Hollywood star Rufus Sewell and his actress wife Vivian Benitez Sewell have given fans a hilarious glimpse into the trials of at-home audition tapes, with Vivian joking their marriage may not survive the process.
Marriage Tested by Self-Tapes
Actress Vivian, 29, took to social media over the weekend to share a series of candid clips filmed by her 58-year-old husband. The videos, which she described as audition 'self-tapes', captured the couple's playful yet fractious dynamic during the recording session.
In a witty caption accompanying the posts, Vivian made a direct appeal to casting directors. 'Dear casting directors, please start holding in person auditions again,' she wrote. 'I don't think my marriage will survive another year of self tapes.'
A Playful But 'Snappy' Exchange
The short clips revealed Vivian's mounting frustration with her cameraman husband. In one moment, she was seen rolling her eyes and letting out a deep sigh as Rufus giggled off-camera. 'You're so annoying,' she told him before walking away.
The tension escalated over technical issues. 'Roof [Rufus], do you not know how to work a computer?' Vivian yelled. The actor, best known for films like 'The Holiday', defended himself by replying, 'I do, it wasn't working,' which only prompted more huffing from his wife.
Rufus could then be heard making silly noises, leading Vivian to snap: 'Get out of the way! Stand where you are supposed to stand and read the lines.' Taking it all in good humour, the amused actor responded, 'Hey, hey, hey, don't start.'
The 'Hilaria Baldwin' Comparison
The light-hearted feud spilled into the comments section. Rufus playfully compared his wife to Hilaria Baldwin, who famously snapped at her husband Alec on a red carpet in March. 'OK Hilaria,' Rufus wrote.
Vivian fired back with a quip that referenced the long-running controversy over Hilaria's claimed Spanish heritage. 'At least I am actually Latina,' she replied, later adding, 'At least im actually latina so i have an excuse for being mean.'
Hilaria Baldwin, born Hillary Hayward-Thomas in Boston, has frequently faced scrutiny for her use of a Spanish accent and claims about her background, despite her parents living in Majorca.
A Strong Bond Despite the Bickering
Despite the on-camera bickering, the couple's affection was clear. They were married in July 2024, marking Rufus's third marriage. He was previously wed to Yasmin Abdallah from 1999 to 2000 and to Amy Gardner from 2004 to 2006, with whom he shares a son, William.
Vivian has previously shown her fun-loving side on social media, once joking she had found her man 'in the nursing home' in reference to their age gap, and sharing sweet wedding photos to mark their anniversary.
The audition tape saga ultimately highlights the modern pressures faced by actors, where the intimate, often frustrating process of self-taping has replaced many in-person casting calls, testing professional and personal relationships alike.
