Madonna is currently dating a man 30 years her junior – Timor Steffens, aged 26, follows on from her two previous boyfriends, both also in their 20s. Susan Sarandon spent 23 years with Tim Robbins, a man 12 years her junior. Since they split up, the 67-year-old actress is said to be dating 36-year-old Jonathan Bricklin. Mariah Carey is 11 years older than her husband and Geena Davis 15 years older than hers. Australian actors Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness are famous for not just the longevity of their union (almost 20 years now) but also the 13 years she has over him. And new model mum Megan Gale, at 38, has over 12 years on her Aussie rules footballer partner Shaun Hampson.
No one would comment if the gender was reversed in these relationships because historically, women have tended to partner with older men. Demographer Bernard Salt describes this as "survival theory", explaining that men are seeking younger females to procreate with, while women are looking for a stable provider. "That's the basis of traditional relationships," he says.
First published in Sydney Morning Herald
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