“I know that I’m with the person I’m supposed to be with,” the Golden Globe winner toldHello!in 2015 of his relationship with Eva Mendes, which began in 2011. Famously private about their partnership and family life, the couple share daughters Esmeralda, 7, and Amada, 5.

When pressed in the interview about what he looked for in love, Gosling insisted that the other thing that mattered is “that she’s Eva Mendes. There’s nothing else I’m looking for.”

13of 15Kristin DavisKristin Davis.Jim Smeal/REX/Shutterstock"I don’t know that I necessarily totally intended to [still be single], though I do remember being young and thinking, ‘Why are all these people getting married?’ " theAnd Just Like That …star, who has never married, toldHaute Livingin 2013. “But I’m an actress — I’ve never exactly been the status quo.”

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Kristin Davis

Kristin Davis.Jim Smeal/REX/Shutterstock

“I don’t know that I necessarily totally intended to [still be single], though I do remember being young and thinking, ‘Why are all these people getting married?’ " theAnd Just Like That …star, who has never married, toldHaute Livingin 2013. “But I’m an actress — I’ve never exactly been the status quo.”

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Diane Kruger

Diane Kruger.Jamie McCarthy/Getty

“Without sounding pessimistic, I learned that I don’t believe in marriage,” the star toldGlamourin 2012. “I believe in a commitment that you make in your heart. There’s no paper that will make you stay.”

15of 15Susan SarandonMike Coppola/Getty"I’ve always liked the idea of choosing to be with somebody,” the actress toldThe Telegraphin 2010. “I thought that if you didn’t get married, you wouldn’t take each other for granted as easily. I don’t know if after twentysomething years that was still true.“In 2009, Sarandon and partner Tim Robbins split after23 years together. The exes share sons Jack and Miles; theThelma & Louisestar is also mom to daughter Eva Amurri. Sarandon only married once, wedding her college sweetheart Chris Sarandon in 1967 and splitting from him in 1979.

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Susan Sarandon

Mike Coppola/Getty

“I’ve always liked the idea of choosing to be with somebody,” the actress toldThe Telegraphin 2010. “I thought that if you didn’t get married, you wouldn’t take each other for granted as easily. I don’t know if after twentysomething years that was still true.”

In 2009, Sarandon and partner Tim Robbins split after23 years together. The exes share sons Jack and Miles; theThelma & Louisestar is also mom to daughter Eva Amurri. Sarandon only married once, wedding her college sweetheart Chris Sarandon in 1967 and splitting from him in 1979.

source: people.com