Getting Married Unlocked New Sides Of Cameron Diaz — For Better And Worse

Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden had a bit of a whirlwind romance from the start. The pair initially met in May 2014 through their mutual friend Nicole Richie, and sparks flew immediately. After dating for a short time, their engagement became official in December of the same year. To be honest, it was so quick that it caused our matchmaker to spot some glaring red flags in Cameron Diaz's marriage. Even so, Diaz has opened up about how her marriage to Madden sparked immense personal growth for her. 

In 2016, Diaz appeared on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and shared that marriage really unlocked new sides of herself that she didn't know she had. "Someone asked me, 'What's your favorite thing about being married?' and I said, 'I just learned so much about myself,'" she explained. "I didn't know these things. I would have never known them if I didn't have my husband to help me" (via People).

But, Diaz also admitted in the interview that there's another side to this coin. Marriage can also uncover patterns of behavior that aren't always the most positive. "And they said, 'What's the worst thing about being married?' It's like, 'Well I learned all these things about myself that I wish I didn't know. And I wouldn't have learned them if I didn't get married,'" the actor revealed. "So it's a double-edged sword."

Even though Cameron Diaz admitted that marriage hasn't always brought out the best in her, she and Benji Madden seem to be doing something right. The couple is still going strong more than 10 years since tying the knot. Much like Judith Light's decades-long marriage, which has worked thanks to one interesting quirk, the two have found a way to thrive after all these years. In fact, the Diaz and Madden welcomed another child into their family in May 2026. Madden shared the couple's excitement in an Instagram post saying, "Cameron and I are happy, excited, and feeling so BLESSED to announce the birth of our third child, Nautas Madden. Welcome to the world Son!! We love life with our family — our kids are healthy and happy, and we are grateful!!!"

The couple's long-lasting marriage may also work due to their desire to keep a lower profile. After all, Diaz took a long break from acting and only resurfaced in 2025. A source told Us Weekly in May 2026 that the couple is pretty aligned on what they want out of their life together. "Cameron has been very intentional with her recent acting projects and doesn't feel she is full force back into the industry," the source shared. "[The two] currently love their life in Montecito and live a really low-key lifestyle. It has let them raise their kids out of the spotlight, which was their goal," they added.