Ed Burns believes his «two-week rule» with Christy Turlington is the secret behind their lasting marriage.
Ed Burns believes his “two-week rule” with Christy Turlington is the secret behind their lasting marriage.
The actor and filmmaker has been busy bringing “The Family McMullen” — the sequel to his 1995 hit “The Brothers McMullen” — to life. Yet, the 57-year-old told Fox News Digital that no matter how hectic life gets, he and his supermodel spouse vowed early on never to let more than two weeks pass without being together.
Burns and Turlington, who tied the knot in 2003, share two children: 22-year-old Grace McKenna and 19-year-old Finn.
“My wife and I, very early on, had an agreement, because our respective jobs do require a bit of travel,” said Burns. “We had a two-week rule where neither one of us was allowed to be gone for more than two weeks at a time. And a lot of times, we had to look at our calendars and sometimes say no to a particular job that would require travel that might have us gone for a longer period of time.”
“Now that we’re empty nesters, we don’t have to stick to that in the same way,” he said. “But we still try not to do jobs that will have us away from one another for too long.”
“The Family McMullen” chronicles the love, humor, and challenges that keep a family together in a Brooklyn setting. For Burns, the most powerful lesson about partnership — the one that guides his storytelling — is, at its core, surprisingly simple.
“It’s sort of a cliché answer, I guess, but I think [having] open lines of communication [is key],” he said. “Whether it’s between husband and wife, parents and their kids, or siblings — those are all things we explore in ‘The Family McMullen.’ And keeping a sense of humor even when things get tough with family.”
Burns’ first film followed his character, Barry, and his brothers as they navigated life after their father’s death. “The Family McMullen” chronicles Barry’s grown kids as they move back home.
“I did not draw from my own life and kids, and I never do that really with my work,” Burns explained.
