Why Richard Gere is reinventing his life in Spain

The famous actor Richard Gere has officially traded the United States for Spain in a move that follows another A-list star: Eva Longoria. This is the story of what brought him to the Spanish capital Madrid.

Richard Gere, 75, recently made his first public appearance after relocating to Madrid. He appeared at the ELLE for Future 2024 event alongside his Spanish wife Alejandra Gere, 41. Based on their public displays of affection, they seemed very happy to have made the move.

Gere and Silva met through mutual family friends. However, they didn’t reconnect until 2014, after which they quickly became inseparable. They tied the knot in 2018 at Gere’s property in New York.

Speaking to press at the event, they dived a little deeper into their love story. They said that she originally mixed him up with another famous grey fox - George Clooney.

Silva and Gere were honored with the Eco Award at the gala. In her interview with the magazine, Alejandra confessed that Gere’s performance in 'Time Out of Mind' (2014) made her fall in love with him. “He’s so s e x y in it,” she said with a laugh.

Richard Gere and Alejandra Silva married in a private ceremony in April 2018, according to Hello!. The couple has two young children: Alexander, 5, and James, 4. Gere is also father to Homer, 24, from a previous marriage, and stepfather to Albert, Silva’s 11-year-old son from a previous relationship.

In an interview on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,' Gere explained that the move was also his way of thanking Alejandra for spending seven years with him in the United States. Now, they plan to spend more time near her family in Madrid, according to Hello!.

For the wordly actor, this is the first time he's lived outside of the US, he told Vanity Fair. "For me, going to Madrid is going to be a great adventure because I have never lived full-time outside of the United States. For Alejandra, it will be wonderful to be closer to her family, her lifelong friends and her culture," he said.

The couple recently left the United States to settle in Madrid, seeking a lifestyle with a stronger sense of community, according to Hello!. Gere praised Spain for its communal spirit, saying, “There’s a very strong sense of community here, and people genuinely care about each other,” in his interview with Elle Spain.

He's not joking when he says community. He told Fallon that she is becoming the "glue" of the gamily and is always busy making plans. He said she is in the habit of throwing huge Sunday lunches at their house with around 35 guests!

Gere described this phase of his life as “the best yet,” expressing happiness with his wife and their healthy children, who are being raised in a bilingual environment.

Speaking to journalists at the Elle event, he described Spain as a "very civilized spot." According to Spanish daily El Pais, the couple is living in a huge house outside of Madrid surrounded by a big and lovely garden. He also said Madrid is "the best of the best."

On the ELLE for Future 2024 red carpet, Gere and Silva displayed their signature elegance. Gere wore a classic black tuxedo, while Alejandra dazzled in a black gown with purple floral designs and gold jewelry, according to Hello! magazine.

In addition to his family life, Gere remains active in his career. His series The Agency premieres on November 29, and his film 'Oh, Canada' is set to hit theaters in December, according to People.

The couple has also been recognized for their philanthropic efforts, including work with projects like Sierra A Mar and the Xala With Heart Foundation. Their contributions earned them the Eco Award at the Elle event.

Gere has said that he is now enjoying this stage of his life like no other. ""I love my wife very much. She's incredible, a wonderful mother. The children are healthy and happy. Of course, there's nothing more than that," he told Fallon.

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