‘Two-week rule’ that is the success behind Robert Downey Jr.'s 19-year marriage to wife

Most newlyweds hope they will have a lasting marriage, so getting tips from someone who has been in a long-running and successful one is never a bad idea.

Robert Downey Jr is one of those who knows all about a happy marriage, having married Susan Downey in August 2005.

Downey Jr had a tricky time of things prior to that, often seeing himself on the wrong side of the law due to his drug addiction.

The film star was even sentenced to a period of three years behind bars after missing a required drug test in 1999.

Downey Jr managed to turn his life around however, with the actor praising his wife in his Oscar's acceptance speech after claiming Best Supporting Actor for his role in Oppenheimer.

Robert Downey Jr has been married for 19 years (Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Lincoln Center Theater)

Thanking his partner for helping him in his recovery, Downey Jr said: "She found me, a snarling rescue pet, and loved me back to life. That's why I am here. Thank you."

The pair first met whilst making the 2003 film Gothika, before tying the knot two years later.

They also share two children, Exton, 12, and nine-year-old Avri.

Many will wonder how the pair have maintained such a successful marriage, thankfully Susan has revealed all.

Susan explained that the pair have a crucial rule - they do not go longer than two weeks without seeing each other.

“We do have a two-week rule, which often feels too long, but we don't go more than two weeks without seeing each other and the family being together,” Susan told PEOPLE.

“Fortunately, we prefer to be a traveling circus when we can be." she continued to say.

The couple try to stick with the 'basic rule' but sometimes life can be 'oddly unpredictable' so they don't think 'too far ahead'.

The actor pictured with his wife (Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Lincoln Center Theater)

“Someone might get sick, or there might be a shutdown, or this or that.

"So you just have to have some basic things in place, and then you have to be willing to flow with the rest of it.” she added.

Susan went on to say she was fortunate that her job as a producer doesn’t require her to be in front of the camera so she can be more flexible when it comes to seeing her family.

Susan added: “The good news is I'm not in front of the camera, and so as a producer I end up with a little bit more flexibility in terms of location, of where I would need to be.

“I really admire and have a lot of empathy for couples who both have to be in front of the camera, because you get stuck and you have to make those choices.”