Finding out who Joel Kinnaman wife is depends entirely on when you last checked the tabloids. If you’re still thinking about his "secret" marriage to a tattoo artist, you're about a decade behind. Honestly, the Suicide Squad star has had quite the journey in the romance department, but as of 2026, he is very much a married man to a world-famous supermodel.
Their wedding wasn't your typical Hollywood ballroom affair. No white roses or $50,000 cakes. Instead, they opted for dust, bikes, and a whole lot of neon.
The Current Mrs. Kinnaman: Kelly Gale
Joel Kinnaman is currently married to Kelly Gale, a Swedish-Australian model famously known for her wings as a Victoria’s Secret Angel. They finally tied the knot in late August 2024. Where? At Burning Man.
It makes sense if you follow them on Instagram. They’ve always been that "outdoorsy, high-adrenaline" couple. Gale posted the news in September 2024, calling Joel her soulmate and sharing clips of them "returning from the playa." The ceremony was incredibly intimate. They stood barefoot on a small white shawl in the Black Rock City desert, surrounded by just a handful of friends and the vast, dusty horizon of Nevada.
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Kelly wore a custom white dress with midriff cutouts and a silver beaded bodice, topped with a hooded veil. Joel kept it "playa-chic" in a sheer white robe-style shirt and matching pants. It was a long time coming, considering they had been engaged since January 2021.
How They Actually Met
You might think two Swedish stars would meet at a fancy gala in Stockholm. Nope. It started in the DMs.
Kelly Gale admitted to Vogue Scandinavia that their journey wasn't a straight line. They started dating in early 2019, making their red-carpet debut at the For All Mankind premiere in October that same year. But the engagement in 2021 was actually described by the couple as "mistimed." They had to work through some personal "shit"—their words, not mine—before they were truly ready for the altar.
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- They went public at Coachella in 2019.
- Joel proposed on a cliffside in California in early 2021.
- They spent three years as fiances before the desert wedding.
Joel Kinnaman Wife History: Who Was Cleo Wattenström?
Before Kelly Gale, there was Cleo Wattenström. She’s a world-renowned tattoo artist, and their relationship was famously low-key.
Joel actually revealed they were married in the most casual way possible. During a 2016 appearance on The Talk, host Aisha Tyler referred to Cleo as his "girlfriend." Joel quickly corrected her: "My wife." He’d secretly married her in a quickie ceremony at a place called Same Day Marriage in Glendale, California. It cost about $435.
They were together from 2014 until late 2018. When they split, there was zero drama. In fact, they’re still friends. When Joel announced his engagement to Kelly Gale, Cleo was one of the first people to drop a heart emoji in the comments. That’s some high-level maturity right there.
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Why People Still Search for "Joel Kinnaman Wife"
The confusion usually stems from how private Joel is about his personal life. He doesn't do the "weekly update" thing. Between his first marriage to Cleo and his relationship with actress Olivia Munn (they dated from 2012 to 2014), fans often lose track of his status.
Also, the Burning Man wedding felt so "un-Hollywood" that some people didn't realize it was a legal, permanent union. But make no mistake, Kelly Gale is officially his wife. They even communicate in a mix of English and Swedish at home, which is a fun detail for the fans of the Stockholm-born actor.
Fast Facts About the Couple
- Kelly's Background: She’s half-Indian and half-Australian, born in Gothenburg, Sweden.
- The Age Gap: Joel is 46, and Kelly is 30 (as of early 2026).
- Shared Interests: They are obsessed with Jiu-Jitsu and often train together.
- Travel: They spend a massive amount of time in Sweden, despite their careers being centered in the U.S.
Moving Forward
If you're looking to keep up with the Kinnamans, Instagram is your best bet, though they don't overshare. Kelly often posts their hiking trips and training sessions. For Joel, the transition from being a "secretly married" man to a "desert-wedded" husband shows a guy who has finally found his rhythm.
What to do next:
If you're a fan of Joel’s work, check out his recent projects like Silent Night or the later seasons of For All Mankind. Seeing his chemistry with Kelly Gale on social media actually makes his intense on-screen roles feel even more impressive, given how laid-back his real life seems to be now. You can also follow Kelly Gale’s YouTube channel, where she occasionally shares vlogs of their travels and fitness routines, offering a much more "human" look at their lives than any red carpet photo ever could.