You may recognize Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, the beloved leader of AMC’s The Walking Dead. But did you know that behind the scenes, he’s also a proud father and a devoted family man?
Andrew Lincoln gained fame and recognition mainly for his role in The Walking Dead. But surprisingly, in 2018, the British actor decided to quit the series that made him famous as he wanted to spend more time with his family.
This makes us wonder: who’s Andrew Lincoln’s wife, Gael Anderson? How did he form an unbreakable bond with her that lasted for almost two decades?
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at Andrew Lincoln’s wife, Gael Anderson.
Who’s Gael Anderson?
You might know Gael Anderson as the wife of The Walking Dead actor Andrew Lincoln. But if you’re a die-hard fan of TV series, you would know that Gael Anderson is a British actress who took part in various movies and series.
Gael Anderson isn’t your average girl next door either. She leads an interesting life on her own. Born on January 1, 1970, in the United Kingdom, she comes from an artistic and creative family.
Her father, Ian Anderson, is a notorious figure in rock music. He’s not only the frontman of the rock band Jethro Tull, but is also known as the man who introduced the flute to rock music. Gael’s mother, on the other hand, is Shona Learoyd.
Even though she leads a private life, Shona was once described by the Rolling Stones magazine as the beautiful daughter of a wealthy wool manufacturer.
Gael’s brother, James Duncan Anderson, is also involved in the rock world and works as his father’s agent and co-manager.
Growing up surrounded by art and creativity must be fascinating, right? Let’s learn more about how Gael Anderson became famous.
Education and Career
Gael Anderson joined Downe House School, a selective independent girls’ boarding and day school in Berkshire, England.
Most of Gael Anderson’s work was as a crew member behind the scenes, but we found out that she actually started her career on-screen!
Gael kickstarted her acting career with a brief role in a movie called “Gone Up North for a While.”
Later, in 1975, she portrayed the character of Elizabeth in the drama movie “Landfall.” Gael continued her run in acting by playing the role of a policewoman in a movie inspired by Ian’s Cross novel, “The God Boy.”
You may not have seen any of these movies before, and that’s probably why you only recognize Gael Anderson as Andrew Lincoln’s wife. After all, her run into acting wasn’t that successful, so she decided to shift her work to behind-the-scenes.
In 2001, Anderson served as the floor runner for the comedy-drama series “Teachers.” Does the name ring any bells? Yes, it starred Andrew Lincoln.
This leads us to how the couple met and fell in love. Let’s check it out.
Relationship with Andrew Lincoln
Despite her few acting roles, Gael Anderson wasn’t that famous in Hollywood. Even Andrew Lincoln didn’t know who she was before he met her.
In a discussion with The Scotsman, the Walking Dead star opened up about the first time he laid his eyes on the love of his life, Gael Anderson.
In 2001, the couple’s love story began on the set of the British TV series, “Teachers.” Andrew Lincon was taking center stage as the lead actor. Meanwhile, Gael Anderson was the director’s right hand.
Lincoln says he was instantly captivated by Gael when he first laid his eyes on her. Because Gael was rocking a unique mullet with spiky hair, Lincoln once described her as Sonic the Hedgehog.
But beneath the spiky hair, Gael’s stunning green eyes made Lincoln go like: “Who on earth is that girl?”
The Walking Dead star shot his shot when Gael was serving tea to other crew members. The couple started communicating and formed an instantaneous bond. They fell head over heels for each other instantly!
Lincoln and Anderson started dating, but they took their time though. They spent four years with each other before tying the knot in June 2006. After 17 years together, the couple’s bond remained as strong as ever.
What about their children, you wonder?
Gael Anderson’s Children
Gael Anderson and Andrew Lincoln’s relationship didn’t take a pause after marriage. The couple quickly started their next chapter together as they were eager to grow their family. Nine months after exchanging vows, in 2007, the couple welcomed their first child, Matilda Clutterbuck.
Three years later, the family expanded with the arrival of a little boy named Arthur Clutterbuck. This makes Matilda, 16, and Arthur, 13, as of 2023.
And that’s all we know about Gael Anderson’s children.
Andrew and Gael seem to be committed to protecting their children’s privacy. You can find a lot of shots of the children with their parents during outings, but the couple prefers to keep their children away from the limelight.
The Walking Dead star has always expressed that he prioritizes his family. Did you know that he ultimately quit The Walking Dead to spend more time with his wife and children?
Andrew Lincoln Leaving The Walking Dead
In 2018, Andrew Lincoln decided to quit his most successful TV show, The Walking Dead, during the ninth season. But why, you wonder?
It was all about family. Lincoln is a UK resident, and his wife and children reside there. Meanwhile, the production of The Walking Dead took place in Atlanta.
Lincoln once mentioned that having two children who live in a different country is difficult – as they get older, they get less portable. So, the only solution for Lincoln was to quit The Walking Dead and go back home to spend more time with the family.
Final Words
That’s everything you need to know about the woman behind one of the most iconic television characters. Gael Anderson may be only famous for being Andrew Lincoln’s wife. Nonetheless, she comes from an artistic family herself, as her dad, Ian Anderson, is a rock music icon.
Gael Anderson kick started her career on-screen when she had various roles in movies such as Gone Up North for a While, Landfall, and The God Boy. But after her short acting career, Gael shifted to working behind the scenes.
She met Andrew Lincoln on the set of the British TV series “The Teachers,” and they eventually got married in 2006. The rest is, as they say, history!
