In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, the actor spoke briefly about her relationship with her husband, Martin von Haselberg, whom she married in December 1984.
When asked about the key to their long union, Midler told ET that it all comes down to their sleeping habits.
“Separate bedrooms,” Midler said. “My husband snores.”
The “Hocus Pocus” star also shared that she and her husband have been sleeping in separate bedrooms since the start of their relationship, but “it’s been a fabulous ride.”
Midler isn’t the first celebrity to be open about their support for sleeping separately from their partners.
In June 2022, television host Carson Daly said on the “Today” show that a “sleep divorce” — where he and his wife don’t share a bed — was the “best thing” for his marriage.
“We woke up and we just shook hands like, ‘I love you, but it’s time to sleep divorce. It’ll be the best thing for all of us,'” Daly previously told People in 2020.
During a “Lipstick on the Rim” podcast episode in December, Cameron Diaz talked about wanting to destigmatize couples having separate sleeping arrangements.
“We should normalize separate bedrooms,” Diaz said on the podcast.
“I will go and sleep in my room,” she told the hosts, Molly Sims and Emese Gormley. “You go sleep in your room. I’m fine.”
Diaz added that she held that belief before she got married to Good Charlotte guitarist Benji Madden: “By the way, I don’t feel that way now because my husband is so wonderful.”
A 2023 American Academy of Sleep Medicine survey of 2,005 adults found that over one-third of American couples slept in separate beds on occasion or consistently.
Research has shown that a good night’s sleep can reduce irritability and feelings of anger. Studies have also found that people sleep worse with a partner, while quality sleep can improve communication between couples.
For those who are interested in trying out a “sleep divorce,” it’s best to ease into the conversation slowly to avoid hurting any feelings.
Isabelle Morley, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in couples therapy, previously told Business Insider that the conversation should emphasize how sleeping separately can strengthen the couple’s relationship.
Morley also suggested that couples develop a pre- or post-bedtime ritual together to maintain their sense of closeness.
However, separate sleeping arrangements might not be for everyone.
“Without a shared space for reconnection, partners may find themselves easily detached, avoiding each other and ultimately not resolving their issues,” Katie Bingner, a licensed counselor and communication coach, previously told BI.
A representative for Midler did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours.
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