Kurt Russell Draws Parallels Between 'The Madison' Romance and His Real-Life Love Story with Goldie Hawn
In a revealing interview, veteran actor Kurt Russell has opened up about how the poignant love story at the heart of Taylor Sheridan's new western drama, The Madison, strongly reminded him of his own enduring relationship with longtime partner Goldie Hawn.
Emotional Connection to the Script
Russell, who portrays family patriarch Preston Clyburn in the Paramount+ series, admitted that the scripts for The Madison affected him profoundly during preparation. "I had a hard time getting through the scripts," the 75-year-old actor confessed to The National. "They just kept hitting me really hard, and I felt that was a big part of this show's potential to grab an audience. Its writing was so authentic."
The actor plays opposite Michelle Pfeiffer in the series, with his character dying in the opening episode and leaving Pfeiffer's character to navigate grief while reassessing their relationship. Russell explained that this narrative of profound loss and retrospective appreciation resonated deeply with him on a personal level.
Parallels with Real-Life Partnership
"It was so powerful for it to have a serious, true love relationship with someone, and then for one of those people to go, and for the other to realize they didn't know how good it was," Russell elaborated. "That they didn't know there was so much more to it, and they're not going to let that go."
Although Russell and Hawn have never married, they have maintained a committed partnership since 1983, having first met on the set of the Disney film The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band in 1966. They reconnected fifteen years later while filming Swing Shift and have been together ever since.
Shared Conversations and Regrets
In a separate conversation with Men's Health last month, Russell revealed even more specific connections between his fictional role and his real-life relationship. "Some of the conversations that [Preston and Stacy] have, I've had," he stated. "Goldie and I have had very similar conversations."
The actor described the relationship portrayed in The Madison as "the kind of relationship you almost never see anymore" and emphasized its genuine, loving nature without hidden complications. This authenticity, Russell suggested, makes the loss even more devastating for Pfeiffer's character as she confronts unrealized potential in their partnership.
"I think a lot of people relate to that kind of regret," Russell reflected. "As you get older and you've only got so much time left, that doubles things up in terms of looking at what you've done in your life so far and what you want to do with the rest of your life."
Family Life and Show Updates
Russell and Hawn share a 39-year-old son, Wyatt, while Russell also helped raise Hawn's children from a previous marriage, Oliver and Kate Hudson. The actor has an additional son, Boston, from another relationship.
The first season of The Madison concluded on March 21, with Paramount+ already confirming a second season renewal. Production is expected to resume early next year, bringing more of Sheridan's acclaimed storytelling to audiences worldwide.
