Morning:
3°c
Precious is a new-style weepie but one that is much more bracing than depressing
BBC accused of having a 'culture of secrecy' after it refused to reveal how much it pays its top presenters and stars
More...
Sam Taylor-Wood to wed 19-year-old lover Aaron Johnson
By Olivia Cole, Evening Standard Last updated at 13:34pm on 30.10.09Artist and film-maker Sam Taylor-Wood has celebrated the critical acclaim for her debut feature about the early life of John Lennon by announcing she plans to marry its 19-year-old star, Aaron Johnson.
Tribute: Sam Taylor-Wood with fiance Aaron Johnson, who stars in Nowhere Boy, at the film's premiere in Leicester Square
Taylor-Wood, 42, a key figure in the Young British Artists movement, fell for Johnson after casting him as Lennon in Nowhere Boy, which premiered at the closing gala of the London Film Festival last night.
A spokesman for the couple confirmed their engagement today and said they are “very happy”.
The artist split amicably from her art dealer husband, Jay Jopling, last year and began seeing Johnson, a relative unknown, earlier this year.
The Evening Standard revealed their relationship after they appeared at the Cannes Film Festival, where she was promoting Nowhere Boy, in May. The film, which tells of Lennon's early years, has been warmly received by critics.
Johnson, from High Wycombe, has been praised for his role as the teenage Lennon. He has been acting since 2001 and has had parts on television and film roles including The Illusionist and Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging.
After his divorce, Jopling, who owns the White Cube gallery and represents Damien Hirst and other former stars of the Young British Artists movement, went on to have a short relationship with Lily Allen, 22 years his junior.
Like other YBAs Damien Hirst, Jake Chapman and Sarah Lucas, Taylor-Wood studied at Goldsmiths and was taken under the wing of Charles Saatchi. Her work includes her short film of David Beckham sleeping.
Her career in the Nineties was marked by extremes — in 1997, she and Jopling married and she gave birth to their older daughter. Later that year she was nominated for the Turner prize, and diagnosed with colon cancer. Three years later she was diagnosed with breast cancer, which led to her self-portrait about her recovery, Single Breasted Suit with Hare, which hangs at the National Portrait Gallery.
Jopling still represents his former wife and was at the Leicester Square premiere with his girlfriend, writer Rachel Barrett. The couple's daughters, Angelica, 12, and three-year-old Jessie, were also on the red carpet. Both had roles in the film so they could spend time on set with their mother in Liverpool.
Taylor-Wood last night dedicated the film to Anthony Minghella, who at the time of his death in 2007 was producing her first short film Love you More.
Nowhere Boy is Taylor-Wood's first feature and tells of the complex relationships between Lennon and his mother, played by Anne-Marie Duff, and his aunt (Kristin Scott Thomas) who raised him.
The director and her young star will attend another premiere in Liverpool next month, before the film goes on general release on Boxing Day.
Related articles
Reader views (25)
At first, I thought, great publiciy streak. I'm definately NOT watching this film.
So, basically Sam and Aaron, it's not working. My friends and I refuse to watch your film.
- Lotty, UK
This is so sick, I just watched Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging and he looks so cute and young. Iam nearly 19 and she is older than my mam and dad. So ewww, I used to love Aaron.
- Steph, England
eww how disgusting!!!
she could be his mum there 23 years apart for crying out load.
when i saw a pic of them for the first time i said aww look he is with his mum but when i read on i could of cryed there getting married and she having his baby thats just sick!!
ive never heard any thing like it its NOT normale
watch out the oap's are after us
im sorry i have to go and vomit.
- Jkmg, England
EWW i used to hv a huge crush on Aaron and hes hot! 
Why??Aaron, WHY???
well maybe i shouldnt blame him,,,,no one can stop loving his true love,,,,
but its still disgusting!
i cant even imagine Aaron and this woman hving a BABY!!!! :S:S:S:S
- Letitia, HK
That is soooo nasty tht his fiance is 42 YEARS OLD!!! AND HE THINKS HES " A VERY LUCKY MAN" YEAH RIGHT!!!!!! I actually thought he was hot
- Kailey, Auburn Hills, Michigan
dudeeeeeeee seriously!! she's like so ugly. she's older than my mother. she should get a 50 year old boyriend or something, not a teenager like aaron. mean 3 years before he was on school and having fun with his friends. and she was raising up her daughters. people should think before they do something, because this marriage and relationship thing is so stupid
- Joana, tirana
omg i cant believe he's going to marry her! i mean shes pretty and all but she's like double his age and they're expecting a BABY????
oh the going out thing is fine but this is just off the edge!!!!
but i have to argee with everyone else they do make a beautiful couple! but i just cant get my head around the fact that Sam's daughter is going to have to call Aaron her DAD!!!
