John Hannah’s wife is Joanna Roth, a British actress known for her work in film, television and theatre. The couple married on January 20, 1996, after meeting while working on a stage production at London’s National Theatre. They have twins, a son named Gabriel and a daughter named Astrid, who were born in February 2004. In a 2014 interview with The Guardian, Hannah spoke candidly about the challenges of marriage, parenthood and maintaining a relationship while both partners pursue acting careers.
Who Is John Hannah’s Wife?
John Hannah’s wife is actress Joanna Roth, his longtime partner and fellow performer. Best known internationally for playing Jonathan Carnahan in The Mummy film series and Matthew in Four Weddings and a Funeral, the Scottish actor has built a career spanning film, television and theatre. Away from the screen, his marriage to Roth has been an important part of his personal story.
The couple married on January 20, 1996, after meeting through their work in theatre. They later became parents to twins, Gabriel and Astrid, born on February 11, 2004, according to biographical records.
Their relationship has attracted interest because both are professional actors who have had to balance demanding careers with family life. In a 2014 interview with The Guardian, Hannah discussed the realities of marriage, the difficulties couples can experience and how becoming a parent changes a person’s priorities. His comments offered a more personal picture of their relationship than the usual celebrity biography.
Here is what is publicly known about Joanna Roth, the couple’s wedding, their children and the story of how their relationship developed.
Who Is Joanna Roth?
Joanna Roth is a film, television and theatre actress whose professional work includes British drama productions and internationally released films. She is also known as the wife of Scottish actor John Hannah.
Roth has maintained a professional identity of her own rather than being known exclusively through her marriage. Her acting credits include both period films and contemporary television dramas, as well as stage productions.
Entertainment industry biographies identify her as a Danish-British actress who trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), one of the United Kingdom’s established drama schools.
Joanna Roth’s Early Life and Acting Background
Public biographical listings give Roth’s birth name as Joanna Angelis and identify Aarhus, Denmark, as her birthplace. She is generally described in entertainment profiles as Danish-British.
Detailed information about her childhood, private family background and early personal life is limited in widely available public sources. It is therefore better to distinguish verified professional information from biographical details that have not been independently established.
Her career, however, provides a clear picture of her work as a performer. Roth has appeared in film, television and theatre, taking on roles in productions ranging from literary adaptations to police dramas.
Joanna Roth’s Movies and Television Shows
Roth’s screen credits include several recognisable productions.
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (1990)
One of Roth’s early film credits. The movie adapts Tom Stoppard’s play, which reimagines Shakespeare’s Hamlet from the perspective of two minor characters.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994)
Roth appeared in Kenneth Branagh’s film adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic Gothic novel.
Sliding Doors (1998)
This romantic drama, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and John Hannah, explores how a small change in circumstances can lead to different possible lives. Roth also appears in the film.
New Street Law (2006–2007)
Roth appeared in this BBC legal drama, which follows lawyers and courtroom disputes.
Endeavour (2016)
Roth also appeared in the British detective drama, which follows the early career of Endeavour Morse.
These credits are documented in professional acting profiles and entertainment databases. Roth has also appeared in productions such as Rebus, Spooks, Midsomer Murders, The Widower and In Plain Sight.
Her stage work is another important part of her career. Theatre credits include productions associated with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Court Theatre and London’s Bush Theatre. This background reflects a career that extends beyond film appearances.
How Did John Hannah and Joanna Roth Meet?
John Hannah and Joanna Roth met through theatre work, several years before their marriage. Hannah explained in interviews that they first encountered one another while working on a production of Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure at the National Theatre in London.
The meeting took place before Hannah became widely recognised for his film work. At that point, both were actors building their professional careers, and their connection developed outside the heightened attention that can accompany international film success.
Their shared profession likely gave them a practical understanding of the demands of acting, including rehearsals, travel, irregular working hours and periods spent away on location. However, it would be speculation to claim that their careers alone explain why the relationship endured.
A Relationship That Began Before Major Fame
Hannah’s career gained considerable attention following his appearance as Matthew in the 1994 romantic comedy Four Weddings and a Funeral. His performance, particularly a funeral scene involving W. H. Auden’s poem “Funeral Blues,” helped make him familiar to a wider audience.
He subsequently appeared in Sliding Doors and the Mummy films, among other projects.
Roth had her own acting career before and during this period. Their relationship therefore began before Hannah became internationally famous and continued as both actors pursued professional opportunities.
