Elizabeth Hurley has explained why her relationship with Billy Ray Cyrus works, saying the couple are both “empty nesters” whose children are now independent.
The 61-year-old actress, who shares son Damian with her late ex Steve Bing, began dating the 65-year-old country singer and father of six in 2025. In a new interview, she said the relationship “works very well, I think” now that her 24-year-old son is older.
School runs and juggling
“They were at school. There were still school runs, school holidays. There was an awful lot to juggle,” Hurley said on the Off Air with Jane Fi podcast.
“And now, Billy and I are empty nesters. All our children are independent and Damian is the youngest of all of them.”
Cyrus shares five children with his ex-wife Tish: Brandi, 39, and Trace, 37, whom he adopted, and Miley, 33, Braison, 32, and Noah, 26. He also shares son Christopher Cody, 34, with ex Kristen Luckey.
Comparing past relationships
The Royals star added that when she dated cricketer Shane Warne, who died in 2022 aged 52, they had to deal with his children, who were young at the time.
“When I dated a previous boyfriend of mine, Shane – who sadly, of course, isn’t with us anymore – he had three kids and they were all sort of the same age as Damian and then a few years above, but they were kids,” she said.
With Damian now in his 20s, Hurley explained, things were “very different”.
Engagement speculation
“It’s more grown up and it’s easier,” she said. “Sometimes I miss being a hands-on mummy. I don’t miss the school runs. I don’t miss running around the house screaming because I can’t find a tennis racket. I don’t mind missing that. But you do sort of miss, I suppose, being so hands-on. It’s an adjustment to have to make.”
The podcast interview comes after Hurley sparked engagement rumours earlier this month by flashing a large diamond ring on her left hand in an Instagram post. The picture carried no caption, but Damian commented: “SO EXCITED!”
Hurley and Cyrus went public with their relationship in Easter 2025.
