Ted Danson Reflects on On-Screen Romance

Ted Danson has shared some insights about the challenges of portraying romance on screen, especially when it’s less than glamorous.

Danson and his wife, Mary Steenburgen, discussed their experiences in Season 2 of *A Man on the Inside*. During the conversation, they were asked whether their long relationship, which spans over 30 years, makes it easier or harder to play love interests. Danson replied, “I’m not into love scenes with strangers, actors, so it’s easy for me.”

A host chimed in, teasing, “You’re right, sitting next to your wife,” but Danson made it clear he didn’t think it was as easy as it appeared. He elaborated, saying it feels awkward and wrong to have such intimate scenes, but Steenburgen provided some light-hearted banter about the situation.

She laughed, “Look, I’m not — I’m not, but anyway.” Danson playfully covered his ears, joking about his wife’s teasing. Their conversation was filled with humorous exchanges, making the atmosphere light despite the topic.

Danson acknowledged that their relationship does help ease some of the challenges. He said he feels comfortable showing affection on set because of their deep bond. “I completely give permission, because she knows that I love her and that we are a couple,” he said.

Steenburgen elaborated on the unique challenge of portraying their relationship. She noted that typically, actors meet for the first time before acting out romantic scenes. In their case, they were already familiar with each other, which meant they had to open up in a different way.

They also mentioned rituals they engage in before filming, influenced by legendary acting coach Sanford Meisner. Steenburgen explained that they say his name right before a scene to connect more deeply, which seems to work for them.

Reflecting on how their relationship began, they shared that they first met in 1983 and married in 1995. Both have children from previous marriages, which adds another layer to their dynamic.

Interestingly, Steenburgen initially had a misconception about Danson, thinking he was just a charming ladies’ man like his character from *Cheers*. Yet, she soon realized how inaccurate that impression was, humorously stating, “Smart men don’t say ‘f— you’ after making love. I want to apologize to my granddaughters.”