Kevin Smith Credits Chasing Amy 'Muse' Joey Lauren Adams for His 25-Year Marriage

Kevin Smith, the acclaimed filmmaker, reflects on his former relationship with Joey Lauren Adams. This connection shaped who he is today, long after their breakup.

The two met during the filming of Smith's movie "Mallrats" in 1995. Their collaboration continued with "Chasing Amy" in 1997, where Adams took the lead role beside Ben Affleck. Adams and Affleck later reprised their roles in the 2019 film "Jay and Silent Bob Reboot."

Smith, now 54, referred to Adams, 56, as his "muse" during an interview in the documentary "Chasing Chasing Amy" by filmmaker Sav Rodgers. Despite their brief romance, which ended by July 1997, Smith claims it heavily influenced his life. He states, "I became the person that I became for the rest of my life because of that relationship. I never went back to being the other guy."

The impact of his time with Adams extended into his future marriage. Smith met Jennifer Schwalbach Smith in February 1998, marrying her a little over a year later. "There's no way I would be in a marriage that has lasted 20 years if I didn't meet Joey and she didn't shape me," he shared.

Smith and Jennifer, aged 53, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this past April. They have one daughter together, 25-year-old Harley Quinn Smith, who arrived two months after their wedding.

When asked by PEOPLE in September about the secret to their long-lasting marriage, Smith noted, "My first instinct is, well, there've been no rules, and that's probably why it's worked so well for 25 years."

He expressed gratitude for Jennifer's support across the years, mentioning his frequent travel for work. "She's been there shotgun through 25 years of this, and she's always been gracious about taking a back seat to it," he explained. He acknowledged the challenges of being married to an artist and stated, "I can't speak for her, but I just like seeing her. I just like being around her. She's my human."

"Chasing Chasing Amy," which debuted at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival, is currently in select theaters.

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