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From Jane Eyre to Grey’s Anatomy: A History of Surprise Cinematic Spouses

Though its latest movie adaptation, starring Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender, only hits theaters today, Jane Eyre is such a staple of high-school classrooms (and Masterpiece Theater) that most everyone will know what’s coming: a crazy wife, locked in the attic, who shows up just in time to stymie the wedding of Jane to Mr. Rochester. He’s already married? Harsh! … but not uncommon. The surprise, secret spouse has ruined — or at least temporarily complicated — many a movie or TV love story, usually somewhere between the romantic leads’ first “I love you”s and their own legally questionable “I do”s. To celebrate this time-honored plot device and their corresponding obligatory shocking reveals, Vulture now presents a roundup of the best “Surprise, I’m married!” moments, honoring great achievements in fictional husband and wife concealment. (Fiancés were not included, because, let’s be real — those weddings never actually happen.) Sit back and watch the love fall apart.

From Jane Eyre to Grey’s Anatomy: A History of Surprise Cinematic Spouses