That timeline is an important part of their story: their marriage was not a relationship that began after his Hollywood success.
When Did John Hannah and Joanna Roth Get Married?
John Hannah and Joanna Roth married on January 20, 1996. The date is listed in Hannah’s biographical record and in entertainment databases.
Their wedding took place after several years of knowing one another. In 2026, the couple’s marriage has reached its 30th anniversary.
What Is Known About Their Wedding?
Public information about the wedding is relatively limited. The date is well documented, but there is no strong, consistently verified public record providing a complete account of the ceremony, guest list, venue or wedding-day arrangements.
Hannah has, however, spoken about the way he viewed marriage.
In an interview published in 1997, he described married life positively and explained that getting married had not been a calculated plan to have children. He recalled that the wedding was more about celebrating their relationship with a big party.
His remarks suggest that the wedding was meaningful to them as a commitment and celebration in its own right, rather than simply a step towards starting a family.
John Hannah’s Romantic Proposal Story
One of the most memorable details associated with the couple is the reported story of Hannah proposing to Roth by writing his proposal on a tablecloth at London’s Sri Siam restaurant.
The anecdote appears in the biography published on JohnHannah.net, which records details about his personal life and career.
The story is distinctive because it is informal rather than a conventional grand gesture. It also fits the lighthearted way Hannah has discussed parts of his relationship in interviews.
It is worth keeping the distinction clear: the proposal anecdote is reported in biographical material, while the marriage date is separately recorded in multiple biographical listings.
The Love Story of John Hannah and Joanna Roth
A celebrity relationship can be difficult to understand from public appearances alone. In Hannah and Roth’s case, interviews provide some insight into the work required to maintain a long-term partnership.
They Understand the Demands of Acting
Both Hannah and Roth have worked across theatre, film and television. Such careers can involve extended rehearsals, location filming and periods when one partner is working away from home.
Hannah discussed these difficulties in a 1998 interview reproduced on JohnHannah.net. He explained that the couple made an effort to see one another, including arranging to spend time together when one of them was working elsewhere.
That account offers a more realistic picture of their relationship than the assumption that a successful marriage means never being apart or facing disagreements.
Hannah Has Spoken About the Difficult Periods
In a 2014 interview with The Guardian, Hannah reflected on 18 years of marriage at that time.
He acknowledged that the relationship had experienced hardships, ups and downs, and periods when separation seemed possible. He also said that they had ultimately come through those experiences in a stronger position.
His comments are significant because they do not present a long marriage as effortless. Instead, they describe a relationship shaped by choices, difficulties and continued commitment.
The interview does not establish every private detail of their marriage, and neither partner’s personal life should be filled in with assumptions. What it does establish is that Hannah has publicly acknowledged the challenges of maintaining a lasting relationship.
Have John Hannah and Joanna Roth Worked Together?
Yes. The pair have shared professional projects, including the film Sliding Doors, the detective drama Rebus and the BBC legal drama New Street Law. Roth’s acting profiles also list work in theatre.
Working on the same productions can create opportunities to spend time together, although it does not necessarily make an acting career easier. The demands of a shared project can be substantial, and the couple’s interviews make clear that their schedules have sometimes required careful coordination.
Their joint credits are also a reminder that Roth is a working performer in her own right, not simply a figure in Hannah’s biography.
Who Are John Hannah and Joanna Roth’s Children?
John Hannah and Joanna Roth have two children: twins named Gabriel Hannah and Astrid Hannah. Their twins were born on February 11, 2004, according to biographical records.
The couple have generally kept their children’s lives away from the level of publicity surrounding their father’s acting career. Although Hannah has discussed parenthood in interviews, detailed information about the twins’ private lives is limited.
Gabriel Hannah
Gabriel is John Hannah and Joanna Roth’s son. He was born alongside his twin sister in February 2004.
Beyond his name and family relationship, there is limited reliable public information about Gabriel’s education, career plans or current activities. It would be inappropriate to assume that he intends to follow his parents into acting.
Astrid Hannah
Astrid is the couple’s daughter and Gabriel’s twin sister. She was also born on February 11, 2004.
Like her brother, Astrid has largely remained outside the public spotlight. The family has not made extensive personal details about the twins a central part of its public profile.
How Has Fatherhood Changed John Hannah?
Hannah has spoken openly about the effect of having children on his life.
