Inside The Whirlwind Romance Of Riley Keough And Her Stuntman Husband, Ben Smith-Petersen

A Love Story Born on Set

Daisy Jones & the Six star Riley Keough has been living her own Hollywood fairy tale with her husband, Ben Smith-Petersen, for nearly a decade. Their love story is the stuff of movies – quite literally, as they first crossed paths on the set of the high-octane film Mad Max: Fury Road. According to Keough, she quickly felt that they were meant for each other after meeting while filming in Namibia. Their connection only deepened when they reunited for reshoots in Australia.

Smith-Petersen, whose resume includes stunt work on blockbuster hits like Barbie, Suicide Squad, and The Hunger Games, swept Keough off her feet with his adventurous spirit and undeniable chemistry. As Keough recalled to Vogue Australia, their relationship took off during a trip to Australia in 2013. "Ben was on set, and I saw him... there was something about him," she shared, adding a touch of SoCal charm to her tale of love.

“He came up to me and said, ‘Can I send you my music to listen to?’ and I said, ‘Sure.’ I told him, ‘I’m here for a month, I don’t have much to do...maybe you could teach me to surf?’ Which is hilarious because I’m so terrified of sharks and I would never surf now.”

A Whirlwind Romance

From matching tattoos to an impromptu trip to England, Keough and Smith-Petersen’s love story unfolded at a breakneck pace. Within days of spending time together, they were joking about future homes, and Keough was already fantasizing about a life together. "I knew I was in love with him," she confessed, reminiscing about stargazing on a trampoline in his family's backyard.

Their relationship was sealed with matching tattoos just days after they first hung out. Keough candidly shared with Vogue that they never imagined the romance would go the distance, yet here they are, married since 2015. Their adventure-filled connection even led to a symbolic Hindu wedding in Nepal before their official ceremony.

Family and Future

The couple’s family grew with the arrival of their daughter in August 2022, and as of 2025, they have welcomed a second child. The couple honored Keough’s lineage with the name Tupelo Storm, a nod to her grandfather, Elvis Presley. While they maintain a degree of privacy, Keough has expressed immense gratitude for the surrogate process, appreciating the selflessness involved.

Keough’s grandmother, Priscilla Presley, expressed joy for her growing family, saying, "I love her babies. She’s got an amazing husband and two great children, so I’m happy for her very much." It seems the adventure continues for Riley Keough and Ben Smith-Petersen as they savor the joys of parenthood and the Hollywood life.