Milla Jovovich has developed a reputation as a sci-fi action superstar while still being the girl next door. Fans describe her as one of the few celebrities comfortable in their own skin, even in interviews before a live studio audience!
At the 2021 amfAR Gala Los Angeles, she was joined by her teenage daughter Ever Anderson in a long bustier Moschino Fall 2021 heart dress.
Milla Jovovich and her daughter Ever Anderson wowed at the 2021 amfAR Gala Los Angeles, with Milla in a heart-embellished red Moschino gown and Ever in a chic, playful black and white ensemble on November 4, 2021, in West Hollywood, California (Credit: MEGA / WENN)
She’s had a storied past in her search for love, which she eventually found on the set of Resident Evil. Here’s the backstory of Milla Jovovich and husband-and-director Paul W.S. Anderson.
Milla Jovovich’s Early Life: From Soviet Ukraine to Hollywood
Milla Jovovich was born in Soviet Ukraine on December 17, 1975, and emigrated to the United Kingdom when she was only five. Within months, her family had relocated to California.
Milla had a hard time in public school, where, during a late flare-up in the Cold War, her classmates criticized her for her Soviet roots.
Milica Bogdanovna Jovovich at the premiere of The Messenger: The Story Of Joan Of Arc in Beverly Hills on October 18, 1999 (Credit: WENN / Axelle Woussen)
Milla’s parents divorced shortly after arriving in the United States. Her father reportedly had an affair, which led to their separation.
She remained with her mother, a former actress. Milla enrolled in acting classes early on and started modeling at nine years old.
At one point, Jovovich was considered the highest-paid supermodel at the time, raking in over $10 million per year among her modeling contracts, which included work as the face of Lancôme.
Milla Jovovich’s Iconic Film Roles and Breakthrough Moments
In 1991, Jovovich was cast in a leading role in Return to the Blue Lagoon. Immediate comparisons were drawn between Jovovich and Brooke Shields, another model who successfully transitioned to acting.
Milla’s breakout role is considered to be her appearance as Leeloo in the 1997 sci-fi hit The Fifth Element. She has also appeared in films like Dazed and Confused, Zoolander, and He Got Game.
Starring with John Bennett and Ian Holm, Milla Jovovich had her breakthrough with her portrayal of Leeloo in the 1997 French science-fiction action film The Fifth Element in The Fifth Element (Credit: WENN)
Milla Jovovich is perhaps best known as Alice in the Resident Evil film franchise. The franchise has six installments and is the highest-grossing film series based on a video game.
A Look at Milla Jovovich’s Relationship Journey
Jovovich has been linked to several gentlemen, including Stephen Dorf, John Frusciante, and Jeremy Davies. At 16, Milla was briefly married to Dazed and Confused co-star Shawn Andrews, who was 21 then.
Milla Jovovich portrayed Alice in the action-horror film franchise Resident Evil (Credit: WENN / SONY)
Milla’s mother annulled their marriage two months later. She describes the marriage as a teenage rebellion, as she was feuding with her mother, who discouraged her from dating other actors.
In 1997, Jovovich married Luc Besson, the French co-author and director of The Fifth Element. The unexpected pair surprised fans by booking a skydiving session immediately following their nuptials.
Milla Jovovich stuns in a daring, metallic chainmail ensemble at the Cannes Film Festival, accompanied by director Luc Besson (Credit: WENN)
After filming The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc, the couple called it quits. At the time, they blamed it on their busy filming schedules and the distance between them for much of the year.
However, later, Milla acknowledged their staggering 16-year age difference as a contributing factor to the split. “It’s too bad it didn’t work,” Milla said of the split, “because he was an incredible person and I was an incredible girl, but the timing wasn’t right.”
The Love Story: How Milla Jovovich and Paul Anderson Met
Like most folks, Milla and director Paul Anderson met at work, even though it was on the set of the super-successful Resident Evil.
Anderson, who also wrote the movie, has directed Jovovich on all six installments, The Three Musketeers and 2020’s Monster Hunter.
