The Seven-Year Itch: Why Hollywood's Strongest Couples Fall Victim
The term "seven-year itch" describes a period when relationships can become overly familiar, leading to potential breakdowns. This phenomenon has affected numerous high-profile Hollywood couples, including Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt, Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello, and Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis. Most recently, Made In Chelsea stars Millie Mackintosh and Hugo Taylor announced their separation after seven years of marriage. But is this pattern a genuine relationship threat, and how can couples avoid it?
The Science Behind the Seven-Year Itch
Relationship expert Annabelle Knight told the Daily Mail: "The key issue? Familiarity replaces connection. Early relationships are fuelled by lust, novelty and dopamine hits. Over time, relationships shift into an attachment-based style of love. This is driven more by routine and security than passion. If couples don't realise this shift is normal, they can mistake it for 'falling out of love.'"
Research published in The Journal of Social Psychological and Personality Science indicates that relationship satisfaction commonly declines between years six and eight, particularly when couples balance careers, children, and significant mental loads. Another contributing factor involves personal evolution. By year seven, individuals often undergo substantial changes personally, professionally, and emotionally, yet many couples fail to update their relationship dynamics accordingly.
External validation also plays a role. Around this stage, people encounter increased validation through social media, work, or new social circles, fostering the false belief that passion is missing rather than simply dormant. Interestingly, studies from the Gottman Institute reveal that emotional disengagement, not conflict, predicts break-ups. Couples cease checking in, flirting, and repairing minor disconnects, allowing distance and resentment to accumulate.
How to Avoid the Seven-Year Itch
Annabelle Knight offers practical advice for couples: "Bring back the fun: New experiences reignite dopamine. Even small changes can make a big difference. Talk about desire: Sexual dissatisfaction often goes unspoken, but research consistently links sexual communication to long-term relationship success. Install an update: What worked in year one won't work in year seven. Couples need to re-establish roles, expectations, and needs."
She emphasises: "Remember, the couples who don't scratch the 'seven-year itch' aren't luckier; they're the couples that put in the work and listen to one another. They connect and re-connect, they communicate and change, adapting their relationship alongside themselves."
High-Profile Victims of the Seven-Year Itch
Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt: Once Hollywood's "It couple," they married in July 2000 after a high-profile engagement. Despite public talks about starting a family, they announced their separation in January 2005 after seven years together. A joint statement cited thoughtful consideration, though it later emerged that Brad's involvement with Angelina Jolie contributed to the split.
Millie Mackintosh and Hugo Taylor: The Made In Chelsea stars, who began dating as teenagers, married in 2018 and welcomed two daughters. Millie's struggles with alcohol and anxiety, including hidden substance use, strained their marriage. They quietly separated after seven years, prioritising co-parenting their children.
Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello: After a whirlwind romance beginning in 2014, they married in November 2015. Despite initial excitement, they divorced in July 2023, releasing a statement requesting privacy as they navigated this new phase.
Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis: Their relationship started in 2011, leading to an engagement in 2013 and two children. However, their engagement ended after seven years in 2020, coinciding with Olivia's involvement with Harry Styles. A messy custody battle ensued, ultimately settled privately in 2023.
Amy Schumer and Chris Fischer: Married in February 2018 after a brief courtship, they welcomed a son in 2019. Despite public displays of affection and IVF attempts for another child, they announced their amicable divorce in December 2025 after seven years.
Sue Perkins and Anna Richardson: The couple began dating in 2013 after meeting at a Halloween party. Despite initial joy and public admiration, they separated over Christmas 2020 after seven years together, with sources describing both as devastated.
These cases illustrate that even the most seemingly solid relationships can succumb to the seven-year itch, highlighting the importance of continuous effort, communication, and adaptation in maintaining long-term partnerships.
