Christine Taylor reveals COVID-19 pandemic gave her marriage to Ben Stiller a second chance

• Christine Taylor says the COVID-19 pandemic was the "little gift" that saved her marriage to Ben Stiller
• The couple separated in 2017 after 17 years of marriage before reconciling during lockdown
• Taylor credited time spent together as a family and work with a therapist for their reunion

Christine Taylor has opened up about how the COVID-19 pandemic played an unexpected role in saving her marriage to actor Ben Stiller, more than seven years after the couple announced their separation.

A silver lining during lockdown

Speaking on Tuesday's episode of the McBride Rewind podcast, Taylor, 54, reflected warmly on the period of enforced togetherness that ultimately brought the couple back to one another.

"If there's a silver lining for us during Covid, that was the little gift," she said. "We all kind of bubbled up together with our kids. Our daughter was graduating high school at the time, our son was graduating eighth grade. We all were in the house together and we had nothing but time."

Stiller and Taylor are parents to two children: Ella, 24, and Quinlin, 20.

Finding the way back with therapy

Taylor told the host that she and the Night at the Museum star devoted considerable time to working on their relationship with the help of a therapist, which she credits as central to their reconciliation.

"I think it's something people don't love to talk about because it feels like a failure," she acknowledged.

She also reflected on the reasons behind their original split, saying they "weren't on the same page with a lot of things" at the time.

The 2017 separation

The couple had announced their split in May 2017 after 17 years of marriage, releasing a joint statement that read: "With tremendous love and respect for each other, and the 18 years we spent together as a couple, we have made the decision to separate."

"Our priority will continue to be raising our children as devoted parents and the closest of friends. We kindly ask that the media respect our privacy at this time," the statement concluded.

Taylor and Stiller had married in 2000 and welcomed their two children before announcing their separation.

Stiller confirms the reconciliation

The reunion proved lasting. Stiller subsequently confirmed that the pair had rekindled their romance in a 2022 interview with Esquire.

"We were separated and got back together and we're happy about that. It's been really wonderful for all of us. Unexpected, and one of the things that came out of the pandemic," he told the outlet.