Actor Kevin Costner reveals the qualities he seeks in a romantic partner following the end of his 18-year marriage to Christine Baumgartner. Costner emphasizes the importance of feeling loved and supported within a relationship.
Kevin Costner has been on a journey of self-discovery and reflection following the end of his marriage to Christine Baumgartner. Amidst the turmoil of a divorce battle, the 69-year-old actor has come to a deeper understanding of what he seeks in a romantic partner.
In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Costner opened up about his personal life and the qualities he considers essential for a fulfilling relationship.
Kevin Costner on What He Looks for in a Romantic Partner: "A Person Who Wants to Be Loved
"I had two unique relationships," Costner confessed, reflecting on his previous marriages to Cindy Silva and Christine Baumgartner. "A person who wants to be loved, and they want to be, you know … feel like they're at their very best. And that love helps that and doesn't hinder it."
Costner's first marriage, to Cindy Silva, lasted 16 years and produced three children. However, their divorce in 1994 was highly publicized, with Silva reportedly receiving an $80 million settlement, making it one of the most expensive celebrity divorces of the time.
Kevin Costner on What He Looks for in a Romantic Partner: "A Person Who Wants to Be Loved
"My faith was shaken," Costner recalled of his divorce in a 2012 interview with The Hollywood Reporter. "No one wants their marriage to end, and it did. You are going to see the people you love most, your children, only half as much. That’s a huge loss."
After his divorce from Silva, Costner had a son with former partner Bridget Rooney. He later met and married Christine Baumgartner in 2004, and they had three children together. However, their marriage ended in a divorce that was finalized in February 2024.
Kevin Costner on What He Looks for in a Romantic Partner: "A Person Who Wants to Be Loved
Despite the challenges, Costner remains optimistic about finding love again. "A person who wants to be loved, and they want to be, you know … feel like they're at their very best. And that love helps that and doesn't hinder it," he reiterated.
Earlier this year, Costner sparked dating rumors with singer Jewel after they were spotted together on the British Virgin Islands. However, during an appearance on "The Howard Stern Show," Costner clarified that they had never been romantically involved and emphasized the value of their friendship.
Kevin Costner on What He Looks for in a Romantic Partner: "A Person Who Wants to Be Loved
"We were down at [Richard] Branson's island. She has a foundation, which I didn't know, and she was part of the foundation. And Richard Branson has been asking me for years to come down to Necker Island, and so I finally did," Costner explained. "I'm divorced all of a sudden. I'm a single father, and he's asked me for, you know, 10 years to come down there. I said, ‘I guess I'll go down.'"
Costner added, "I got on a plane with nine people. Jewel was one of them. Emma Watson was one of them. She was somebody I just had some tremendous conversations with along with Emma. The rumor was, I went down on a private plane with her and I went back on a private plane with her."
Kevin Costner on What He Looks for in a Romantic Partner: "A Person Who Wants to Be Loved
"I was on with nine people and, and I don't want the press to ruin this for us, because … I've had conversations with her, text-wise, and she's so smart, and she's been through a lot herself, and so we have a friendship. We don't have a romance, and we've not dated."
With the conclusion of "Yellowstone," Costner has dedicated his time to his passion project, "Horizon: An American Saga." The film, which he directed and co-wrote, explores the history of the American West and features an ensemble cast that includes Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, and Costner's son, Hayes.
Kevin Costner on What He Looks for in a Romantic Partner: "A Person Who Wants to Be Loved
Working with Hayes on set was a particularly special experience for Costner. "That he did it, that he was good in it, that he listened, that he was worried, that he cared … I'm just so happy that he has that now the rest of his life," Costner told Fox News Digital. "I haven't pushed my children into this, and this might be his only dabble in it, but he's memorable. And for me to have him, I'll never forget it."
Costner's Western saga debuts in theaters on June 28th. The second part of the epic will be released just 49 days later, on August 16th.
Through his partnership with FOX Nation, Costner is set to release a new project in 2025 for the platform and previously hosted "Yellowstone: One Fifty," a series that delves into the origins of the national park.