Milla Jovovich and her fiancé Paul W.S. Anderson celebrate her 32nd birthday at Koi restaurant in Los Angeles on December 17, 2007 (Credit: Homero Tercero / WENN)
“He’s the director. I mean, I’m an actor. I enjoy making their vision come true. It’s part of my job,” Milla told Jimmy Kimmel about working with her husband. “He gives us a lot of freedom.”
Who is Paul W.S. Anderson? Career and Achievements
Anderson, 11 years Jovovich’s senior, is originally from the U.K. He got his start as a writer on an English television series.
Born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1965, he wrote and directed his script for the movie Shopping, which was subsequently banned in several British cinemas.
Director Paul W.S. Anderson and Jason Statham on the set of the 2008 American dystopian action thriller film Death Race (Credit: WENN)
However, when American distributors viewed the film at the Sundance Film Festival, Anderson garnered much more attention for his filmmaking.
Prior to his work on Resident Evil, Anderson directed films like Mortal Kombat and Event Horizon. Following his initial success, he pursued other horror, action, and science fiction films.
Inside Milla Jovovich and Paul Anderson’s Wedding
Little is published about Paul Anderson’s dating history, but considering the scope of his work, he had little extra time on his hands.
After meeting Milla Jovovich on-set in 2002, Paul Anderson proposed to Milla in 2003. The couple were engaged on and off over the next few years until finally tying the knot in a garden wedding at their Beverly Hills Estate in August 2009.
Milla Jovovich, Paul W. S. Anderson, daughter Ever Anderson, and a young guest attend the premiere of The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part at Regency Village Theatre on February 2, 2019, in Westwood, California (Credit: FayesVision / WENN)
They had a small ceremony with a guest list of only about 50 close friends and family. Among the guests were celebrities like Patrick and Jillian Dempsey.
The couple looked absolutely ravishing at their ceremony, with the 5’9” supermodel donning a Grecian-inspired Temperley London gown and Anderson, a towering 6’3”, wearing a beige suit.
Meet Milla Jovovich and Paul Anderson’s Children
Milla and Paul now have three children. Their oldest daughter, Ever Gabo Anderson, was cast as a young Natasha Romanoff in Black Widow.
The proud parents had always discouraged their children from pursuing acting, but they described Ever as “a natural” on screen.
Ever Gabo Anderson has followed in Milla Jovovich’s footsteps and portrayed a young Natasha Romanoff in the 2021 film Black Widow and will star as Wendy Darling in the 2022 film Peter Pan & Wendy (Credit: MEGA / WENN)
Milla Jovovich and Paul W.S. Anderson’s second child, Dashiel Edan Anderson, was born on April 1, 2015. Their third child, Osian Lark Elliot Anderson, was born on February 2, 2020.
What’s Next for Milla Jovovich and Paul Anderson? Upcoming Projects and Passions
Milla Jovovich is currently totally immersed in parenting. Although her passions have shifted to motherhood, she’s still making time for a few extra pursuits.
Jovovich has recorded two electronic folk albums, The Divine Comedy and The People Tree Sessions. Both are available for purchase and download.
Ever Gabo Anderson, Eva Longoria, and Milla Jovovich attend Brian Bowen Smith’s Drivebys book launch and gallery viewing presented by Casa Del Sol Tequila on October 21, 2021, in Los Angeles, California (Credit: MEGA / WENN)
Milla Jovovich and Paul W.S. Anderson each have a net worth of roughly $50 million, so technically, neither is hurting for employment beyond their passion projects.
However, sources say that Jovovich and Anderson are set to tackle In the Lost Lands, a fantasy series by George R.R. Martin. If that name sounds familiar, it may be because you’re more familiar with his other work, including Game of Thrones.
Milla Jovovich and Paul W. S. Anderson at the amfAR Cannes Gala 2019 at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on May 23, 2019 in Cap d’Antibes, France (Credit: MEGA / WENN)
Completely independent from Game of Thrones, In the Lost Lands tells the story of a sorceress who travels to the Lost Lands in search of a magical power that allows a person to transform into a werewolf.
The new project is still in the planning and financing stages, but we’ll be looking forward to their latest work in the coming years!