Mira Sorvino and Husband Christopher Backus 'Re-Cemented' Their Love on 20th Anniversary by Doing This (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Christopher Backus and Mira Sorvino at the SAG Awards in Santa Monica, California, on Feb. 27, 2022.Photo:Amy Sussman/WireImage

Amy Sussman/WireImage

Mira SorvinoandChristopher Backusare 20 years married and still going strong.The couple, who worked together on the newly released psychological thrillerDaft State, recently spoke with PEOPLE about the movie, as well as how they celebrated two decades of marriage this past summer — namely, witha trip back to “where it all began.“After a stop in Ireland where Sorvino, 57, had a business engagement, they hopped on a flight to Capri, Italy, to the spot where they were married in July 2004.“It’s our happy place,” says Backus, 43, who shares four children with his fellow-actor wife:Mattea, 20,Johnny, 18,Holden, 15, andLucia, 12. “There’s no better place than Italy. We just were happy and in love and running around.“As Sorvino describes, “We’re like two kids over there, and I feel all my ancestors there. I’m so happy there. I just love it.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.Backus, who stars inDaft Stateand also serves as a co-executive producer alongside Sorvino, says the couple have “been to Capri a few times since we got married and could never find the house” where they’d tied the knot. But this time, they hit the jackpot.“The caregiver of the property happened to be there, and the owner of the house had just left,” he tells PEOPLE. “She let us in and we got to go through the house again and walk up to where we got married. So it was sort of a magical reunion.“TheMighty Aphroditeactress recalls of their wedding day, “We said I do on the top of this hill overlooking Mount Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples with all these trees around.““And it was just as it was, except without all the other people and the dresses and everything,” Sorvino continues of their 2024 trip. “And we were so happy. I mean, it was an amazing sort of re-cementing of our love for each other.“The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!Christopher Backus and Mira Sorvino.Jeff Vespa/WireImageAs for what’s next for the couple following the release ofDaft State?Aside from looking forward to spending the holiday season as a family (“It’ll be the first time in a year that all the kids are home,” Backus says), they’re currently filming their next project,Baggage Check, together.“We play an estranged couple whose child was abducted years ago. And we are working out our emotional baggage together,” Sorvino tells PEOPLE.TheOscarwinner calls the movie “heavy as all get out,” explaining that the couple are “playing these really vulnerable, messed up, broken people who fight and then come together, and then havethese epiphanies and beautiful momentsof transformation.“Adds Backus of the project, “It definitely pushes buttons, and this is the most challenging role we’ve had together, for sure.“Daft Stateis out now.

Mira SorvinoandChristopher Backusare 20 years married and still going strong.

The couple, who worked together on the newly released psychological thrillerDaft State, recently spoke with PEOPLE about the movie, as well as how they celebrated two decades of marriage this past summer — namely, witha trip back to “where it all began.”

After a stop in Ireland where Sorvino, 57, had a business engagement, they hopped on a flight to Capri, Italy, to the spot where they were married in July 2004.

“It’s our happy place,” says Backus, 43, who shares four children with his fellow-actor wife:Mattea, 20,Johnny, 18,Holden, 15, andLucia, 12. “There’s no better place than Italy. We just were happy and in love and running around.”

As Sorvino describes, “We’re like two kids over there, and I feel all my ancestors there. I’m so happy there. I just love it.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

Backus, who stars inDaft Stateand also serves as a co-executive producer alongside Sorvino, says the couple have “been to Capri a few times since we got married and could never find the house” where they’d tied the knot. But this time, they hit the jackpot.

“The caregiver of the property happened to be there, and the owner of the house had just left,” he tells PEOPLE. “She let us in and we got to go through the house again and walk up to where we got married. So it was sort of a magical reunion.”

TheMighty Aphroditeactress recalls of their wedding day, “We said I do on the top of this hill overlooking Mount Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples with all these trees around.”

“And it was just as it was, except without all the other people and the dresses and everything,” Sorvino continues of their 2024 trip. “And we were so happy. I mean, it was an amazing sort of re-cementing of our love for each other.”

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Christopher Backus and Mira Sorvino.Jeff Vespa/WireImage

Jeff Vespa/WireImage

As for what’s next for the couple following the release ofDaft State?Aside from looking forward to spending the holiday season as a family (“It’ll be the first time in a year that all the kids are home,” Backus says), they’re currently filming their next project,Baggage Check, together.

“We play an estranged couple whose child was abducted years ago. And we are working out our emotional baggage together,” Sorvino tells PEOPLE.

TheOscarwinner calls the movie “heavy as all get out,” explaining that the couple are “playing these really vulnerable, messed up, broken people who fight and then come together, and then havethese epiphanies and beautiful momentsof transformation.”

Adds Backus of the project, “It definitely pushes buttons, and this is the most challenging role we’ve had together, for sure.”

Daft Stateis out now.

source: people.com