> At a Glance
> – Charlie Hunnam referred to partner Morgana McNelis as his wife on the Critics Choice Awards red carpet
> – The couple has been together for nearly two decades and rarely speak publicly about their relationship
> – Why it matters: This marks the first time Hunnam has publicly used “wife” to describe McNelis, hinting at a possible private marriage
Charlie Hunnam surprised fans when he casually called his longtime girlfriend Morgana McNelis his wife during a red-carpet interview at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards.
The Red-Carpet Slip
While describing his low-key New Year’s celebration to ExtraTV, the 45-year-old actor said: “My wife and I went to bed early, got up, had a really beautiful hike and came in, set some intentions.”
Hunnam was nominated for Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television for his role in Monster: The Ed Gein Story.
A Private Relationship
The couple has maintained privacy throughout their 18-year relationship, making only occasional public appearances together:
- Their last joint appearance was at the 2025 Emmy Awards in September
- They posed for photos together on that occasion
- Hunnam typically avoids discussing their relationship in interviews
Past Comments on Marriage
This isn’t the first time Hunnam has hinted at feeling married. In a 2020 video, he stated: “I sort of already consider myself married. The official government sanction of it doesn’t mean anything to me but the romance of it means an enormous amount.”
He later clarified earlier comments about being “indifferent” to marriage, saying: “You spend 12 hours a day for three days doing interviews straight, you’re going to say stupid s—.”
Behind-the-Scenes Details
During another red-carpet interview, Hunnam revealed that McNelis asked him to stop using his character’s voice at home while filming Monster: The Ed Gein Story.
> “She did,” Hunnam confirmed to Justin Sylvester during the E! pre-show. “I was slipping in and out of it all the time and she was saying, ‘Dude. You have to stop with the voice.'”
“At breakfast, it’s a little too much,” he joked.
Key Takeaways
- Charlie Hunnam publicly referred to Morgana McNelis as his wife for the first time
- The couple has been together for nearly 18 years but keeps their relationship private
- Hunnam previously stated he considers himself “sort of” married regardless of legal status
- No official confirmation has been provided about whether they actually wed
The actor’s casual use of “wife” has sparked speculation about whether the couple quietly married after nearly two decades together.
