Michelle Keegan has branded rumours of strife in her romance ‘sexist’, as she insists her and husband Mark Wright’s long-distance marriage should be ‘celebrated’.
The 30-year-old actress has long-faced reports of strife in their two-year marriage due to their trying work schedules, which currently sees Michelle filming Our Girl in Kuala Lumpur while the former TOWIE star is launching his US presenting career.
Speaking to The Sun, the defiant beauty insisted their difficult set up is made harder by the rumours, yet she insists all is well while admitting they desperately miss one another and plan to start a family ‘as soon as the time is right’.
Happy days: Michelle Keegan has branded rumours of strife in her romance ‘sexist’, as she insists her and husband Mark Wright’s long-distance marriage should be ‘celebrated’
Michelle and Mark have been together for almost five years after they first met in December 2012 while both holidaying in Dubai.
Nine months later, the duo had returned to the Middle Eastern resort where Mark had proposed and they went on to tie the knot in a lavish ceremony at St Mary’s Church in Bury St Edmonds in May 2015.
Throughout 2016, reports suggested the couple’s relationship was doomed, with sources insisted they were headed for a split, yet the two entered the New Year stronger than ever and have since continued their long-distance love between work.
In light of the reports, Michelle said: ‘ It’s been hard enough being away anyway, but then to contend with all that. It just comes from nowhere.
Hitting back: Speaking to The Sun, the defiant star insisted their difficult set up is made harder by the rumours, yet she insists all is well while admitting they desperately miss one another and plan to start a family ‘as soon as they time is right’
‘I don’t understand how a couple can’t have their separate careers, and why can’t a newly married woman go off and do her job and a husband go off and do his? I don’t understand why that’s a negative. It should be celebrated.
‘I’d say there is a slight degree of sexism to it. I always think it’s good we’ve got our own careers. He’s put all his effort into that and I’m putting all my effort into this. And for me, I just find it really exciting that we’re working so hard separately, for our different careers.’
With Mark in America for a year, having landed his dream job as a presenter on showbiz programme Extra, ‘excited’ Michelle plans to jet out to meet him in December, when she has a break from work.
True love: Michelle and Mark have been together for almost five years after they first met in December 2012 while both were holidaying in Dubai
Earlier this year, Michelle flew to South Africa in May to film BBC war drama Our Girl for the second time after starring on the show last year as army medic Georgie Lane. Despite Mark making a solid effort to visit her on occasion, she spent much of the time out there alone.
He has been busy with his own working commitments and has spent the last few months travelling back and forth as he juggled jobs in London, Los Angeles and Mallorca, along with DJ appearances in Marbella.
Mark appeared to lament travelling constantly and while taking his last flight in a while, he was caught pining after his wife.
The former reality star had shared a selfie on board his flight, penning alongside it: ‘The main thing I’m thinking about is the fact I have two more flights to go in 24 hours.
Hard work: Earlier this year, Michelle flew to South Africa in May to film BBC war drama Our Girl for the second time after starring on the show last year as army medic Georgie Lane
‘And I will be back in the arms of the person who means more than anything to me. OMG how this moment is going to be cherished,’ he gushed. ‘It’s been well overdue and I’m more excited than you can imagine.’ (sic)
Michelle, meanwhile, has previously spoken of how she struggles when forced to work away from home.
During a Facebook Live Q&A with Revlon, the former Coronation Street star had said: ‘The hardest part [of my job] is probably not seeing my family and friends for the time that I’m away filming. Although we FaceTime all the time, I’m in a lucky position I know that, but you miss home a little bit.’