Stanley Tucci Reflects on Finding Love Again with Felicity Blunt After His First Wife’s Tragic Death
Stanley Tucci, 65, never imagined he would find love again after the death of his first wife, Kate, from breast cancer in 2009. However, a young woman named Felicity Blunt, 45, the older sister of actress Emily Blunt, changed that.
The couple, who have been married since 2012, share a 21-year age gap, but as Stanley explains, their relationship “just sort of made sense” from the very beginning.
In an appearance on Open Book with Jenna Bush Hager, Tucci shared candid thoughts on his life with Felicity while promoting his new book, What I Ate in One Year. “I wasn’t sure that I would ever remarry,” he admitted, “I never thought I would have children again.”
A Love That Started With Friendship
Stanley and Felicity first met in 2006 at the Devil Wears Prada premiere, but it wasn’t until years later, at Emily Blunt’s wedding to John Krasinski in 2010, that their connection deepened. “Obviously, I knew her family. Her sister is one of my best friends,” Stanley explained. “We just hit it off. We had a lot in common, even though we had nothing in common, and it just sort of stuck.”
Despite the 21-year difference, Tucci believes Felicity brought him and his children much-needed stability after losing Kate. “She gave me a sense of security. She gave my children a sense of security, and she’s fun to hang out with,” he said, praising her positive outlook.
A Surprising Turn of Events
Stanley’s life had been upended when his first wife, Kate, passed away in 2009, leaving him a widower with three young children. “I never thought I would have children again,” Tucci confessed. Yet, when he met Felicity, everything seemed to fall into place.
The couple went on to have two more children, Matteo, 11, and Emilia, 8, and their love blossomed. Tucci also reflected on how Felicity’s unwavering support helped him heal. “She’s incredibly positive, which I am not always,” he said. “Her mind is incredible. Her capacity to take in information, not just from a book but from the world, and process it is extraordinary.”
Felicity’s Influence on Tucci’s Career
In addition to being a loving wife and mother, Felicity has been an influential force in Stanley’s career. She played a crucial role in his transition from acting to becoming a writer and cooking influencer. “It completely changed my life,” he said, discussing how Felicity’s support helped him succeed with his bestselling cookbook and Tucci in Italy show.
“Before, I’d be sitting here talking about a movie. Now, I’m talking about a book I wrote that has opened up a whole new world for me,” Tucci added.
Overcoming Insecurity: Why Tucci Stayed with Felicity
Tucci previously revealed in a 2023 interview with BBC Radio how, early on, he tried to break up with Felicity due to insecurities about their age gap. Fearing he would “feel old for the rest of my life,” he nearly walked away but ultimately decided to stay. “She’s an incredibly special person,” he said, “and that feeling is what kept me.”
He credits Felicity for being a loving stepmother to his children, acknowledging how difficult it was for her to step into a role of caring for a widower with three grieving children. “If anybody made things better for all of us, it’s her. She’s the one,” Tucci says with gratitude.