But Sam is a very lucky woman and i wish them the best with their lives!
- Maya, Canterbury
Oh my God... Grossest freaking thing I've ever seen! I mean seriously, is he that desperate?! There are 100's of girls his age and a couple years younger (and older) that would totally go after him! But he picks... her?! I think I might puke...
- Katy, Boston, USA
I agree with Abbie that men have been doing this for long enough, dating women young enough to be their daughters. However why couldn't this couple leave it at that? He is 19 for goodness sake, far too young really to be contemplating a commitment of this magnitude - not just marriage but fatherhood. Becoming a parent is a massive responsibility and commitment. I feel that what Sam Taylor-Wood has allowed to happen is highly irresponsible as the older supposedly more emotionally mature partner, if not bordering on the abusive. She is older and wealthier, in a powerful position as director and it seems quite unethical to prey on your 19 year old employee in this way. Yes, men have been doing this for generations but does this make it right?
- Elise, London
UUUGH.....my goodness...that's the first grossest thing i've heard today....yeah well....even though i believe that age "is just a number"....but this is soooo creeeepy...yeah i totally agree ...he just wants more attention.....and EWWW she's pregnant with his baby? uuuugh....just thinking of the idea that he actually may have slept with her..... :P..... k bye! gotta go vomit...
- Misswhatever, new york
welllllll, i think sam taylor wood is GROSS. and why the hell would he be engaged to her. EW. they look discusting together. SHE IS 42 YEARS OLD. AND HE IS 19. thats wierd. he is half of her age. she coulb be his grandmother. she makes me want to vomit. ugh. hes soooo fine.
- Samantha, yoyo
i think its totally wrong it makes me feel sick. he would be better off dating sams daughter. i feel sorry for her daughter wat if her daghter fancies him it would be hard not to. i hope its just a publicity stunt or maybe he thinks this will get him more big roles in films. i dont know its creapy but if there in love than let them be
- Sophie, england
this is really weird i cant believe this i feel like throwing up she is such a cougar well i guess its their life is it true shes pregnant?
I LOVE YOU AARON!
- Audra, forks, washington
Okay!! I Sorry But Most of these people are right Aaron Is To Fine For Her And I Mean Come On Who In Their Right Mind Be Engaged Too Someone 23yrs. Older I Love Aaron in Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging I Mean Have You Seen Him As Robbie He Is The Finest Guy Ive Ever Seen!! But He`s Just Too Young For Her And I Just Cant Beleive It I mean she`s 42 Sorry Too You Sam But Your Too Old For Him!!! Love You Aaron!! <3
- Chassy!!!!, Slidell,Louisiana
Aaron Johnson is a great actor and I really liked him in angus thongs and perfect snogging and Sam Taylor Woods is a great artist but this isnt right. I understand their happy and all but they are rushing through it all, marriage now baby! I feel so bad for her kids having a new dad that could be your brother and now a new sibling... she needs to realize that if this is for publicity its just wrong... but if its not best of luck 
- Sophia, Virginia, USA
To be honest the age gap is way too big but i wish them the best of luck xxxxx
- Beth, England
This is just wrong! 23 yrs is WAY too freakish for me.
- Bella, London, England
What a bunch of miseries! They look great together and anyway, it is none of our business
- Dep, London
Utterly pathetic. Sam has a bruised ego and Aaron is a fairly decent looking but mediocre 'actor' who probably thinks all his birthdays have come at once. Lead role in a film and the opportunity to be doted on by someone extremely wealthy - which 19-year-old boy would turn that down? I give it six months...or at least until he meets someone his own age.
- Kitty, London
A little wrong, if not very so, in my opinion.
Come on, Sam Taylor-Wood has a daughter only seven years younger then the man she's engaged to, strange, strange woman, have a bit of sense! Men date younger women because of mid-life-crisis, women are little bit more sensible about these things.
I feel so bad for her daughter, Aaron is quite a handsome young man who could do a lot better, are there no nice girls more his age?
If it lasts, good luck to them, but I don't think it's right at all.
- A.M, Australia
i think he can do better way better and i would under stand if the age difference was like 6yrs a part but its like 23 yrs come on!!!! im sorry but i agree with most ppl she could have kids his age.
- Nichole, Texas
Men have been doing it for long enough...I think it's fantastic news ...They are a beautiful couple !
- Abbie, Cork, Ireland
i love Aaron Johnson hes amazing especially as robbie in angus thongs and perfect snogging i think its totally wrong she is old enough to be his mother but i wish them good luck
- Amy, manchester
wot the hell this is so wrong she could have children older than he is
- Tom, england
Good luck to them!
- Wendy, London
