Iconic Couple: Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw

by Kristin Tice Studeman

In an interview with Vanity Fair, actress Ali MacGraw once said, “I’m an incredible romantic—it runs me.”

Her fate was sealed when she met actor Steve McQueen while filming The Getaway and the two fell helplessly in love. (MacGraw was still married to Paramount’s head of production, Robert Evans, at the time.) The Love Story actress was an East Coast girl, born to artist parents, who started out in the business doing TV commercials (prior to that, she had a stint working for Diana Vreeland at Harper’s Bazaar and modeling). McQueen, for his part, was a motorcycle-riding, former Marine from Indiana before he became one of the highest paid actors of his time. But the two style icons and film stars had a magnetic chemistry that was undeniable, and their story unfolded into one of the greatest love affairs of the century. At first, they tried to keep things under wraps while she was still married to Evans, even hiding out at Candice Bergen’s house before they moved to a home in Trancas with their kids. MacGraw gave up everything to be with McQueen, ending her megawatt acting career because he didn’t want her to work. In the end, however, McQueen was overprotectiveness of her got the best of them. For today, however, in honor of Valentine’s Day, we’re celebrating the beautiful moments in their extraordinary love story.

 

For Valentine's Day, a perfect gift to Ali from Steve would be the stunning Tony Duquette (American, 1914-1999), 'Symboilizing the Eternal Truth That Change is Inevitable. Through Love and Revelation We Move With Certainty Towards Our Liberation', 1990s. Made of paua shell, chrysocola, azuremalachite, peridot and vermeil collar, length 15 1/2in (39.5cm).  Price: $9,150 

 

An equally appropriate gift to Steve from Ali would be this lambskin leather moto jacket from the Saint Laurent RTW collection.  Perfect for riding his Triumph 650 “Tiger” motorcycle. Price: $6,450