David Oyelowo Opens Up About Falling In Love With His Wife At 19

Source: NICK AGRO / Getty

Award winning actor David Oyelowo is starring in a new suspense thriller called “Don’t Let Go” with Storm Reid that explores the complicated dynamics of family. But it appears in his personal life, the way he fell in love, married his wife, and built his own family, has flowed much more seamlessly.

During his press run for his new movie, Oyelowo explains he wasn’t planning to get married early on his life, but when he stumbled upon his wife, he realized he had found something special.

“My dad didn’t get married until he was quite a bit older,” David told XONecole.

“He was 40 when he got married. And my dad’s my hero. So, I just assumed that, you don’t get married to you’re later in life. But then at the age of 19, I met this amazing girl who was 17, and we became friends. And before I knew it–I had fallen in love.”

Once he realized he was deep in love with his future wife, he had to make a decision to either run, or dive in.

” I was shocked by this because I always had in my head that being with someone for life is something that wasn’t going to happen until later. I don’t know, there was just something about her. But the moment I realized I was in love and couldn’t do without the lady I’m now married to, was when I literally couldn’t picture my life without her in it. And that was the moment beyond which I thought, ‘Okay, I guess this is my forever person.’ It was that revelation that made me feel brave enough to jump in.”

David and his wife Jessica now have four kids–one girl and three sons. He told XO that his faith guides his life both professionally and personally.

“I’m a Christian and that has been a bedrock for me since I was 16. And it’s been such a relief and a release to know that I am loved by God. That my salvation is secure in Christ and that in this life–I don’t have to strive because I already have the greatest reward anyone could ever have: which is God’s love.”

Well amen. David stars in “Don’t Let Go,” in theaters everywhere now.

See more photos of him and his wife below:

Source: Dave J Hogan / Getty