Inside Lily Tomlin’s forbidden love story: She had to hide who she was from the person she loved most
Meeting Jane Wagner
Tomlin has known Wagner for a long time, starting from when she was acting on the comedy-sketch show ‘Laugh-In’ in 1969. In this gig, Tomlin became well-known for creating some pretty hilarious personalities – though, she expressed an interest in hiring a writer to help her perfect one of them; a precocious five-year-old named Edith Ann.
Wagner was hired to work on the characters in 1971, and she instantly bonded with Tomlin. Before long, the pair became and official item.
Reminiscing on their romance in a 2020 interview with Variety, Tomlin said that, for her, it was love at first sight “in two minutes”.
Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner at the Screen Actors Guild Awards Gala in 2017. Credit / Kevin Mazur / Getty.
As the pair’s romance progressed over the years, their personal and professional lives blossomed, with Wagner telling the outlet: “When I got confidence, it was because of Lily, who believed in my work. We loved similar things, and it was just kind of remarkable that we were on the same page, aesthetically.”
She continued: “Her appreciation of my work meant all the difference to me. I saw her motivation. I saw her drive, and her strength taught me something.”
Clearly, Wagner has enjoyed watching Tomlin appreciate her work, and vice versa. During the interview, she also added that it was Tomlin’s admiration for Wagner that gave her the drive she needed.