In his 2014 Guardian interview, he explained that becoming a parent fundamentally changes the structure of everyday life. He described the challenges of raising twins while managing professional commitments and dealing with concerns about his ageing parents.
His comments offered a glimpse into the responsibilities behind his public career. They also showed that, for him, family life involves ordinary pressures as well as the opportunities that come with being a parent.
The interview is particularly useful because it provides Hannah’s own perspective instead of relying on speculation about his family.
John Hannah’s Career and Why He Became Famous
To understand the interest in John Hannah’s wife, it helps to understand the actor’s career and the roles that brought him international recognition.
John David Hannah was born on April 23, 1962, in East Kilbride, Scotland. Before becoming an actor, he trained and worked as an apprentice electrician. He later studied acting at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow.
His career developed through theatre and television before he gained wider recognition in film.
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Hannah played Matthew in the 1994 British romantic comedy Four Weddings and a Funeral, which became a defining role in his career.
His performance included a memorable funeral sequence that introduced many viewers to his emotional range. The film’s success helped establish him as a recognisable face in British cinema.
Sliding Doors
In Sliding Doors (1998), Hannah starred opposite Gwyneth Paltrow in a romantic drama exploring alternative paths a person’s life might take.
The film is also relevant to his personal story because Joanna Roth appeared in it as well. Their involvement in the same production demonstrates the overlap between their professional lives.
The Mummy Films
Hannah became particularly well known internationally for playing Jonathan Carnahan in The Mummy (1999) and returning to the role in later instalments.
His character’s humour and nervous energy provided comic relief in the action-adventure films. The franchise introduced his performances to audiences well beyond the United Kingdom.
Television and Later Work
Hannah has also built a substantial television career. His credits include McCallum, Rebus, Spartacus and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
His ability to move between comedy, crime drama, historical drama and fantasy has helped him sustain a varied career.
His professional biography is separate from his private life, but the two have sometimes intersected in interviews where he has discussed marriage, family responsibilities and the challenges of balancing work with time at home.
Joanna Roth’s Career Beyond Being John Hannah’s Wife
Although many online searches focus on the phrase “John Hannah wife,” Joanna Roth has an established acting career of her own.
Her professional credits cover film, television and theatre. She has appeared in adaptations of classic literature, crime dramas and contemporary television productions. Her work also includes voice acting.
Film and Television Roles
Roth’s screen credits include Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Sliding Doors and Snow White: A Tale of Terror.
Her television work includes appearances in Rebus, Spooks, Midsomer Murders, Endeavour and The Widower. These credits are documented in professional acting agency listings and entertainment databases.
Theatre Work
Theatre has been an important part of Roth’s career. Her listed credits include Romeo and Juliet, Phaedra’s Love, The Devil Is an Ass and A Bright Light Shining.
Her stage work demonstrates that her professional life extends beyond the screen and includes productions associated with established British theatre organisations.
Voice Acting
Roth has also worked in video games. Her credits include providing the voice of Aveline Vallen in Dragon Age II, released in 2011.
This part of her career is less likely to appear in general celebrity biographies, but it illustrates the variety of work she has undertaken.
Where Do John Hannah and Joanna Roth Live?
Hannah has been associated with London and the surrounding area in published biographical accounts. Older profiles have referred to the family living in Richmond, while other reports have described moves between locations.
However, older reporting should not automatically be treated as confirmation of the family’s present address. There is insufficient recent, authoritative information in the sources reviewed here to establish their exact current residence.
The couple have also kept much of their family life private. Their children’s present activities and other personal arrangements should not be inferred from older interviews.
For readers interested in their relationship, the more reliable public record concerns their marriage, children, acting careers and Hannah’s own comments about family life.
What Has John Hannah Said About Marriage and Family?
One of the strongest sources for understanding Hannah’s approach to marriage is his 2014 interview with The Guardian, published under the title John Hannah: My family values.
During that conversation, he reflected on the experience of being married to Roth and raising their twins. He acknowledged that relationships have difficult periods and explained that their marriage had endured a range of experiences.
Several themes emerge from his public comments.
- Commitment requires effort: Hannah has discussed the importance of making time for one another when acting work keeps partners apart.
- Marriage is not always straightforward: He has acknowledged difficulties rather than presenting their relationship as perfect.
- Parenthood changes priorities: He has described the fundamental changes that children bring to everyday life.
