David Schwimmer's Ex-wife Zoe Buckman Is Related to Legendary Actor Alec Guinness

Zoë Buckman and David Schwimmer. | Source: Getty Images

David Schwimmer's wife, Zoë Buckman, comes from a family of performers and is related to a legendary "Star Wars" actor. Despite having a famous relative and a family of actors, Zoë has succeeded in a different field.

Actor, comedian, and producer David Schwimmer shot to fame through the top-rated and critically acclaimed ten-seasoned sitcom "Friends" alongside fellow actors Jennifer Anniston, Courtney Cox, Matthew Perry, and Matt LeBlanc.

In the classic series, David portrayed the iconic role of hopeless romantic paleontologist Ross Geller, whose three marriages ended in divorce. In some ways, David's real-life marriage to his wife, Zoë Buckman, mirrors his fictional ones.

Zoë Buckman and David Schwimmer at the "Feed The Beast" film screening at Angelika Film Center on May 23, 2016, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

Who Is Zoë Buckman, David Schwimmer's Ex-wife?

Zoë Buckman, born in Hackney, East London, on September 13, 1985, is a multidisciplinary artist whose work primarily focuses on embroidery, installation, photography, and sculpture.

She received an Art Matters Grant in 2017 after attending The International Center of Photography in 2009. The central themes in her artwork are feminism, equality, and mortality.

Zoë revealed in 2016 that she comes from a creative family that values the performing arts. She said her mother's and father's families were prominent directors, actors, and acting coaches.

Jennie Buckman, Zoë's mother, was a drama coach at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, a playwright, and a TV writer. Peter Buckman, the artist's brother, is also a successful writer.

Zoë's family is also related to the late British actor Alec Guinness, best known for his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the immensely popular "Star Wars" film franchise, as well as actress Geraldine James, best known for "Anne With An E" series.

However, the multidisciplinary artist admitted that she never developed an interest in acting but made up for it by producing several solo exhibitions of her artwork, many of which were installation pieces of great artistic merit. She said:

"I feel like my art, particularly the more installation-based pieces, there's a real theater element, and it feels kind of performative."

Although Zoë never got the acting bug from her mother, father, and other famous relatives, she married David, a celebrated actor, director, and producer born in New York and grew up in Los Angeles.

Zoë explained that it took her some time to feel comfortable identifying as an artist because women in her generation were not made to feel entitled to their own space. The idea, however, changed when she became a mother.

She shares her thoughts about sexism in the art world, saying it is "difficult" to be taken seriously as a woman, but she continues to prove her commitment to being an artist. She said she was not ashamed of her "amazing personal life."

Zoë has had showed solo art exhibits and public art installations in London, France, and South Africa, as well as in cities all over the United States, such as Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Washington, and New York.

Zoë, an intersectional feminist, is no stranger to provocative art. In 2016, she created lingerie with hip-hop lyrics written on it, as well as an eye-catching installation about women's health and Planned Parenthood. She once used her placenta in her artworks.

How Did Zoë Buckman and David Schwimmer Meet?

When David first met the woman who would become his wife, it was strikingly similar to Ross Geller's love story about how he met Jennifer Aniston's character, Rachel Green.

He and Zoë first met in 2006 at the Cuckoo Club in London, England, where she worked as a waitress. He was in London working on his first feature film, "Run Boy Run," his directorial debut.

Zoë Buckman and David Schwimmer attend the premiere of "Run, Fat Boy, Run" at the Tribeca Grand Screening Room on March 20, 2008, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

Even though the actor was reportedly seeing a lot of other women at the time, a source claimed that David "definitely fancies" Zoë. After getting to know each other better, the two began dating and spending time together.

The couple was even spotted dancing together at London's Aura nightclub. Zoë relocated to Los Angeles, California, to be with David when their relationship became serious.

Zoë Buckman and David Schwimmer attend the "The Front Page" Broadway Opening Night at The Broadhurst Theatre on October 20, 2016, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

How Long Have Zoë Buckman and David Schwimmer Been Married?

As the two were very discreet about their relationship, hardly much is known about David and Zoë's marriage. They waited for four months before announcing they had tied the knot, and they kept details about their wedding to themselves for over a decade.

David secretly tied the knot with Zoë in June 2010, when he was 44, and she was 25. After three years of dating, the two exchanged vows in a low-key, intimate ceremony.

Unfortunately, as time progressed, David and his longtime wife concluded that they could no longer be romantically involved with one another.

Zoë Buckman and David Schwimmer at the opening night of "The Front Page" on Broadway on October 20, 2016, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

When Did Zoë Buckman and David Schwimmer Divorce and Why?

Like many others in Hollywood, David and Zoë's marriage did not last. They called it quits in 2017, nearly seven years after tying the knot. The couple announced their split in a statement to USA Today:

"It is with great love, respect and friendship that we have decided to take some time apart while we determine the future of our relationship."

The couple, who were notoriously private about their marriage, decided not to go into the details of their split. Instead, they asked the public to respect their privacy during such a difficult period.

During the first year and a half since their divorce, David said he was primarily concerned about how their daughter would adjust to their new reality.

David Schwimmer and Zoë Buckman arrive at the 68th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards on September 18, 2016, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images

How Many Kids Does David Schwimmer Have with Zoë Buckman?

Even though David and Zoë's marriage didn't last, they were blessed with one child. On May 8, 2011, the actor and his then-wife welcomed their daughter, Cleo Buckman Schwimmer, in New York. Zoë's Instagram is full of adorable mother-daughter photos.

They often put on exciting dance shows for their fans. The two also seem to go to India a lot and have a special place in their hearts for the Vrindavan temple, where they worship the deity Radha Krishna.

Zoë Buckman, David Schwimmer, and their daughter Cleo Buckman Schwimmer attend the 12th Annual John Varvatos Stuart House Benefit on April 26, 2015, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images

But not every adventure they go on ends in happiness. In April 2020, the mother and daughter made the news after experiencing harassment from strangers while staying in an Airbnb in London.

Cleo rejects society's notions of beauty early, shaving her long, brown hair in June 2020. Zoë posted Instagram photographs of Cleo smiling while her mother shaved her head. Zoë praised her daughter for questioning societal beauty standards at such a young age.

David usually is quiet about his family, but he once boasted that Cleo became a vegetarian at age five. After Cleo and her mother attended an animal rights rally, she stopped eating meat. Her parents have since replaced meat-based chicken nuggets with meat-free equivalents.

Cleo appears to be picking up important values from her parents. David, who co-produced "That's Harassment," remembered Cleo being bullied at school and how he taught her to stand up for herself and be confident.

What Is Zoë Buckman and David Schwimmer's Relationship like Now?

In 2020, David opened up about his divorce from Zoë, calling it "heartbreaking" because he had hoped their marriage would last. The former couple remained friends even after they parted ways.

He also spoke about how they were when they started co-parenting their daughter. During the first year and a half since their divorce, David said he was primarily concerned about how their daughter would adjust to their new reality.

Despite their challenges at the start of their co-parenting journey, the exes successfully raised their daughter in a respectful, loving, caring, and flexible environment.

The acclaimed actor said Cleo now feels safe and happy. Meanwhile, co-parenting with her ex-husband, according to Zoë, was one of her "life's privileges," and he provided beautiful experiences for their daughter.

David has remained private about his dating life since the divorce. However, he was reported in 2019 that he had "a few dates" with Katie Markowitz, the woman he met at a bar. Markowitz, for her part, denied dating the actor.

David, who has worked in the entertainment industry for more than forty years, said becoming a father has completely changed him for the better and that Cleo Buckman Schwimmer is his "number one priority."

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