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Under the radar. Rooney Mara<\/strong><\/a> and Joaquin Phoenix<\/strong><\/a> have kept their romance relatively private<\/a> since they were first linked in 2016, but their flame has still burned bright.<\/p>\n The Joker<\/em><\/a> star and his fianc\u00e9e first crossed paths on the set of Spike Jonze<\/strong>\u2019s 2012 flick Her<\/em>. Looking back on his initial interactions with Mara, who played his ex-wife in the Oscar-winning film, Phoenix admitted to Vanity Fair<\/em><\/a> in October 2019 that he was convinced Mara \u201cdespised\u201d him. Eventually, he realized that the Carol<\/em> star was interested in him but too shy to express it.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s the only girl I ever looked up on the internet,\u201d Phoenix explained at the time. \u201cWe were just friends, email friends. I\u2019d never done that. Never looked up a girl online.\u201d<\/p>\n The private pair made their first public appearance as an item in May 2017 at the Cannes Film Festival in France. Four months later, the Gladiator<\/em> star told the New York Times<\/em> that he and Mara were living together<\/a> in the Hollywood Hills. Phoenix gave the publication a glimpse at life inside their home, admitting that the couple likes to spend their days exercising, studying lines and watching true crime documentaries on Netflix.<\/p>\n Nearly two years later, Mara sparked rumors<\/a> of an engagement when she was seen wearing a diamond ring while out and about in Los Angeles. The photos came shortly after an insider told Us Weekly<\/em> that the pair had no plans on tying the knot<\/a> any time soon.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re never going to get married because they think marriage is too mainstream,\u201d the source said in July 2018, even though they were \u201cso in love\u201d and supported each other\u2019s lifestyle choices. \u201cJoaquin transforms all his girlfriends into being holistic, vegan, spiritual and into saving the world.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite their apparent disinterest in the institution of marriage, Us<\/em> confirmed<\/a> in July 2019 that Phoenix had gotten down on one knee. Since their engagement news made headlines, Mara has stood happily by her soon-to-be husband\u2019s side<\/a> through film premieres, political rallies and awards seasons.<\/p>\n