Celebs Who Married for Green Cards and Divorced Fast

Marriages involving celebrities are often under a lot of public pressure, with people questioning whether the couple is truly in love or has other motives. When a celebrity marries someone from another country and the marriage quickly ends, people often start to wonder if the marriage was only for legal reasons, like getting permission to live in a certain country. These fast divorces lead to a lot of discussion among fans and the media about whether the relationship was genuine and how immigration laws play a role. The following people experienced very public marriages that ended surprisingly quickly, leading to a lot of speculation.

Jeremy Thomas

Jeremy Thomas, a British pub owner, married a young Hollywood actress in 1994 after knowing her for just six weeks. They had a late-night wedding, but the marriage ended after less than two months. Many believed Thomas married the actress to gain legal residency in the United States. The divorce was finalized quickly, and both moved on with their lives. Their brief marriage is famously remembered as one of the shortest in entertainment history.

Russell Brand

British comedian Russell Brand married American pop star Katy Perry in a grand wedding in India in 2010. However, the marriage lasted only fourteen months, ending when Brand reportedly broke up with her by text message. The couple’s different nationalities often made headlines, as the media focused on the legal and logistical challenges of their international life together. Despite being legally entitled to financial support, Brand didn’t ask for any money in the divorce. Their short-lived marriage is often cited as an example of the difficulties faced by celebrity couples with international connections.

Mel B

As a total cinema and celebrity culture fan, I remember being surprised when I first heard about Mel B’s marriage to an American film producer back in 2007 – it was a really low-key Vegas wedding! Sadly, it wasn’t a happy ever after. For ten years, their relationship was constantly surrounded by gossip and legal battles. The divorce itself was a huge deal, especially because of questions about where Mel B actually lived – it became a big issue in the court case. Honestly, it was a messy split with both sides making some pretty serious accusations. It’s definitely one of those celebrity relationships that everyone remembers for all the wrong reasons – a really public and complicated international marriage.

Pamela Anderson

Pamela Anderson, a Canadian actress, first gained widespread attention for her whirlwind romance and marriage to an American rock star – they wed just four days after meeting! Though that marriage lasted a few years, she went on to have several other very brief marriages to American men, one ending in divorce or annulment after only a few months. Her Canadian citizenship sometimes became a topic of discussion during these quick relationships. Anderson has remained a public figure, known for both her advocacy work and her often-discussed personal life, especially her history with marriage.

Jim Carrey

Jim Carrey, a Canadian actor, first married an American actress before he became famous, and the couple divorced after several years. He then married another American actress in 1996, after they met while filming ‘Dumb and Dumber,’ but that marriage ended less than a year later. Throughout his rise to Hollywood stardom, Carrey’s citizenship was often discussed, and he ultimately became a dual citizen of both the United States and Canada in 2004.

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman, a celebrated Australian actress, married a prominent American actor in 1990. They were together for over ten years, adopting two children and becoming a well-known couple before unexpectedly divorcing in 2001. Their careers often required extensive travel between countries. Following the split, Kidman continued to thrive professionally in the United States, while still staying connected to her Australian roots. Their relationship remains a memorable and impactful Hollywood pairing from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Guy Ritchie

British director Guy Ritchie married American pop star Madonna in a Scottish castle in 2000. They were married for eight years and had two children – one son biologically and another through adoption. While living mostly in the UK, Madonna often faced media attention as an expatriate. The couple divorced in 2008, reaching a settlement quickly. Throughout their marriage, the media frequently highlighted the cultural differences between them.

Mischa Barton

Mischa Barton is an actress originally from the UK who moved to the US when she was young to focus on her acting career. She became well-known for her role in the TV show ‘The O.C.’ and was a popular star in the mid-2000s. Throughout her career, the media often highlighted her British background and where she lived. Although she’s had several public relationships with men from various countries, she’s generally kept her personal life private and hasn’t gotten married. Her fans continue to be interested in her status as a British citizen working in Hollywood.

Orlando Bloom

British actor Orlando Bloom married Australian model Miranda Kerr in 2010 after dating for a while. They had a son together, but separated in 2013 after just three years as a married couple. Both were successful, busy professionals who had to travel extensively for work. Despite their split, they finalized their divorce amicably and continue to raise their son together. Their marriage is often noted for how gracefully they moved from being a couple to remaining friendly in the public spotlight.

Miranda Kerr

Miranda Kerr, an Australian model known for her work with Victoria’s Secret, first gained widespread attention when she married a British actor. Their high-profile relationship was a significant event for both the fashion and film worlds. After their divorce, Kerr stayed in the United States and later married an American tech entrepreneur. She’s since expanded her career into business and wellness, and currently lives mostly in California. The start and end of her first marriage marked a turning point in how the public perceived her.

