It's pretty much impossible to typecast Marcia Gay Harden. And that's what makes her career fun. In the '90s, she starred in the hilarious The First Wives Club, the intriguing drama Meet Joe Black, and the romantic comedy Curtain Call. As she became more famous, she starred in the dark drama Pollock and the TV series Code Black. She was part of the cast of the Fifty Shades film franchise and played Grace Trevelyan Grey in Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed. Her character adopted Christian Grey and his siblings.
Harden is a mom of three and got divorced from Thaddaeus Scheel just over a decade ago. Whether someone is a star or not, divorce is more complex when children are part of the equation. Jeremy Allen White's split from Addison Timlin has been sad to read about because they have two little ones. It must have been hard for Harden and Scheel when they realized that their marriage was finished. What happened to break up Marcia Gay Harden and Thaddaeus Scheel's marriage?
Why Did Marcia Gay Harden Get Divorced From Thaddaeus Scheel?
There are stars who get engaged in front of strangers and others who don't talk about their romantic lives. Marcia Gay Harden was married for more than ten years, but she falls into the latter category.
Marcia Gay Harden asked for a divorce from Thaddaeus Scheel in 2012, according to Today.com. The couple got married in 1996 and had been together for 15 years.
While there could be any number of reasons why the actress knew that her marriage was over, she hasn't explained the reason.
Today.com reported that her representative explained, "For the sake of the couple's three children, Harden would like to request that the family's privacy be respected at this time. No further comments will be made on this matter, and we thank you for your understanding."
In the eleven years since the divorce was announced, Marcia Gay Harden hasn't said why she and Scheel broke up.
The actress does talk about her three children and also posts photos with them on her Instagram. They seem like an incredibly close family. According to People, Harden was part of a telethon called Drag Isn't Dangerous in May 2023. She said, "What drives me is because it's right and what's happening right now is wrong. What drives me is — my children are all queer. My eldest child is non-binary. My son is gay. My youngest is fluid. And you know, they are my kids and they teach me every day."
Harden and Scheel have three kids: 19-year-old Hudson and Julitta and 24-year-old Eulala. If they have had any tough times while co-parenting, they haven't mentioned them.
Thaddaeus Scheel works in the movie industry. He directed the 2013 movie Stuck and has worked as an on-set dresser and property assistant and property master on several films, according to his IMDb page.
Did Marcia Gay Harden Date After Her Divorce From Thaddaeus Scheel?
It's unknown if Marcia Gay Harden dated once her divorce from Thaddaeus Scheel was official. She doesn't appear to be linked to anyone. And she hasn't announced any other relationships. Divorce is always an emotional experience and from what Harden has said, that was the case for her.
But now, with some distance from the breakup, it seems that she feels great about her life. And her career has continued to thrive. Harden currently stars in the sitcom So Help Me Todd. She plays Margaret, a lawyer whose son Todd, played by Skylar Austin, becomes a co-worker of hers when he is hired by her law firm as a detective. Of course, they have opposite personalities, which is where the comedy comes from. It's a realistic show for anyone who sometimes has trouble getting along with a parent.
The actress did mention her divorce in an article that she wrote for The Hollywood Reporter in 2013. Marcia Gay Harden wrote about James Gandolfini after his tragic death. She said that when the actors starred in the play Gods Of Carnage, it was a really great experience. And she said that the actor was there for her during a difficult period.
Harden wrote, "By the time we took the production to L.A. for the second run a year later, I loved him even more. But you know, in a year a life can really change, and that was true for all of us — James, Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis and myself."
Harden continued in The Hollywood Reporter, "At that point, my own marriage was breaking up — and James was an absolute rock for me, he even taught me how to help my kids get through it, since he’d been through it himself. He was a gorgeous friend, he was there so many times for me, for a drink, a coffee, a long talk."
In 2023, Marcia Gay Harden was interviewed on The Kelly Clarkson Show and chatted about her divorce. She also said that she is single and feels good about it.
When Clarkson asked "Would you ever get married again?" Harden said that she wouldn't.
Harden continued, "Being in love is fantastic." She also said, "Listen here's the real, I'm falling in love with myself. After I got divorced, I fell in love with myself. I have the best girlfriends. I'm living a good life."
Harden and Clarkson talked about how it isn't a good idea to jump into a new relationship once an old one ends.
Harden said "You think I need to define myself through someone else and you don't. You define yourself through you."
The actress mentioned starring in the TV series Uncoupled, which stars Neil Patrick Harris as a character who is trying to find love again after his partner of almost two decades broke up with him. While Michael Lawson is determined to meet another partner, Harden is content to be on her own. Whether she ends up in another relationship or stays single, Marcia Gay Harden is inspiring.