How They Met
Matthew first met Sophie sometime during the early 2000s. The actor recalled the moment they first crossed paths right in front of his London home. He shared, “…She was on my doorstep when I came home. Literally. I thought, ‘f**ing hell!’ She was a friend of my neighbor.”*
The pair were introduced to one another and immediately felt a connection. They started dating in 2005, around the time when Matthew was beginning to gain success as an actor. It’s no secret that a career in acting can add its fair share of stress to any relationship. His work required him to travel a lot and be away from home, which, of course, made things difficult for his budding romance with Sophie.
Matthew’s newfound fame also brought paparazzi, media, and tabloids—adding more stress to their relationship. However, the couple was determined to make things work.
Love Before Fame
Despite his growing fame, Matthew always made sure that his relationship with Sophie came first. The couple also did their best to keep their romance out of the spotlight as much as possible. It was important to them that they keep the intimate details of their relationship private, as much of their lives revolved around Matthew’s work as an actor.
Becoming Parents
In 2009, the couple became parents for the first time when they welcomed a daughter they named Matilda. In 2013, they had their second daughter, Teddie.
After nearly nine years together and having gone through the journey of becoming parents, Matthew and Sophie decided to take their relationship to the next level. While it was already clear that the couple was in it for the long run, they figured it was a good time to finally get married. So, in 2014, Matthew and Sophie tied the knot during an intimate ceremony surrounded by their closest friends and family.
There aren’t many details about their wedding, which makes sense since the couple prefers to keep things private. However, Matthew did share some insight into what life has been like for him since becoming a parent. He said, “Since becoming a father, I’ve become less selfish. I can’t just disappear to make a movie.”
In 2015, they welcomed their third child, a son they named Ralph. Just like their relationship, the couple has also been careful about keeping their children away from the spotlight. They want to give their kids as normal a childhood as possible.
Balancing Career and Family
Matthew does his best to put his wife and kids first when it comes to taking on acting jobs because he doesn’t want work to interfere with being a present parent and husband. The actor also avoids scandals and controversies—something he knows is not easy in Hollywood—but it’s been intentional. Matthew doesn’t want any negative attention surrounding his personal life because of the impact it could have on his family.
He explained, “I have to have consideration for the family. I have no time to get into trouble. Otherwise, no one is picking up the children from school.”
Sophie and Matthew also try to prevent their kids from spending too much time online, though they admit there’s only so much they can do considering how technology dominates modern life. Matthew once said, “We’re relaxed about the kids spending time on iPads, although I want to say, ‘Just watch some normal television, for the love of God!’”
He also spoke about his work-life balance: “I have three children and a lovely wife, and I just don’t like being away from them.” The actor explained that he’s been “very lucky” to be able to “mix work and family” quite well. Matthew shared that when his kids go to school, he goes fishing, and Sophie enjoys horse riding. They’ve managed to find a healthy balance that works for their family, always making sure to “have a bit of fun on the side.”
Mujeeb Sultan