Strange things about Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy's marriage

Actors William H. Macy and Felicity Huffman have one of the longest marriages in Hollywood, clocking in at 21 years at the time of this writing. Macy once described the pair's seemingly blissful union as a "a fairytale," while Huffman said the actor gives her a "thrill every time [he] walk[s] through the door." Aww.

But while Macy and Huffman have painted a pretty picture for fans, their life together hasn't always been as smooth. The cracks first appeared when Huffman was indicted and arrested on fraud charges on March 12, 2019. In connection to a nationwide college bribery scam involving 50 people, prosecutors accused Huffman of paying $15,000 to an organization that allegedly helped the couple's older daughter cheat on her SAT exam. As for Macy? Although the actor allegedly participated in an in-person meeting, and a phone call about the supposed scam, according to court docs, he ultimately wasn't charged with a crime. 

Considering it's not every day that a couple is embroiled in a nationwide scandal, it's fair that some fans have questions about the real state of Macy and Huffman's marriage. Are they as happy and content as they portray to the world, or is there more to the story? We've dug up all of the juicy details for you in the strange things about Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy's marriage. Buckle up, folks.

Notes on a scandal

William H. Macy and Felicity Huffman's marriage was put to test in March 2019, when news of the nationwide college bribery scam broke. The couple reportedly struggled to deal with the fact that Huffman was indicted and arrested on fraud charges, a difficult situation for any partnership to weather.

"This situation has been very trying on Felicity and William's marriage," a source told Entertainment Tonight. "They love each other but they've been arguing a lot. Felicity and William have an incredibly strong marriage but this situation has put a tremendous amount of pressure on them."

Although it's understandable that this scandal has reportedly put a strain on the duo's marriage, it's a bit strange that they're in this predicament to begin with. Can you imagine, for instance, casually bringing up this subject in marriage counseling? Talk about an awkward situation. Luckily, there's a good chance the couple will weather this storm. A source told People in April 2019 that they remained "united" despite the less than ideal circumstances.

Macy was noticeably absent from this important day

After Felicity Huffman was arrested and indicted on fraud charges in connection to the nationwide college bribery scam, she appeared before a judge at a federal court in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 3, 2019. Huffman, along with other parents charged in the scandal, were questioned about "whether they understood the charge against them and the possible penalties it carries," according to The Los Angeles Times.

Noticeably absent from Huffman's big day was her husband, William H. Macy, who didn't come to the courthouse. Huffman's brother, Moore Huffman Jr., was the one who took Macy's place, holding his sister's hand as they made their way through throngs of photographers. 

We're not sure why Macy didn't attend the hearing, but we do find his absence somewhat odd. This court appearance was likely intense for Huffman, and there's a good chance she would have appreciated the public support from her hubby. Of course, it's possible Macy had a good reason not to be there — perhaps he was busy holding down the fort back in Los Angeles. Not to mention, Macy was present at Huffman's initial court appearance in Los Angeles on March 12, 2019. 

Telling silence from Macy?

Following Felicity Huffman's court appearance in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 3, 2019, she released a statement regarding her alleged involvement in the college admissions scandal. After admitting her "guilt" in the supposed scam, she apologized to those she might have hurt as a result of her actions. 

"I am ashamed of the pain I have caused my daughter, my family, my friends, my colleagues and the educational community," she said in part, according to CNN. "I want to apologize to them and, especially, I want to apologize to the students who work hard every day to get into college, and to their parents who make tremendous sacrifices to support their children and do so honestly."

We don't know about you guys, but we find it interesting that Huffman didn't specifically mention her husband in the statement. A bit curious, no? Not to mention, we think it's kind of strange that Macy didn't issue his own statement in support of his longtime wife. Although we understand that Macy probably wants to avoid further media scrutiny, you think he'd publicly have Huffman's back during this time. Silence speaks louder than words, as the old saying goes.

They weren't always on the same page

Not many people might know that William H. Macy and Felicity Huffman's road to romance was long and rocky. The back-and-forth started when Huffman began a "campaign" to win Macy's heart after their first meeting in the 1980s. "I think I had to talk him into it for a while. I went on a campaign," she joked to the Daily Mail. "He was certainly worth it." Ah, what's more romantic than convincing your partner to go on a date with you? Swoon.

What's especially strange about this cat and mouse game? After Huffman wooed Macy, she avoided marrying him like the plague, despite a 15-year long romance. "I was so scared of marriage that I thought I would've preferred to step in front of a bus," the actress told the Tribune-Review in February 2015. Uh-oh.

We guess Macy didn't enjoy waiting around for Huffman because the two broke up for "four or five" years before heating up again. And during these years, Macy proposed to his lady love at least several times. Talk about persistence. The actors hard work, however, finally paid off. "Bill Macy asked me to marry him several times over several years," Huffman told the Tribune-Review about the moment she succumbed to Macy. "And I was finally smart enough to go: 'I'm going to marry this guy or really lose him for good.'" 

Hmm. The pair's past makes you wonder whether they're really on the same page.

Awkward marriage advice, much?

It's not uncommon for long term relationships to go through ups and downs, especially in terms of keeping things spicy. And while there are plenty of ways to spruce up a marriage, we won't be taking William H. Macy's interesting advice anytime soon. When Macy was asked about how he maintains the spark in his union with Felicity Huffman, he curiously advised fans to "just pretend." Say what now, sir?

"Just act like you love her more than anybody you've ever seen in your life, and you'll get it back in spades. Just pretend," he told People in January 2012. "You have to pretend. Make it up, just make it up!" Eek.

We'll give Macy the benefit of the doubt here and assume he was joking. It's also possible that the Shameless star was speaking from an actor's perspective, which could explain the tinge of weirdness to his marriage advice.

All work and no play

Similarly to many acting couples out there, work plays a big role in William H. Macy and Felicity Huffman's marriage. But is it possible that the duo's professional lives overshadow their romantic one? There's a chance that this is the case, as evidenced by a quote Macy gave during a January 2019 interview with TODAY.

"We talk about showbiz a lot. We give each other notes. It's not something everyone should try," he admitted to TODAY's Willie Geist. "She can be tough, and I can be tough, too, but we met in the theater and that's really at the core of our relationship."

Maybe it's just us, but this quote doesn't leave us feeling warm and fuzzy. Although everyone is entitled to their own preferences, we wonder whether a romantic relationship can survive if its rooted in work. That being said, the two are also very supportive of one another.

"I am very calm and supportive, as are you, I have to say," Huffman told Macy during an appearance on the  2018 SAG Awards' red carpet, to which he responded, according to People, "It's always been that way with us. She's never wanted anything for me but good things. I'm a lucky guy."

Is Macy too controlling with Huffman's looks?

It's no secret that celebrities, especially where it concerns female actors, face pressure to maintain their looks. Felicity Huffman is no exception to this rule, as she has admittedly considered plastic surgery throughout the years. But unfortunately for Huffman, she has one person standing in her way — her husband, William H. Macy. "I am all for plastic surgery, I can't wait to get my face lifted but my husband says, 'No, don't do it,'" she confessed to the Daily Mail.

We got to admit, it's a little bizarre that Macy feels compelled to tell Huffman what she should or shouldn't do with her body. On the other hand, it probably comes from a good place — it's clear the actor thinks she's beautiful as she is.

Furthermore, Huffman also recognizes the possible perils of plastic surgery. "I think if it makes you feel better, go for it, but it would be nice if it looked good," she explained. There are a lot of people out there who are disasters and you think, 'Why did you do that?' and I do think it's a slippery slope. Like cola and crisps, it's addictive — you can't have just one face-lift."

Moral of the story? Do what's right for you.