Leslie Mann is not pretending that maintaining a marriage for nearly three decades has been easy.
The “This Is 40” actress opened up about her relationship with filmmaker Judd Apatow during the August 20 episode of Kylie Kelce’s “Not Gonna Lie” podcast. Instead of offering a picture-perfect answer, Leslie revealed that accepting the challenges has become an important part of their marriage.
Getty“You just accept how hard it is and not try to fool yourself,” Leslie said. “That’s the secret.”
Leslie Mann Does Not Compare Her Marriage to Other Couples
GettyLeslie admitted that hearing other couples describe their seemingly flawless relationships can cause her to question her own.
The actress said she has difficulty relating when people claim they never argue or suggest that everything in their marriage comes easily. Those comparisons sometimes leave her wondering whether her relationship is more difficult than it should be.
However, Leslie has learned that comparisons do not offer a complete picture of what happens inside another couple’s marriage.
She also joked that after nearly 30 years together, leaving now would be “lame.”
Behind the humor, Leslie’s message was refreshingly grounded. A lasting marriage does not necessarily mean avoiding conflict. For her, it means acknowledging that relationships require ongoing effort without assuming those challenges indicate failure.
Friendship Keeps Leslie Mann and Judd Apatow Connected
Despite the difficult moments, Leslie shared several reasons she and Judd continue choosing each other.
“We find each other entertaining and funny sometimes,” she said, adding that Judd remains her best friend and the person she tells everything.
Leslie described their relationship as one of the biggest lessons of her life because she continues learning from it.
The couple married in June 1997 and will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary in 2027. Throughout their relationship, they have frequently worked together on comedies, including “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” “Knocked Up,” “Funny People” and “This Is 40.”
Their daughters, Maude Apatow, 28, and Iris Apatow, 23, have also joined the family business. Both have pursued acting careers and appeared in several of their parents’ projects.
Leslie Mann Has Learned to Prioritize Herself
As her daughters have grown older, Leslie has also reconsidered how she approaches self-care.
The “The Other Woman” actress recently admitted she didn’t prioritize herself when Maude and Iris were younger. At the time, she said she did not know how to practice self-care and rarely considered her own needs.
Looking back, Leslie believes that was a mistake. She now has more time for herself and encourages parents to prioritize necessities, including getting enough sleep.
Her reflections on family and marriage share a common theme: honesty. Leslie doesn’t present nearly 30 years with Judd as effortless or perfect. Instead, she credits accepting the work, maintaining their friendship and continuing to learn from one another.
It might not be a storybook secret, but it has kept their real-life love story going for nearly three decades.
