Can you believe that it’s already been four months since George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin got married? I cannot. It seems like I just figured out how to spell Amal’s maiden name, and she’s already changed it. Well four months is long for Clooney to be married, but relatively short in the scheme of some things, like engagements. Wedding guests Ellen Barkin, a friend and co-star of the groom, and Ben Emmerson, a friend and colleague of the bride, made a love match at the reception and are reportedly already engaged.
I’m surprised that Barkin, 60, is allegedly engaged again. No shade on her age at all, it’s just that I still remember how she sold all her jewelry after her high profile divorce from billionaire Ron Perelman in 2006. She made around $20 million for her jewels, and said that she sold them “so I — and my children and my mother — would be taken care of.” It was unknown if she made any kind of settlement in her divorce. After that she scored Oceans 13 and a bunch of other acting gigs. Plus Barkin was dating a much younger man for years. In 2011 she had a boyfriend who was just 26 at the time and she had reportedly been with him for four years at that point. So that’s another reason why I’m surprised.
Here’s more on Barkin’s maybe-engagement, thanks to US Magazine:
Ellen Barkin has found love again — and she has George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin to thank. The Sea of Love star is engaged to Alamuddin’s colleague, British barrister and Queen’s counsel Ben Emmerson, a source reveals exclusively to Us Weekly.
“She is so happy and in love again,” the source confirms to Us, adding that the actress and lawyer got engaged over the holidays, after meeting at Alamuddin and Clooney’s September 2014 nuptials.
“Ellen met him at George and Amal’s wedding and they totally hit it off,” the insider explains. “It happened quickly but she’s totally fallen for him and flies to see him all the time.”Aside from intelligence — Emmerson specializes in human rights law, public international law, and international crime law, among a bevy of other accolades — the source tells Us that Barkin, 60, fell in love with the 51-year-old’s charm.
“He is really handsome and smart and charming and swept her off her feet,” the insider says.
As for their celeb BFFs Clooney and Alamuddin? The insider says they couldn’t be happier for their friends.
“George and Amal love them together! They both love Ellen and Ben so they think this is so great and love that they made a great match happen,” the source says.
Human rights lawyers for all the celebrities! Emmerson’s career is impressive. I wish Barkin well for her third marriage. (She was also married to actor Gabriel Byrne from 1988 to 1998.) Maybe she should enjoy her engagement and not rush to make it official after less than a year with someone. Especially when they’re living in different countries. Still, this guy seems much more suited to her than her last boyfriend, a director who was over 30 years younger than her.
After I wrote this story, Kaiser pointed me to E!, which has a denial from Emmerson’s camp. All the statement says is that “Mr. Emmerson is not engaged to Ellen Barkin.” So, maybe they’re dating and not engaged then? It’s bizarre, because US Magazine would not have run this story without a solid source. They’re usually very good about that.
I couldn’t find any photos of Emmerson at our agencies, but you can see a photo of him on US’s site.
photo credit: WENN.com
Ellen Barkin has seemingly morphed into a NY society lady, who marries well, multiple times, as is expected. I haven’t thought about her acting in a while. But I did catch her in Diner, since it was practically running on loop last month on VH1. it was a ‘softer’ role than I ever recall her playing.
That lawyer must have been lonely and desperate for a long time. Another “arranged” marriage will be on the horizon. Congrats.
People can put down Hollywood, but it’s obviously impressing those British Lawyers. LOL.
Ellen is still gorgeous, but What has Ellen done to her face it looks like Wax.
They don’t get bigger than Ben Emmerson in British legal circles. That’s all I’ve got.
Super-duper Posh pedigree?
Really? I clicked on the link of his picture and the backdrop is the UN logo (looks like he’s speaking at a panel of some sort). His Wikipedia page says he’s litigated in everything from the ICJ, ICC, Strasbourg, to the ICTY (and I can barely speak up at a closed meeting without stammering. LOL).
Congratulations to both.
I’m jealous. I wish I were in love too.
She has great taste in eyeglasses. She should consider smiling once in a while bc she looks like she’s heavily sedated in most of these pics.
Heavily botoxed…hence the shined waxy skin, but still she looks like herself.
I haven’t much to say about this other than the fact that my beloved late father used to think that Ellen Barkin was the hottest chick on the planet.
I think she was in some racy flick on Encore, but I don’t remember what it was. I think she played tough characters a lot. It’s kind of sweet that you have that association with your dad.
It is. My Dad has been gone for 11 years now and I miss him more than words can describe. He was my advice guru. But it’s funny the things you remember…. his Top Three Hot Chicks list were: Ellen Barkin, Stevie Nicks and Lauren Bacall. 🙂
My brothers use to drool over Ellen Barkin.
Congratulations to her.
So , are those British Barrister’s suddenly becoming dazzled by Hollywood Stars?
🙂
I wish her well.
Me, too. I imagine she’s smart, sensitive and has a wild sense of humor, and this may be just what he needs at this point in his life. Hope he’s Ellen’s Mr. Darcy.
The designation “Queen’s Counsel” does not mean that the lawyer is the Queen’s lawyer. It is a designation given to senior lawyers in Commonwealth countries in recognition of their contributions to the legal profession and their communities and to acknowledge their exemplary professional characters, integrity and reputations.
Thank you! I should have googled. I will remove that line, appreciate the clarification. 8)
I adore Ellen Barkin.
And her revlon ex-hubby treated her abominably in the divorce.
Fun, but horrid fact: Ellen’s divorce/jewellery sale was used as a storyline in the first SATC film.
Oh my gawwd. That’s hilarious! I loved that jewelry auction scene in SATC.
LOL
Ben Emmerson is a major name in UK and European legal circles – he is super-smart, and a brilliant advocate. My other half works in a leading London law firm, and for him Emmerson is the celeb in this story!
She actually got 20 million in her divorce, per the prenuptial agreement. The jewelry sale was in addition to that. And yes, the Revlon guy treated her like garbage. He had his assistant announce the divorce to her, and I believe had security kick her and her kids out of the house or something equally appalling. He has a reputation for this, and I wonder why s h e ever married him.
I wonder too. Especially after the very high profile dbag way he handled the divorce from the wife before her.
I worked for one of Perleman’s holdings in the 80s. He’s a tyrant. Can’t imagine having to listen to that shiz on a daily basis.
Ron Perleman, controlling, hot-head. Married 5 times.
His divorce from 3rd wife, Patricia Duff, was beyond nasty. She managed to get 30 million but lost custody of her daughter to him.
And yes, he had guards standing over Ellen as she packed. Tyrant, indeed.
http://nymag.com/relationships/features/16463/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2124660/Revlon-cosmetic-tycoon-Ronald-Perelman-68-father-child-number-wife-number-five.html
Her makeup is way to shiny. She needs to blend in some of that matte primer stuff.
I think it’s more procedures, rather than make-up?
That’s Botox, that’s what constant botoxing does, it makes the skin shines and Waxy looking.
She is botoxed all over her entire face.
She had way more wrinkles in the Vegas movie she did with Clooney,Damon,Pacino.
Well, when I marry MY rich English Human Rights lawyer, I’m just having a simple home ceremony in the back yard botanical garden of his massive estate. No fuss.
Ach. Shiny.
lol
“I can see my face!”
So I guess those British Lawyer’s are falling in love with Hollywood and Quick Romances too.
That is one hot/cool lady. Always liked her.
I’ve always thought that she had something super sexy about her. Even with her waxy botox.