- Family responsibilities extend beyond children: He has also spoken about balancing parenting with concerns about his ageing parents.
These points are grounded in interviews rather than assumptions about what the couple do privately.
It is important, however, not to turn those comments into claims about their present relationship status or to suggest that older interviews reveal every aspect of their lives today.
Are John Hannah and Joanna Roth Still Married?
Public biographical sources identify Joanna Roth as Hannah’s wife and record their marriage in 1996. The sources reviewed for this article do not establish a separation or divorce
Their relationship has been documented over many years, including in interviews in which Hannah spoke about marriage and raising their children.
As of October 9, 2026, there is no verified announcement in the sources reviewed here indicating that the couple have divorced. This should be understood as a statement about the available public evidence, not proof of every aspect of their private circumstances.
Neither celebrity status nor a lack of frequent public appearances is sufficient evidence of a relationship change.
Why Their Relationship Continues to Interest Fans
Interest in John Hannah and Joanna Roth comes from several overlapping aspects of their story.
First, Hannah is associated with popular films that have remained familiar to audiences, particularly Four Weddings and a Funeral and The Mummy. Fans who discover or revisit these productions often want to know more about the actor behind the characters.
Second, Roth is an actress with a career spanning multiple forms of performance. Their shared profession provides an additional dimension to their relationship.
Third, the couple have been married since 1996 and have raised twins while navigating demanding acting careers. Hannah’s interviews about the practical challenges of family life give readers more context than a simple list of celebrity facts.
Their story is not necessarily remarkable because it is free from difficulty. Rather, the public record shows two performers who met through their profession, married before Hannah’s greatest international recognition and later spoke about the work involved in maintaining a family.
That is a more useful and balanced account than unverified claims about secret relationship problems or sensational stories about their private lives.
What Happens Next for John Hannah and Joanna Roth?
There is no confirmed new wedding, family announcement or relationship development identified in the sources reviewed for this article.
Both actors have professional histories that include film, television and theatre. Roth’s agency listings document a wide range of previous credits, while Hannah has continued to be associated with a varied screen career.
Any future acting projects, public appearances or personal announcements would need to be assessed using current, reliable sources.
For now, the established facts remain straightforward: John Hannah and Joanna Roth married in 1996, have twins named Gabriel and Astrid, and have spoken publicly about the challenges of balancing marriage, parenthood and acting.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is John Hannah’s wife?
John Hannah’s wife is Joanna Roth, a British actress known for her work in film, television and theatre. The couple married on January 20, 1996.
2. When did John Hannah marry Joanna Roth?
John Hannah and Joanna Roth married on January 20, 1996. Their marriage date appears in the actor’s biographical record and entertainment databases.
3. How did John Hannah meet his wife?
The couple met while working on a theatre production of Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure at London’s National Theatre. They knew each other before Hannah became widely recognised for his film roles.
4. Does John Hannah have children?
Yes. John Hannah and Joanna Roth have twins: a son named Gabriel Hannah and a daughter named Astrid Hannah. They were born on February 11, 2004, according to biographical records.
5. What does Joanna Roth do for a living?
Joanna Roth is an actress who has worked in film, television, theatre and video games. Her credits include Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Sliding Doors, Rebus and Dragon Age II.
6. Did John Hannah and Joanna Roth appear in the same films?
Yes. They both appeared in Sliding Doors (1998), and their professional credits also overlap in productions including Rebus and New Street Law.
7. Are John Hannah and Joanna Roth still together?
The available biographical sources continue to identify Roth as Hannah’s wife, and the sources reviewed do not establish a divorce. However, an absence of a public separation announcement does not independently confirm every detail of their current private relationship.
8. How old are John Hannah and Joanna Roth?
John Hannah was born on April 23, 1962. Public biographical sources generally list Joanna Roth as born in 1965, although some entertainment databases give differing birth-date details. As of October 9, 2026, Hannah is 64, while Roth is approximately 60 or 61, depending on her exact birth date.
9. Where did John Hannah propose to Joanna Roth?
Hannah’s online biographical record recounts a proposal at London’s Sri Siam restaurant, where he reportedly wrote his proposal on a tablecloth. The anecdote is documented in biographical material about the actor.
10. What has John Hannah said about his marriage?
In a 2014 interview with The Guardian, Hannah described the difficulties and ups and downs of a long-term relationship. He spoke about how he and Roth had experienced challenging periods and ultimately come through them.
