If you’ve ever sat down to Google "is Brian Cox married," you’ve probably hit a weird fork in the road. It’s the classic internet identity crisis. Are we talking about the Scottish titan of acting who played the terrifying Logan Roy on Succession? Or are we talking about the keyboard-playing, "things can only get better" physicist who makes us all feel slightly smarter and significantly more insignificant in the grand scheme of the cosmos?
Most people don't realize they're actually two different guys with the exact same name. Honestly, it’s a bit of a nightmare for SEO, but for us, it’s a fun deep dive into two very different lives. Both Brians are, in fact, married. But their paths to "I do" look nothing alike.
The Actor: Brian Cox and the Vows that Stick
Let’s start with the one who yells. Brian Cox, the actor, has a romantic history that’s almost as dramatic as a Shakespearean tragedy, though thankfully with more of a happy ending. He’s 79 now, and his current marriage is the kind of rock-solid partnership you don't always see in Hollywood.
He’s been married to Nicole Ansari-Cox since 2002. She’s an actress and director, originally from Germany, and if you’ve seen them on a red carpet together, you know they still look like they actually like each other. That’s rare. They even recently appeared together on The Ryan Tubridy Show in early 2025, chatting about treading the boards together in a play called The Score.
They have two sons, Orson and Torin. Interestingly, they even did the whole "Vegas wedding" thing for a renewal of vows, which Brian described on Live with Kelly and Ryan as a bit of a spur-of-the-moment, fun celebration of their two decades together.
But Nicole isn't his first wife. Brian’s been down the aisle a few times:
- Lilian Monroe-Carr: This was back in the mid-60s. It was short-lived, lasting only about a year.
- Caroline Burt: This was his "long" first marriage. They were together from 1968 to 1986. They have two children, including son Alan Cox, who is also an actor (you might remember him as young John Watson).
- Nicole Ansari-Cox: The current chapter. They met when she was acting in a production of King Lear that he was directing. Classic.
Brian’s been very open in his memoir, Putting the Rabbit in the Hat, about how his career often came at the expense of his family life in the early days. He’s basically admitted he wasn't always the "World's Best Dad" because he was so obsessed with the craft. It's a level of honesty you don't get from many celebs.
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The Professor: Brian Cox and the Invisible Wife
Now, let’s pivot to the man who explains black holes while looking like he’s in an indie rock band. Professor Brian Cox (the physicist) has been married to Gia Milinovich since 2003.
Gia is a force of nature in her own right. She’s an American-born presenter and writer who was actually deep into the science and tech TV world long before Brian became a household name. In fact, she famously said she was attracted to him initially because he had a CERN email address. Talk about geek love.
They have one son together, George Eagle Cox (born in 2009), whose middle name is a tribute to the Apollo 11 lunar module. Because of course it is.
However, being married to "the sexiest physicist alive" hasn't always been easy. Gia wrote a really raw, famous piece for The Guardian years ago about "Invisible Wife Syndrome." She talked about how, as Brian’s fame skyrocketed, she went from being an independent professional to just "Mrs. Brian Cox" in the eyes of the public.
She even mentioned how weird it was when Brian started appearing on lists of "people Cheryl Cole should date" after her divorce. Imagine seeing your husband on a tabloid list like that.
The couple lives in Battersea, London. They seem to have found a balance that works, even if Gia once had to punch a burglar (yes, really—she’s a trained boxer and literally "battered" a guy who tried to break into their house).
Quick Comparison: Which Brian is Which?
| Feature | Brian Cox (Actor) | Brian Cox (Physicist) |
|---|---|---|
| Current Wife | Nicole Ansari-Cox | Gia Milinovich |
| Married Since | 2002 | 2003 |
| Children | 4 (Alan, Margaret, Orson, Torin) | 1 (George) |
| Home Base | New York / UK | London |
| Famous For | Logan Roy in Succession | Wonders of the Universe |
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is usually just the crossover of facts. People see a headline about "Brian Cox’s Vegas Wedding" and think the professor is off the rails in Sin City. Or they hear about "Brian Cox's son the actor" and expect to see a physicist on stage.
Another weird detail: both men have a history with music. The actor didn't do much of it, but the physicist was the keyboardist for D:Ream (the "Things Can Only Get Better" band). He even performed with them at Glastonbury as recently as 2024.
The actor’s marriage to Nicole is often cited as one of the more "stable" ones in the industry, despite the age gap (she’s about 23 years younger). They’ve navigated the whirlwind of Succession fame together, which Brian has joked was a lot more intense than his previous decades of being a "respected but not mobbed" stage actor.
Why It Matters Who They're With
In both cases, these men are supported by women who are highly accomplished in their own right. Nicole Ansari-Cox is a powerhouse in the theater world, often producing and directing projects that challenge the status quo. Gia Milinovich is a pioneer in digital culture and science communication.
If you’re looking for the answer to "is Brian Cox married," the answer is a resounding yes for both.
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Whether you’re a fan of the Waystar Royco patriarch or the man who explains the heat death of the universe, it’s clear that neither Brian walks the path alone. They both seem to have found partners who can handle the gravity (pun intended) of their massive careers.
To keep up with them, you should follow Nicole Ansari-Cox on Instagram if you want the "acting" side of things—she often posts behind-the-scenes snaps of their life in New York and London. If you're more into the science side, Gia Milinovich’s occasional blog posts and social media are a great look into the life of a "science family" trying to stay grounded while one member is literally looking at the stars.
Check out Brian Cox’s (the actor) autobiography if you want the gritty details of his earlier marriages; it’s surprisingly blunt and doesn't paint him as a saint, which is refreshing. For the professor, his live tours are usually the best place to catch a glimpse of how his family life and scientific passion intersect.