Her recent Netflix thriller Fool Me Once catapulted Michelle Keegan to worldwide stardom almost overnight after its debut earlier this month, and the former Coronation Street star’s success is only set to soar even further.
And while Michelle, 36, and her husband – former TOWIE favourite Mark Wright, 37 – have been one of showbiz’s tightest-knit couples, an insider tells Closer that Michelle’s recent success has proved a challenge for their eight-year marriage.
A source says, “While Mark is of course incredibly proud of Michelle and in awe of how huge this show has been for her, it’s understandably left him reflecting on his own career which has taken some blows over the last few months. And with all the talk of her being tipped for Hollywood, he’s feeling a little bit torn – he’s over the moon for his wife but he's also feeling unsure about his career direction and all the speculation over her new move to America is difficult."
The pair have always been candid about the ups and downs of marriage, sharing their struggles with spending time apart as they pursued their careers, and about the homesickness and relationship obstacles they experienced during Mark's time in Hollywood between 2017 and 2019.
And while they are now both back at their recently completed luxe mansion in Essex, with Mark posting on social media how "happy and proud" he is of Michelle's success journey, the former reality star-turned-radio host and presenter has recently faced a series of setbacks in his own career.
In 2019 he quit his role on US entertainment show Extra to spend more time with Michelle and his family. And while Mark has guest-starred on shows including The Bachelor and This Morning, it wasn't until last year that he landed on his feed with his BBC family travel show, A Wright Family Holiday.
But, following the shock cancellation of the show last week after just one series, the insider says Mark can't help but compare his own career to Michelle's.
The source adds, "With Mark's show not being renewed and Michelle's show getting such huge recognition on a global scale, it's natural he's been thinking about his own career.
"Part of him feels a tiny bit envious – he knows it's a natural feeling and it doesn't take away how happy he is for her and his adoration and pride over what she's achieved."
However, the insider says that, with reports of Michelle being inundated with offers from Hollywood and contemplating a move Stateside, Mark is eyeing up the possibility that they could become a power couple in the US.
The source adds, “Looking at the positives, Mark can see that if they end up moving to Hollywood for Michelle’s career it could give him another chance to resume his own shot at cracking America after having to cut his dream short. “He knows how huge this is for Michelle and wants to be there to support her every step of the way, but at the same time, he’s also still got a lot in his own career he wants to achieve, so he’s hoping they can combine forces and make this big break work for both of them.”