Lara Stone

Lara Stone, a Dutch model, married British comedian and TV personality in 2010. They had a son, but later divorced in 2015. The couple received a lot of attention from the British media and were considered a high-profile celebrity pairing. As they came from different European countries, managing their family life was often a topic of discussion in the UK press. Both Lara and her ex-husband have continued to thrive in their careers since the divorce – she in fashion, and he in entertainment.

David Walliams

David Walliams, a well-known British comedian and author, was married to a Dutch supermodel for five years. Their relationship often made headlines due to their significant height difference and popularity in London society. Following their divorce, Walliams dedicated himself to his work as a judge on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and writing children’s books, and he’s generally kept the details of the split private. The divorce was finalized relatively soon after they announced their separation.

Isla Fisher

Isla Fisher, an Australian actress, was married to a British comedian famous for playing different characters in his movies. They first met in 2002 and got married in a small, private ceremony in Paris in 2010, after Isla converted to Judaism. For many years, they split their time between the UK and the US while raising their children. In 2024, the couple surprised fans by revealing they had quietly filed for divorce the year before. Their relationship had been seen as one of Hollywood’s most solid, making the split particularly unexpected.

Sacha Baron Cohen

Sacha Baron Cohen, the British actor and writer known for his comedic films like ‘Borat’ and ‘Bruno’, was married to an Australian actress for more than thirteen years. Despite their fame in the UK and the US, they kept their family life very private. They recently announced their divorce together on social media, asking for privacy during this time. Their split brings an end to a highly successful and well-known relationship in the entertainment world.

Michael Wilding

Michael Wilding was a British actor who married a famous American actress in 1952. It was her second marriage, and they were together for five years before divorcing in 1957. They had two sons and enjoyed a more private life than she would have in later relationships. While Wilding was a successful actor himself, he often became known as the husband of his more famous wife. Marriages between international stars like theirs were fairly common during Hollywood’s Golden Age.

Jean-Claude Van Damme

Jean-Claude Van Damme, a Belgian martial artist and actor, has had several marriages, mostly to American women. He’s particularly well-known for his relationship with a bodybuilder, whom he married and divorced on two separate occasions. Moving to the United States to become an action movie star, his timing with relationships often drew public attention. He went on to achieve international fame with films like ‘Bloodsport,’ and his personal life continues to be a subject of interest, largely due to the pattern of his marriages.

Gladys Portugues

Okay, so I was reading about Gladys Portugues, a fantastic bodybuilder, and her incredibly on-again, off-again relationship with Jean-Claude Van Damme. They actually got married way back in 1987, then divorced a few years later in ’92. But get this – they remarried in 1999! It hasn’t always been smooth sailing, though; I’ve seen reports of divorce filings that they’ve ended up dropping. It’s a really interesting story, especially considering he’s a Belgian actor who became a huge star in Hollywood, and that adds a whole other layer to their relationship. They have two kids together, and honestly, it’s been fascinating to watch them work through everything publicly over the years.

Jennifer Esposito

I remember when Jennifer Esposito married a really up-and-coming actor back in 2006. Everyone was so excited, but sadly, it didn’t last. They divorced after just four months, and it seemed like they just couldn’t make it work with their busy careers. It really surprised a lot of people. Jennifer eventually wrote a memoir about her life and health, but she didn’t dwell much on the details of that relationship. He, on the other hand, went on to become a huge star, known for being in some of the biggest movies around.

Bradley Cooper

Bradley Cooper is an American actor who was briefly married early in his career. He and his wife wed in late 2006, but divorced by the spring of 2007. Since then, Cooper has become a successful director and actor, earning multiple Academy Award nominations. He’s rarely discussed this early marriage, and it’s usually just a small detail mentioned when people talk about his career.

Sophia Bush

Sophia Bush, known for her role on ‘One Tree Hill,’ married her co-star in 2005, but the marriage ended after just five months with an annulment. Their split received a lot of media attention, as they continued to work together on the show for several years afterward. Bush has since become a well-known activist and has often discussed the difficult lessons she learned from the relationship. It’s often used as an example of why dating or marrying a coworker, especially during a stressful job, can be problematic.

Chad Michael Murray

Chad Michael Murray is an American actor best known for his roles in teen dramas and films. He gained significant media attention in the mid-2000s due to his brief, five-month marriage to a co-star, and the subsequent divorce was heavily covered by tabloids. He has since remarried, started a family, and continued to work in the entertainment industry, while both he and his former spouse have moved forward with their lives and careers.

Tell us what you think about these celebrity unions in the comments.

2026-01-14 20:17