Richard Gere Opens Up About Life in Spain — and the One Thing He Still Misses About America

Richard Gere may have embraced life in Spain with open arms, but the Hollywood icon admits that there is one part of the United States he still aches for: the unmistakable pulse of New York City.

Speaking to People (source), the 76-year-old actor said he deeply misses the “energy” of Manhattan — the city he first moved to in the early 1970s while struggling to break into acting. Calling it “very addictive,” Gere reflected on the decades he spent living in the Big Apple, from his days as a young Broadway performer to becoming one of Hollywood’s most recognizable leading men.

A New Life in Madrid

Gere and his wife, Spanish publicist Alejandra Silva, 42, officially relocated to Madrid last year with their two children, Alexander, 5, and James, 4. The move marked a major transition for the family, who previously lived on a sprawling $10.75 million estate in Connecticut.

Despite occasionally yearning for the vibrancy of New York, Gere said he is “thrilled” with their new life in Spain — especially because it brings his wife so much joy.

“My wife is so happy in Spain, so that’s the best part,” Gere told People (source). “She has wonderful family, wonderful friends.”

He praised Spain’s relaxed lifestyle, adding: “Spanish culture… there’s a very open joy about it. People are very warm, very open, a lot less stressed. It’s a very happy place.”

Gere compared Spanish culture to Italy, describing both as “Latin cultures that understand life in a different way.” (BBC Travel has similarly reported on Mediterranean cultures’ emphasis on family, emotional warmth, and slower living — source.)

Richard Gere attends the DOC NYC Visionaries Luncheon on November 12, 2025

Richard Gere and Alejandra Silva attend the Giorgio Armani fashion show during the Milan Womenswear Spring/Summer 2026 on September 28, 2025 in Milan, Italy.

A Love Story Rooted in Shared Values

Gere and Silva first met in 2014 and married four years later. Together they share two sons. Gere is also father to 25-year-old Homer, from his previous marriage to Carey Lowell, while Silva has an 11-year-old son, Albert, from an earlier relationship.

In a joint interview with Elle España (source) earlier this year, Gere described their current life in Madrid as “our momentum,” adding, “We are happier than ever.”

Silva echoed the sentiment: “We are like soulmates… we see the world in the same way. From the first moment, it felt like we had known each other for a long time. And this only happens once — if it happens at all.”

She even joked that they were united by “the karma of our past lives.”

Family Life in Spain

Silva said their children have adapted beautifully to their new environment: “Richard is a very devoted and present father. He loves to read them stories. It seems like an idyllic photo, but it’s true. He’s a great dad.”

The couple’s domestic routine, she shared, is simple but joyful: “He doesn’t cook. I do it. But when I cook, he plays the guitar.”

Gere previously said on The Tonight Show (source) that the move to Spain also allows their sons — who are bilingual — to thrive in a fully Spanish-speaking environment.

A Move Driven by Meaning and Mission

Beyond family reasons, Gere and Silva were also drawn to Spain for humanitarian work. Both now sit on the board of Hogar Sí, a major Spanish nonprofit organization working to end homelessness. According to The Guardian (source), Spain has faced persistent issues with rough sleeping, particularly in major cities such as Madrid and Barcelona.

Silva explained: “We are here to help this country end homelessness. Our goal is that within five years, no one sleeps on the street.”

Gere, a longtime human rights advocate, emphasized the philosophy that guides him. Quoting advice from the 14th Dalai Lama — whom he has publicly supported for decades — he said: “Whenever you can, be kind. And it is always possible.”

Richard Gere was recently spotted leaving Locanda Verde in New York City.

Still Missing the City That Made Him

Despite the serenity of his new life in Spain, Gere says a part of him will always be tied to New York.

“It’s the energy,” he told People (source). “There’s nothing like it.”

But with a happy family, meaningful work, and a thriving new life in Madrid, Gere seems more than content embracing this new chapter — even from across the ocean.