Tim Burton and Monica Bellucci, long surrounded by dating speculation, eventually confirmed their relationship before teaming up professionally.
The acclaimed director and the Italian actress collaborated on Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the highly anticipated sequel to the 1988 classic, which premiered in the U.S. on September 6, 2024.
Bellucci first hinted at their connection in an interview with Elle France in June 2023, just as news surfaced about her role in the film. “First of all, I’m grateful to have met the man,” she shared.
“Encounters like this are rare in life … I know the man, I love him, and now I’m going to meet the director—another adventure begins.”
A Storied Career in Film
Burton gained widespread recognition with iconic films such as Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985), Batman (1989), and Edward Scissorhands (1990).
Beetlejuice was only his second feature film but cemented his reputation for darkly whimsical storytelling.
Meanwhile, Bellucci transitioned from a successful modeling career into acting, starring in Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) and later appearing in The Matrix sequels (2003, 2021).
From Acquaintances to a Romantic Relationship
Although Burton and Bellucci crossed paths years earlier, their relationship didn’t officially begin until 2023. They made their first public appearance as a couple at the Rome Film Festival that year.
Despite working together on Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Bellucci emphasized that their romantic and professional lives remained distinct. “I’m with Tim, not with Tim Burton,” she told Paris Match in June 2024.
Their initial meeting dates back to the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, though it was brief. At the time, both were involved in long-term relationships.
Fate brought them together again in October 2022 at the Lumière Film Festival in Lyon, France, where Bellucci presented Burton with the prestigious Lumière Award for lifetime achievement.
During his acceptance speech, Burton remarked, “All my life put together, I have never felt so much love as tonight. Welcome to the best funeral I ever had.”
Shortly after, rumors swirled when the two were seen together in Madrid, and by October 2023, they made their official red carpet debut at the Rome Film Festival, where Burton attended in support of Bellucci’s film, Maria Callas: Lettere e Memorie. Reports from the event described him as visibly “in love and happy.”
Their Previous Relationships and Families
Before their relationship, both Burton and Bellucci were linked to high-profile partners. Burton spent 14 years with Harry Potter star Helena Bonham Carter, from 2000 to 2014.
They share two children: Billy (born 2003) and Nell (born 2007). Their unconventional living arrangement—two adjoining houses connected by a hallway—drew public interest. “We see as much of each other as any couple, but our relationship is enhanced by knowing we have our personal space,” Bonham Carter told The Telegraph in 2010.
Though never married, she later described their breakup as “a divorce.” Reflecting on it in 2022, she shared on the Therapy Works podcast, “Even if you divorce somebody, if you have children together, it remains a kind of marriage.”
Bellucci was previously married to French actor Vincent Cassel (Ocean’s Twelve, Ocean’s Thirteen). The couple wed in 1999 and welcomed daughters Deva (2004) and Léonie (2010).
Their eldest, Deva, spoke about her upbringing in a 2023 interview with Gen V, stating, “My parents taught me to always look forward, protect myself, be kind, and maintain a sense of wonder.” Bellucci and Cassel amicably ended their marriage in 2013.
Collaborating on Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
In May 2023, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Bellucci had joined the cast of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, playing the ghostly protagonist’s wife. The film, primarily shot in London, marked a new chapter in her career. “I love Tim, and I have great respect for Tim Burton,” she told Elle France.
For Burton, working on the sequel was a nostalgic return to his filmmaking roots. “On this last one, Beetlejuice 2, I really enjoyed it,” he shared with The Independent.
“I tried to strip everything down and go back to the basics—working with good people, great actors, and practical effects. It felt like rediscovering why I love making movies.”
The film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on August 28, 2024, setting the stage for its highly anticipated theatrical release.
