Strange Things We Can't Get Past In Calista Flockhart And Harrison Ford's Relationship

Calista Flockhart and Harrison Ford's romance gives us hope that finding long-lasting love isn't only for those in their 20s; we also can't deny that it's full of strange things we can't ignore. One of the strangest? Ford's odd take on marriage advice. In 2020, the "Air Force One" actor (who was married twice before tying the knot with Flockhart in his 60s) responded when asked to share his best marriage advice by Parade, "Don't talk. Nod your head." Of course, the star was kidding and responded when asked where his unique sense of humor came from, "I've never even thought about it. I see funny, I think." 

But while laughter and jokes are important to any relationship, seriousness needs its place too — particularly when it comes to communication. As Nicole Moore, celebrity relationship expert and host of the "Love Works" podcast, exclusively told us while dissecting the red flags in Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds' relationship, constant jokes can potentially be a sign of a deeper problem. "... Sometimes people use humor to mask deeper feelings that they aren't dealing with," Moore pointed out. We've noticed a few other things that piqued our interest in this unique relationship as well.

Though the idea of love at first sight isn't for everyone (and it's okay to not feel it), publicly admitting you had no attraction to your partner when you first saw them is certainly strange. That's what Flockhart told People, though, while revealing she saw her fellow actor Harrison Ford on-screen long before she met him. "I remember loving him in 'The Mosquito Coast,' but I didn't really think about him," she said of the 1986 movie. Ford was also aware of who Flockhart was, but didn't confirm if he had an instant attraction to his then future wife. "I watched 'Ally McBeal' from time to time before I met her, but now she won't let me watch it," he said.

When the two finally met face-to-face at the 2002 Golden Globe Awards, that wasn't exactly a traditional fairytale. Ford was still legally married to his second ex-wife, Melissa Mathison, whom he'd been married to for 18 years. Ford and Mathison separated in August 2001, but their divorce wasn't finalized until January 2004 — two years after his romance with Flockhart flourished.

After meeting at the Golden Globes, Calista Flockhart and Harrison Ford started really getting to know each other. But it wasn't just the two of them in the early days. James Marden, who appeared alongside Flockhart on "Ally McBeal," tagged along on one of their first dates, telling Playboy (via E! News), "I had become friends with her, and one night she said, 'Come to dinner with me and Harrison.' I'm like, 'Me, you, and him?' It turned out to be a small group of us, thankfully, but I ended up as her wingman." Later that night, Marsden ended up at Ford's house with them. "I kept thinking we should leave the two of them alone, but Calista was like, 'Don't leave, don't leave, don't leave.' ... She was just really nervous. Anyway, we had more drinks, he played more music, and then at some point he gave me a look that said, 'Okay, you've got to get the f**k out of here,'" he added.

Though it's understandable why Flockhart was nervous and wanted friends around, we don't recommend bringing pals along for an early date if you know you have romantic feelings for someone. It could give the impression you're looking for a friendship, which could change the dynamic and make it tougher to get to know your potential partner. It can also pile on the pressure, as your date not only has to impress you, but your friends, too. Though a group date clearly worked for Flockhart and Ford, it's better to have a close friend waiting in the wings in case you need a little help or want to dip out early, not center stage.

Calista Flockhart and Harrison Ford have helped us confront our fixation with age-gap relationships, but the 22 years between them has raised a few eyebrows. So much so, in 2003, Flockhart addressed their age difference with Hello!, telling the outlet, "It doesn't faze me. Sometimes I even say, 'Wow, I keep forgetting that he's 22 years older than me'. It doesn't factor into our relationship at all." A source then told People in 2010, "It never seems to occur to either of them."

That's strange considering those in age-gap relationships should be aware of the years between them, as they often have to work a little harder to make their romance work. "The bigger the gap between partners, the more likely the relationship will struggle with phase-of-life related challenges," GinaMarie Guarino, a licensed mental health counselor and PsychPoint founder, told PsychCentral. When "The Empire Strikes Back" actor tied the knot with the "Supergirl" star, he was 59 and she was 37. People in their late 50s often have different needs from those in their mid-30s, and keeping their age gap in mind (rather than pretending it's not there) could help Flockhart and Ford better understand and communicate with one another.

Though it's understandable why some famous people choose to keep their private lives private, Calista Flockhart and Harrison Ford took things one step further after getting engaged on Valentine's Day in 2009. The two refused to even tell their closest friends before they tied the knot in 2010 after eight years together. Speaking to People after their surprise nuptials went public, Ford's longtime friend Bernie Pollack said, "I talked to him just a couple of days ago, and he didn't say anything!" The only attendees were reported to be Flockhart's son Liam, then-New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, his wife Barbara, and Chief Justice Charles W. Daniels. If true, that's a little strange considering Ford is a dad to four other children from previous marriages, who seemingly didn't attend. 

Not only did no one know about their big day, but Ford kept his attire incredibly casual, wearing jeans down the aisle. He then returned to work on the movie "Cowboys and Aliens" just a few days later. Even odder? Even after their big day passed by and became public news, the couple never spoke publicly about the details of the happiest day of their life, or shared photos with fans.