Why Sienna Miller Wants to “Normalize” Older Women Dating Younger Men

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Sienna Miller is not interested in being scandalized.

The actress from Anatomy of a Scandal spoke about the unfair criticism women get for dating younger men, saying she’s frustrated with the double standard they face in relationships.

In an interview with Grazia published on March 2nd, she recalled auditioning for a role as the love interest of a much older man – she was 21 and he was 45, for her 2001 film South Kensington. She noted that while times have changed, society still tends to view relationships where an older woman dates a younger man as something unusual or exotic, rather than simply accepting them as normal.

The 44-year-old, who is dating 29-year-old actor Oli Green, said she hopes to see an end to the age difference between them.

But that’s not to say Sienna hasn’t noticed some improvements for women through the years. 

The actress from Horizon: An American Saga believes society is now celebrating older women like never before. She pointed to examples like Maggie Smith’s work with Loewe, Charlotte Rampling’s campaigns for Givenchy and Massimo Dutti, noting that while women were once considered past their prime around age 30, that’s definitely no longer true.

It’s understandable why Sienna feels so passionately about accepting relationships with age differences. She’s been happily with Oli since 2021, and they have a 15-year age gap. They are parents to a 2-year-old daughter and are expecting another baby soon.

Sienna, who shares 13-year-old daughter Marlowe with her ex, Tom Sturridge, had said she didn’t expect to fall for someone younger, but she was won over by Oli’s consistent efforts.

She told Vogue in 2023 that her initial reaction was disbelief – she thought the idea was ridiculous and wouldn’t lead to anything. However, he convinced her to go for a drink with him. She added that while it might seem confusing to others, their relationship has been filled with love and happiness.

She continued, saying you can’t force people to feel a certain way with laws. She personally believes that’s always been true for her.

The actress, known for her role in Edge of Love, has mentioned that her boyfriend’s maturity was a key factor in her developing feelings for him.

She told Harper’s Bazaar in 2024 that she’s noticed a difference in how men of a certain generation treat women. She believes it’s partly because of the individual she’s with – he’s thoughtful and grounded – but also because his generation grew up with more equality. She sees this respect reflected in both the men and women around them.

Sienna isn’t alone in discussing the age difference in her relationship. Here are other celebrities who’ve also opened up about similar experiences…

The actresses are used to people commenting on their 32-year age difference. Sarah addressed the criticism in a 2018 interview with Modern Luxury, saying she doesn’t worry about it. “If anyone chooses to judge me for loving a wonderful person, that’s their issue, not mine,” she explained. “I’m very happy.”

Heidi Klum doesn’t pay attention to criticism about the 16-year age difference between herself and her husband, Tokio Hotel guitarist Tom Kaulitz. In a 2018 interview with InStyle, she explained that people often question their relationship because of their ages, but she doesn’t dwell on it. Heidi, who married Tom the following year, believes in living life on her own terms. She added that focusing on what others think is pointless and will only cause unnecessary stress – and wrinkles!

Priyanka Chopra has pointed out what she sees as a double standard. She observed that people often criticize the age gap between her and her husband, but wouldn’t react the same way if the roles were reversed. “We received a lot of criticism for that, and it still happens,” she told InStyle magazine. “It’s interesting because when the man is older, nobody seems to mind—in fact, they often approve.”

The director of Fifty Shades of Grey says the 23-year age difference between her and her partner, the actor who will play Kraven the Hunter, isn’t something they think about in their daily lives.

“It really doesn’t come up,” she explained in a 2024 interview with The Guardian. “It’s only a topic now because you’re asking. People on the outside notice it, I guess, because we’re a bit unusual. But after 14 years, you’d think it wouldn’t matter anymore.”

She also pointed out that her current relationship has already lasted longer than her marriage to her ex-husband, Jay Jopling, who was only about four years older than her.

“When you look at it that way,” she said, “the age gap doesn’t seem like a big deal at all.”

Despite sharing a birthday on September 25th, the couple experiences the normal challenges of any relationship. The actress, who starred in Chicago, revealed in a 2021 interview with WSJ. Magazine that her husband is 25 years her senior. She emphasized that, like all relationships, theirs has its difficulties, but is ultimately built on a foundation of love and respect.

