Meet Charlie Hunnam's longtime partner who remains out of the spotlight amid new Netflix show
As Charlie Hunnam stars in Netflix's upcoming Monster: The Ed Gein Story, HELLO! takes a closer look at his romantic relationship with girlfriend Morgana McNelis
Charlie Hunnam is currently gearing up to hit screens on October 3 in Netflix's Monster: The Ed Gein Story. From creators Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, the upcoming episodes will delve into the story of Ed Gein, who was responsible for multiple crimes in Plainfield, Wisconsin during the 1950s. "I wanted to get as close as possible to who Ed was, to do him justice, and for this thing to feel authentic," Charlie told Tudum about his upcoming role. "This is going to be the really human, tender, unflinching, no-holds-barred exploration of who Ed was and what he did. But who he was being at the center of it, rather than what he did."
However, away from the spotlight, Charlie is a devoted partner to his longtime girlfriend, Morgana McNelis. The couple, who have mostly kept their relationship private, have occasionally appeared together on red carpets over the years, with Charlie sharing glimpses into their relationship from time to time. HELLO! takes a closer look at who Morgana is – and how she’s supported her famous partner throughout the years.
Morgana McNelis and Charlie Hunnam in navy suit at the Netflix's "Monster: The Ed Gein Story" New York premiere at The Plaza Hotel
Jewelry designer
Morgana is the creative director of the jewelry brand Maison de Morgana. The line boasts everything from rings and bracelets to earrings and necklaces crafted from brass and white bronze. As per the site, Maison de Morgana is described as "eclectic jewelry designed and inspired for daydreamers & make-believers".
"She told me she was making me a diamond encrusted ring – she's a jewelry designer, not an actor – and I was like 'Uh-oh. This is not going to go well for me,' " Charlie told ELLE in 2012. "But I love it. It's so discrete and beautiful."
The couple kept the relationship private for almost a decade before they went public with their romance. Charlie previously spoke out on Facebook to defend his girlfriend from the negativity she was receiving online at the time. "It has been brought to my attention that there is a group of immature girls posting a large number of hard messages aimed at my long time girlfriend," he penned.
"I would respectfully ask you to stop doing this. She is an intelligent, beautiful, kind person who just tried to live a simple life and has nothing to do with the entertainment industry."
In 2013, the couple purchased a ranch in California – a quaint farm that has become their sanctuary over the years. "My girlfriend and I just bought a ranch, so we are getting out of Hollywood completely," Charlie told the U.K.'s 7 Nights magazine. "It's in California. We've got 30 chickens and a couple of donkeys, a couple of ducks and we've got a big, organic garden. We are going to try to live a bit more sustainably."
Despite being together for 15 years, Charlie and Morgana are yet to tie the knot. The actor was asked about his view on marriage during a press interview in 2020, to which he responded that he was "sort of indifferent" to the idea. "She does not feel the same. She's very eager," he explained of his girlfriend. "I'll do it because it's important to her but I don't have any great romantic feelings towards it."
"I'm, like, so romantic, and the reality is I sort of consider myself married," he added. "I've been with my girlfriend for 14 years. I suppose what I was trying to articulate the official government sanction of it doesn't mean anything to me but the romance of it means an enormous amount."
In 2013, before Charlie stepped down from the role of Christian Grey in Fifty Shades of Grey, he told People how excited his girlfriend was about the project. "It was a decision we made together, but she loved the books. She [was] really excited about the potential of this opportunity for me and if anything, I just think it will bring us closer," he shared.
"It's very hard to be with an actor. She's required to share parts of me that she wouldn't really want to share, of course. And with the certain nature of this role, it's going to be times 10."
Mae Martin stars as Alex Dempsey, a young police officer
Wayward – Netflix
Recently released on Netflix, this new crime series is set in the fictional town of Tall Pines which hosts an academy for troubled teens. When two students, Leila and Abbie, escape, they join forces with a local cop to uncover the dark secrets the town may be hiding.
2/5
Evan Peters gives a chilling performance
Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story – Netflix
The first season of the Monster biographical drama anthology series focuses on Jeffrey Dahmer, chronicling how he became one of America's most notorious serial murderers. Jeffrey committed the killings between 1978 and 1991, until he was eventually convicted – a shocking case and a disturbing watch.
3/5
The documentary tells the true crime story of the brothers who still remain in prision
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story – Netflix
The second season of Monster centres on Lyle and Erik Menendez, who murdered their parents, José and Kitty, in Beverly Hills 1989. The brothers face prosecution under the claim they wanted to inherit the family fortune, but they argue their drastic actions stemmed from fear and a turbulent childhood.
Annaleigh Ashford plays Melissa Reed in this dark drama
Happy Face – Paramount+
Melissa Jesperson-Moore’s father is the serial killer known as the 'Happy Face Killer'. After decades of no contact, he attempts to force his way back into his daughter’s life from prison in this series inspired by a true story.
For any Ryan Murphy fans, this horror anthology series follows a different set of characters each season, set in their own mini-universe. The first season, Murder House, centres on a family living in a haunted home – with a cast including Evan Peters.
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