If you’ve spent any time watching Paul Giamatti on screen, you know the vibe. He’s the king of the "harried everyman." Whether he’s playing a wine-obsessed teacher in Sideways or a ruthless U.S. Attorney in Billions, there is a specific, relatable grumpiness he brings to the table. But while his career is an open book of brilliant performances, his personal life—specifically the details regarding a Paul Giamatti wife or long-term partner—is something he’s kept behind a heavy velvet curtain for decades.
Honestly, the internet is kind of a mess when you search for his relationship status. Some sites still list him as married to his long-time partner, Elizabeth Cohen. Others talk about his "new" girlfriend, Clara Wong. If you’re confused, you aren't alone.
The Mystery of the Marriage: What Happened to Elizabeth Cohen?
For years, if you looked up the actor, the name Elizabeth Cohen was always right there. They got married back in 1997. It was a long run, especially by Hollywood standards. They lived together in Brooklyn Heights, raised a son named Samuel (born in 2001), and generally stayed out of the tabloids.
Giamatti used to mention her occasionally in interviews, usually with a self-deprecating joke. He once famously told The Guardian that while he identifies as an atheist, Elizabeth is Jewish, and he was totally on board with raising their son in the Jewish faith. He even joked that he was waiting for Samuel to become a teenager so he could "step in and tell him how things really are," though he said it with that trademark Giamatti smirk.
But then, the trail went cold.
There was no big, splashy "we’re getting a divorce" announcement in People magazine. No dramatic Instagram posts about "conscious uncoupling." They just stopped appearing together. Fans started noticing that she wasn't on his arm during the big award circuits anymore. While some sources still erroneously list them as married, it's pretty clear that they quietly divorced or separated years ago.
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The exact date of their split is a total mystery. It’s a testament to how much Giamatti values privacy. He managed to end a twenty-plus-year marriage in the middle of New York City without a single paparazzi leak. That’s basically a superpower in 2026.
Enter Clara Wong: From the Screen to Real Life
If you’ve been following the 2024 and 2025 awards seasons, you’ve definitely seen a new face next to Paul. That would be Clara Wong.
The story of how they met is actually kind of hilarious if you’re a fan of the show Billions. Clara Wong is an actress, and she actually had a recurring role on the show. She played "Troy," a dominatrix that Giamatti’s character, Chuck Rhoades, would visit.
Yeah, you read that right.
They met on set around 2016, and while it’s not clear exactly when the professional relationship turned romantic, they’ve been a "thing" in the public eye since at least 2019. That was when they were first spotted together at a fundraiser for the Denali Foundation.
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Why Everyone Is Talking About Them Now
The relationship went from "rumor" to "official" in a very loud way during the 2024 Golden Globes. When Giamatti won for his role in The Holdovers, he gave a shout-out that pretty much broke the celebrity-news corner of the internet.
"I want to say, I love my beautiful girlfriend Clara Wong. Why you bother with me, I don't know why."
It was classic Giamatti: humble, a bit neurotic, and genuinely sweet. Since then, they’ve been inseparable. They were the ones who went viral for hitting up an In-N-Out Burger after the Golden Globes, with his trophy sitting right there on the plastic tray next to a pile of animal-style fries.
Who is Clara Wong, Exactly?
Clara isn't just "the girlfriend." She’s a successful actress in her own right. Originally from Skokie, Illinois, she went to the University of Illinois and has been working steadily in the industry for over a decade.
Besides Billions, you might have seen her in:
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- The I-Land (Netflix)
- Goliath (working alongside Billy Bob Thornton)
- What We Do in the Shadows - Dear Edward
She’s roughly 20 years younger than Paul, which, of course, the internet had opinions about. But honestly? They seem like one of the most stable, low-drama couples in the business. She’s a Scorpio, he’s a Gemini. She often posts goofy, sweet photos of him on his birthday, usually involving him wearing a weird t-shirt or looking generally disheveled in a way only he can pull off.
Balancing Privacy and Fame in 2026
It is interesting to see how Giamatti navigates being a "famous person" while clearly hating the "fame" part of it. He lives in Brooklyn, not the heart of Hollywood. He shops at local bookstores. He doesn't do "grwm" videos or house tours.
His relationship with Clara seems to follow that same blueprint. They show up for the red carpets, he thanks her in the speeches, and then they go get burgers and disappear back into their private life.
There’s a lesson there for anyone trying to maintain a relationship under scrutiny. You don't have to share everything. You can be the "best actor" in the world and still have a private life that belongs only to you.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Researchers
If you're trying to keep up with the latest on Giamatti's personal life, keep these facts in mind to avoid the common misinformation floating around:
- Check the Date: Many "biography" sites haven't been updated since 2015. If a site says he is still married to Elizabeth Cohen, it’s likely using outdated data.
- The "Wife" Keyword: People still search for "Paul Giamatti wife" because they remember the long marriage to Elizabeth, but in 2026, the correct term is "partner" or "girlfriend" when referring to Clara Wong.
- Watch the Credits: If you want to see their on-screen chemistry, go back and watch the early seasons of Billions. Knowing they are a real-life couple makes those (admittedly weird) scenes much more interesting.
- Respect the Boundary: Paul rarely does "tell-all" interviews. If you see a headline claiming he’s "revealing everything" about his divorce, it’s almost certainly clickbait.
The reality is that Paul Giamatti has moved into a new chapter of his life. He’s a father to a grown son, a partner to a talented actress, and still the guy who makes us feel a little bit better about our own everyday frustrations. Whether he ever decides to make Clara Wong his second wife or they just stay "partners" forever, they seem to have found a groove that works.
And honestly, we should probably just let them enjoy their In-N-Out in peace.