Wes Anderson's Wife — All about Juman Malouf and Their Relationship

From “The Grand Budapest Hotel” to “Moonrise Kingdom,” most movie buffs are familiar with one director’s signature whimsical, symmetrical style. But, Wes Anderson’s wife, Juman Malouf, is a work of art herself.

If anything touches on the essence of Wes Anderson and Juman Malouf’s decade-long relationship, it’s the name they chose for their daughter. Their child, born in 2016 and called Freya, was named after the protagonist in the revered 1940s film “The Mortal Storm.”

When the writer Malouf was just a child herself, and at only a few months old, her family made their way to Saudi Arabia from Lebanon, where she was born. This move was to escape the civil war in her origin country, and Malouf and her family ended up living in a diverse community of people from all around the globe.

Wes Anderson and Juman Malouf at the Private Opening of ‘Il Sarcofago di Spitzmaus e altri tesori’ exhibition on September 18, 2019 in Milan. | Source: Getty Images

Living in this community led to a deep interest in people who do not fit in, as she came across many different stories and cultures while living there. However, her family had to move again because of the political state in the country, landing in London as their next destination.

There, she became fascinated with the artistic side of the city, and she would go shopping with her mom. She began learning about high fashion and names such as Versace and Romeo Gigli. With a newborn affection for style, she began developing her aesthetic.

As she grew older, Malouf threw herself into her studies at Brown University, where she obtained a Bachelor in Fine Arts and Art History. She then attended Tisch School of Arts for Set and Costume Design, where she finished her Master’s degree.

Wes Anderson and Juman Malouf at the 14th Rome Film Festival on October 19, 2019 in Rome. | Source: Getty Images

WES ANDERSON AND HIS WIFE WORK TOGETHER

This educated artist lives a private life in Paris with her husband, who have collaborated on many projects Malouf was involved in his films, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” and the Roald Dahl adaptation and animation, “The Fantastic Mr. Fox.”

Sadly, he was unable to play any more roles in these quirky films when he died in 2019 because of complications connected to Alzheimer’s disease.

For “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Anderson’s wife drew character sketches of the cast, which were hung around the cast and crew’s hotel to create, what the director implied, a singular spirit or mood among everyone.

Wes Anderson and Juman Malouf on the street during Paris Fashion Week on October 1, 2018 in Paris. | Source: Getty Images

They also included these sketches n the illustrated screenplay of the film. For Fantastic Mr. Fox, Maloufplayed a minor character. She has also contributed to the gorgeous “Moonrise Kingdom.” She fashioned the covers for the books owned by the lead female protagonist Suzy Bishopl, all of which are close to the character’s heart.

“Moonrise Kingdom” was dedicated to Malouf, including a concealed nod to her Lebanese background: At Camp Ivanhoe, there is a sign that reads “Fort Lebanon.” Malouf, an ex-fashion designer, was also the costume and set for this film and “The Budapest Hotel.”

Wes Anderson, his wife Juman Malouf and Anna Wintour, at Prada Fall/Winter 2018 Womenswear Fashion Show on February 22, 2018 in Milan. | Source: Getty Images

WES ANDERSON’S WIFE JUMAN MALOUF’S DEBUT NOVEL

The Brown graduate’s debut illustrated kids novel was titled “The Trilogy of Two,” which August Sander and Charlotte Brontë inspired with a distinct Charles Dickenson feel, according to the author herself. The story follows two identical twins and orphans, Charlotte and Sonja, growing up in a traveling circus.

Their role in the carnival is to play music, which the twins discover has mystical and magical properties, brought about when they are engulfed in the tune. They decide to learn more about the origins of these strange powers and their roots.

Considering her traveled upbringing and the lost nature of the children in her book, Malouf’s statement, “It’s quite powerful to be from nowhere,” hits home.

Wes Anderson and Juman Malouf atthe opening of their joint exhibition “Spitzmaus Mummy in a Coffin and Other Treasures” in Vienna, Austria on November 5, 2018. | Source: Getty Images

WES ANDERSON AND JUMAN MALOUF’S ART EXHIBITION

Another creative endeavor that Malouf has taken with her husband was in Vienna in June 2017. It was a curated art exhibition held at Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum and called “Spitzmaus Mummy in a Coffin and Other Treasures.”

The exhibition consisted of a showcase arranged by the two artists that boasted over 400 articles from the museum’s many collections. While the two have a similar sense of taste, it appears that this collaboration and assembling the showcase was challenging for them.

The items included Old Master Paintings, Imperial Treasury, Coin Collections, and many antiquities from Rome, Greece, and Egypt. The show was a success.

Beyond his wife, and like many directors, Anderson has consistent collaborates and people who generally work with him. Thes individuals include Edward Norton, Jeff Goldblum, Billy Murray, Owen Wilson, and the late Seymour Cassel.

Wes Anderson and Seymour Cassel at the afterparty for the AFI FEST 2009 premiere of “Fantastic Mr. Fox” on October 30, 2009 in Los Angeles. | Source: Getty Images

The Anderson films he played in include “Rushmore,” “The Royal Tenenbaums,” and “The Life of Aquatic With Steve Zissou.” Sadly, he could not play any more roles in these quirky films when he died in 2019 because of complications connected to Alzheimer’s disease.

His other director of choice was John Cassavetes, who received an Oscar nomination in the late 1960s for his role in Cassavetes’ film “Faces.” The last film he was part of was the movie “Time Framed,” where he played a character called Boris Esla.

His daughters Lisa and Dilyn, his son Matt, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren survived him. Instead of flowers, the family asked fans to donate to The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

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