Dennis, known for his role in The Parent Trap, believes it’s only their business who focuses on his relationship with Laura, the cofounder of Bonniedale Films – just the two of them. He wants people to understand that’s all that matters.

Despite the significant age difference – Laura is 39 years younger – Dennis says they don’t pay attention to any outside commentary.

In a 2021 interview with Today, he explained, “We honestly don’t even notice it. I’ve never connected with anyone better in my life. We have a wonderful relationship. Love will always find a way, no matter what, and you can’t predict who you’ll fall in love with. We couldn’t be happier.”

The yoga instructor recently shared that she used to be critical of couples with large age differences, before she started dating an actor 26 years older than herself.

On her 2022 podcast, Witches Anonymous, she explained that she’d previously assume older men in such relationships were looking for someone with no independent thoughts, and younger women were only interested in their money. She admitted she’d think, ‘This older man wants a young woman with no opinions, and she’s just a gold digger.’

However, she now realizes she was wrong.

She explained that being in this relationship herself has changed her perspective. She now questions why she used to be so judgmental, asking, ‘Why was this trained into my head?’ She now believes that love comes in many forms and that just because a relationship looks different from what others expect, it doesn’t make it any less real or valid.

Get ready for this: actor Stanley Tucci, known for The Devil Wears Prada, revealed he almost broke up with his wife early in their relationship. He explained on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs in 2023, “I’m 21 years older than she is, and I didn’t want to feel old for the rest of my life!” However, he quickly realized she was someone truly exceptional.

Sienna Miller and Oli Green aren’t surprised people find their relationship a bit confusing. Oli explained to Vogue that their 15-year age difference might seem complicated, but their connection has been filled with love and happiness. Sienna added that, really, they don’t feel anyone needs to understand their relationship. ‘You can’t control who you fall in love with,’ she said, ‘and I’ve always believed that’s true for me.’

Jeff Goldblum shared a funny story about a mix-up with his wife, Emilie, who is 30 years younger than him. He recounted asking her which Beatle he’d be, and she playfully responded with ‘Rex Harrison,’ the star of My Fair Lady – a movie they’d recently seen. Jeff quickly pointed out her mistake, and Emilie soon realized she’d meant George Harrison. He joked that this kind of generational difference in pop culture references is typical for them, but overall, life together is going well.

She also doesn’t feel pressured to defend the 20-year age difference between herself and her partner. In a 2013 interview with Glamour, she explained that she’s drawn to his wisdom and strength, qualities that often come with experience. She emphasized that their connection goes beyond age, and having a supportive partner who believes in her is what truly matters. She feels that professional success is fleeting, but a loving home life is sustaining.

Let’s talk about dealing with criticism, because as someone who’s seen a lot of public attention, I’ve learned a thing or two. When people commented on the age difference between me and my husband, it definitely caught my attention at first. But honestly, things are rarely what they seem from the outside. What truly matters is the love we share, and I absolutely adore our story. That’s all that counts, and I said that on the Dr. Berlin’s Informed Pregnancy Podcast a while back – I’m just so in love with our relationship!

Kristin Cavallari addressed the criticism she received for dating a man 13 years younger, Mark Estes. On her podcast, Let’s Be Honest, she explained that she never actively sought out a relationship with someone so young, admitting she previously thought 30-year-olds were too immature for her.

While she acknowledged how the relationship appeared to others, Kristin emphasized that Mark wasn’t like most 24-year-olds and that maturity isn’t solely determined by age. She believes life experiences and upbringing are far more important factors.

However, she later revealed that she and Mark eventually broke up.

She explained on her podcast that she believes he needs to grow and experience life on his own. She feels those young adult years are incredibly important for self-discovery. While calling their relationship the best she’s ever had, she hopes he’ll eventually understand why they broke up and even appreciate her decision. She believes he’ll look back someday and realize it was for the best, and might even be grateful to her for it.

When George Clooney first developed feelings for Amal, he wasn’t sure if she felt the same way. He admitted on The Howard Stern Show that he was hesitant to pursue things too quickly, worried she might see him as too old – he’s 17 years her senior. Fortunately, Amal reciprocated his feelings, and the couple married in 2014.

The former Bachelor star doesn’t believe age defines a relationship, despite being 18 years older than his wife. He recently shared on his The Viall Files podcast in March 2025 that physical attraction is important when there’s a significant age difference.

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2026-03-04 02:48