Woody Allen’s love life has raised eyebrows for decades, but no relationship has caused more outrage than the one the multiple-award-winning filmmaker is in today.
He’s been married three times—first to Harlene Rosen in the ‘50s, then to actress Louise Lasser in the ‘60s. But it’s his third marriage that’s kept the tabloids running: Allen tied the knot with Soon-Yi Previn, the adopted daughter of his longtime partner Mia Farrow and her ex-husband André Previn.
When the relationship went public, so did the backlash. Many believed Soon-Yi was Allen’s adopted daughter from his time with Farrow. That rumor still lingers, but the real story is far messier than the headlines make it seem.
Who Is Woody Allen’s Wife, Soon-Yi Previn?
Soon-Yi is the adopted daughter of actress Mia Farrow and her then-husband, composer André Previn.
She was reportedly found abandoned in Seoul on February 12, 1976, and placed in a local institution called Maria’s House. After authorities failed to identify her family, Previn was moved to St. Paul’s Orphanage. Later that year, on December 28, the Seoul Family Court issued a Family Census Register for her, assigning an official birthdate of October 8, 1970.
In 1978, Farrow and André adopted her and brought her to the United States. Their marriage ended a year later, in 1979, and by 1980, Farrow began a long-term relationship with filmmaker Woody Allen.
Although Allen never officially adopted Soon-Yi, the actor and comedian did adopt two of Farrow’s other children—Dylan and Moses Farrow. In 1987, Allen and Farrow also had a biological son together, journalist Ronan Farrow.
Things fell apart in 1992, when Allen was accused of sexually abusing Dylan. He denied the accusation, claiming his then-partner Farrow had coached her in response to discovering his relationship with Soon-Yi.
How Rumors Began That Allen Married His Daughter
One of the most controversial parts of Allen’s life is the widespread belief that he married his own adopted daughter.
While that idea caught fire in the public imagination, the facts are more complicated. As mentioned earlier, Soon-Yi Previn was adopted by Mia Farrow and her then-husband André Previn, not by Allen. He has publicly stated that he was never a father figure to her in any sense.
According to Soon-Yi, she first connected with Allen on a personal level in 11th grade after injuring herself playing soccer. During her recovery, he offered her rides to school, and throughout 1990, they began attending New York Knicks games together.
As they spent more time, the relationship shifted, and they became closer
In his memoir Apropros of Nothing, Allen described the early stages of their romance as something he initially expected to stay quiet and short-lived. “Soon-Yi and I thought we could have our little fling, keep it a secret… I thought it would be a nice experience and Soon-Yi would eventually meet some guy at college… I didn’t realize how attached to one another we’d already grown.”
The situation exploded in January 1992 when Farrow discovered nude photos of Soon-Yi in Allen’s apartment. He later admitted he had taken the photos just one day prior, about two weeks after they had first slept together. At the time, Allen was 56.
In an August 1992 interview with Time, Allen defended the relationship, saying, “I am not Soon-Yi’s father or stepfather.”
He explained that he had never lived with Farrow, never stayed at her apartment, and was not involved in family life with her adopted children. He also noted that he and Soon-Yi barely spoke before their romantic involvement.
Later that month, on August 17, Allen went public with his feelings, telling The New York Times, “Regarding my love for Soon-Yi: It’s real and happily all true. She’s a lovely, intelligent, sensitive woman who has and continues to turn around my life in a wonderfully positive way.”
Allen and Soon-Yi Previn Got Married in December 1997
They officially tied the knot on December 22, 1997. Though the ceremony took place in Venice, Italy, the marriage quickly became a hot topic back in New York. At 62, Allen was marrying 27-year-old Previn—sparking endless gossip, especially about what it meant to have Mia Farrow as his now-estranged ex and technical mother-in-law.
The wedding was kept small and private, held at Palazzo Cavalli, the Venice city hall, with only a handful of close friends and family present.
Once the vows were exchanged, the newlyweds were chased through the narrow streets of Venice by paparazzi and television crews before heading off to Paris.
They Have Two Daughters
Soon after their 1997 wedding, Woody and his wife, Soon-Yi, adopted two daughters: Bechet and Manzie.
Bechet was named after jazz legend Sidney Bechet. When the adoption was announced, press agent Allen Eichhorn told The New York Times, “They are extremely happy.” Their second daughter, Manzie, was also named in honor of a jazz musician.
The couple raised their daughters with very different parenting styles—Soon-Yi handled the discipline, while Allen was more relaxed. But when it came to the bigger decisions, they were always on the same page. Soon-Yi chose to stay home full-time, prioritizing motherhood over a career of her own.
Bechet attended Bard College, while Manzie earned her degree from Whittier College in California. Both have occasionally been spotted accompanying their father at events over the years.
The family lives in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, in the Carnegie Hill neighborhood.
