Jodie Turner-Smith has opened up about her feelings regarding her ex-husband Joshua Jackson’s new relationship with Lupita Nyong’o. The Queen & Slim actress, who separated from Jackson in 2023 after four years of marriage, shared her thoughts in a recent interview with The Cut.
“Good for them,” Jodie expressed, emphasizing the importance of happiness for effective co-parenting. She added, “We need happiness in order to peacefully co-parent.” Jodie and Joshua, who are parents to their 4-year-old daughter Juno, are navigating this new chapter with a focus on maintaining a positive environment for their child.
Jodie humorously mentioned her aspiration to reach the amicable co-parenting level of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. “I’m trying to get us to the Gwyneth and Chris Martin level,” she joked, before sincerely wishing Joshua and Lupita well. “I truly hope they’re happy and that it benefits us as a family.”
The actress highlighted that her primary concern is ensuring a stable and loving environment for Juno. “I just have to do everything that I can to set Juno up to win,” she said, “and to peacefully co-parent with someone whom I once loved very, very much.”
Joshua Jackson and Lupita Nyong’o first sparked romance rumors in October of the previous year when they were seen together at a Janelle Monae concert. Their relationship seemed to be confirmed in March when they were spotted displaying affection in Mexico during Lupita’s birthday celebration. An eyewitness noted, “They looked madly in love, like they just couldn’t get enough of one another.”
Since her split from Joshua, Jodie has been focusing on her career and life as a single mother. She has been involved in various projects, including her new Star Wars show, The Acolyte. Reflecting on her journey in Hollywood, Jodie acknowledged the complexities of her high-profile relationship with Joshua, especially as it coincided with her rise in the industry.
Jodie recalled their red carpet debut at the premiere of Queen & Slim in 2019, a moment that was both significant and challenging for her. “It all came from a really innocent place,” she explained. “I didn’t understand how sinister that could end up being for me. It was taking away from a moment that I needed to have on my own.”
She shared that the public scrutiny of their relationship brought about painful conversations regarding her identity and choices. “It opened up a very painful conversation to the world about who I was with and how right or wrong it was to be with that person,” she said. “And when you’re pregnant, it’s like the most vulnerable time of your life.”
Since their separation, Jodie has been consciously seeking ways to start anew, both personally and professionally. She symbolized this fresh start with her Burberry gown at the 2024 Met Gala, describing it as a representation of rebirth and a recommitment to herself. “White, representing a rebirth. A clean start. A recommitment to the most important relationship I will ever have, the relationship from which all others grow: my relationship with myself,” she wrote on Instagram.
Jodie emphasized the importance of self-love and how it enables her to be a better mother to Juno. “It is through loving and honoring myself that I am able to love and honor my daughter, and teach her to do the same,” she added.
In her interview, Jodie also touched on the lessons she learned from her public relationship with Joshua. “When you’re in the public eye, a part of you belongs to the public. It stops being yours and becomes theirs too,” she said. “I didn’t have an accurate scope of understanding what it would mean to share my relationship with the public. It’s something I will never do again. Ever.”
Despite the end of their marriage, Jodie does not view her relationship with Joshua as a failure. “Sometimes things we really want to work just don’t end up working,” she told The Times. “And that’s OK. The most important thing is that you choose what’s healthiest for you and your family and definitely your children.”
As for Joshua and Lupita, their relationship continues to be a topic of interest. While neither has officially confirmed their romance, their public appearances and affectionate moments suggest a deep connection. Jodie, for her part, remains focused on fostering a positive co-parenting relationship with Joshua, hoping that their happiness will ultimately benefit their family.
