Who Is Linda Cardellini's Fiancé? All About Her Childhood Crush Turned Longtime Love Steven Rodriguez

Mar. 15, 2025

Steve Rodriguez and Linda Cardellini attend the ‘Dead to Me’ season 3 premiere at TUDUM Theater on November 15, 2022 in Hollywood, California.Photo:Charley Gallay/Getty

Charley Gallay/Getty

Linda Cardellini’s fiancé, makeup artist Steven Rodriguez, was her childhood crush.

The pair first met in elementary school, where Cardellini developed feelings for Rodriguez. However, they didn’t start a romantic relationship until later in life. They reconnected sometime in 2010 and went on to welcome their daughter Lilah-Rose in February 2012.

In August 2019, Cardellini toldLA Confidential Magazinethat starting a family with Rodriguez gave her a new perspective on life.

“Having a family shifts all your priorities,” she said. “Your capacity for love grows and you suddenly feel the preciousness of time.”

While the couple are generally private, Rodriguez often supports the actress at the red carpet premieres of her projects — and even does her makeup.

So who is Linda Cardellini’s fiancé? Here’s everything to know about Steven Rodriguez and his relationship with the actress.

He’s a makeup artist

Linda Cardellini and her fiancé Steven Rodriguez behind the scenes of a shoot for Good Housekeeping.Linda Cardellini/ Instagram

Linda Cardellini/ Instagram

Rodriguez is a makeup artist and is often the man behind Cardellini’s beauty looks. In December 2015, the actress spoke withInto The Glossabout how when she heard her now-fiancé, who was her longtime friend at that point, was moving to Los Angeles to do makeup, she wanted in.

“I ran into him and was like, ‘Do my makeup! It’ll be really fun for both of us!’ " she said. “And then about five years ago we got together. He makes me up for red carpet and editorial stuff. Sometimes I’ll do it myself and he’ll be like, ‘Do you want me to fix that?’ ”

Cardellini also explained how she prefers a “natural look,” and appreciated that was Rodriguez’s style as well.

“He has a philosophy, which is that most people go out of their way to cover their flaws,” she said. “They concentrate on what they don’t like about themselves and they forget to concentrate on the things that make them look the most beautiful and unique. He takes what’s there and accentuates it.”

He was Cardellini’s childhood crush

Steven Rodriguez and actress Linda Cardellini attends the GBK Productions Luxury Lounge during Emmy’s Weekend on September 20, 2013 in Hollywood, California.Tiffany Rose/WireImage

Tiffany Rose/WireImage

The couple first met in elementary school when Cardellini was 10 and Rodriguez was 11. In June 2013, during an interview with PEOPLE, theBloodlineactress revealed that Rodriguez was actually her childhood crush.

“He was the new kid at my school,” she said. “He could do amazing bike tricks and I was impressed. Not afraid to say it.”

In 2010, the pair reconnected and started a romantic relationship, which Rodriguez said “seems very meant to be.”

“We’ve been friends for years and years and it was not even three years that we got together and realized that we should’ve been doing that all along,” she told PEOPLE. “It didn’t take long to figure out we were amazing friends and we could probably be great partners.”

They share one child together

Linda Cardellini and Steven Rodriguez arrive at March Of Dimes' 6th Annual Celebration Of Babies Luncheon at Beverly Hills Hotel on December 2, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California.Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

In October 2011, Cardellini and Rodriguez announced they were expecting their first child together. Their daughter, Lilah-Rose, was born a few months later on Feb. 29, 2012.

Cardellini opened up to PEOPLE about her “very difficult delivery” and how she and her daughter “are lucky to be alive.” After doctors discovered that the umbilical cord was wrapped around Lilah-Rose’s neck, the actress had to have an emergency C-section.

“I’m so grateful that my daughter is alive and so thankful that we’ve all come out of it,” she said. “We often forget how dangerous childbirth is.”

Cardellini added that Lilah-Rose was already taking after her and Rodriguez. “I think she has a lot of her dad. She likes to do some mischievous things like him,” she said. “She also has that strong, independent vibe from me.”

They got engaged in June 2013

Linda Cardellini and Steven Rodriguez arrives with a guest at the Closing Ceremony of the 37th Deauville American Film Festival on September 10, 2011 in Deauville, France.Francois Durand/Getty

Francois Durand/Getty

Rodriguez popped the question to Cardellini in June 2013, a little over a year after welcoming their daughter. The actress revealed the happy news a day after getting engaged while appearing on an episode ofThe View.

“My daughter Lilah-Rose wants everyone to know that her mommy and daddy are getting married,” she wrote.

Cardellini considers him one of her closest friends

Steven Rodriguez and Linda Cardellini arrive for the premiere of Warner Bros' ‘The Curse Of La Llorona’ at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA.NINA PROMMER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

NINA PROMMER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Rodriguez may be Cardellini’s fiancé, but she also considers him as one of her closest confidantes. Speaking withThe Cutin July 2019, the actress said she has built a close friend group that includes men with “tender souls.”

“I was never a party person who had tons of friends. I have a lot of close friends and I keep them for a long time. My other half, he’s one of them,” she said. “I guess I love to go through life collecting amazing people.”

They are a private couple

Linda Cardellini and Steven Rodriguez attend the 2013 Creative Arts Emmy Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on September 15, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Cardellini and Rodriguez mostly keep their relationship out of the spotlight. Aside from the occasional interview anecdote, Cardellini rarely posts about her fiancé on social media, and he doesn’t have any public profiles.

However, the couple does occasionally attend red carpet events together. Rodriguez accompanied Cardellini to the premiere ofThe Curse Of La Lloronain April 2019 and a screening event for Season 3 ofDead To Mein November 2022.

source: people.com