Actress and musician Hilary Duff has provided a refreshingly honest perspective on marriage, revealing that despite maintaining a strong partnership with her husband, musician Matthew Koma, the couple experiences one significant argument annually.
During a conversation with actress Dakota Fanning published in Interview magazine on February 23, Duff addressed common questions about working alongside her spouse. The 38-year-old performer initially stated that conflict rarely occurs between the couple, who married in 2019. However, she subsequently clarified that the relationship does experience periodic tension.
"We have one drag-out fight once a year," Duff acknowledged during the interview. The former Lizzie McGuire star recounted a recent incident during the January 2025 Los Angeles fires when tensions escalated to the point where she threw her husband's phone into a bougainvillea bush.
The timing of that particular confrontation occurred during an exceptionally stressful period. The couple had opened their home to friends Mandy Moore and Taylor Goldsmith, whose Pacific Palisades residence was destroyed in the wildfires. Managing multiple children during the displacement created additional pressure on the household.
"We had been displaced, we had all the kids, and we just needed to have it out," Duff explained, referring to the challenging circumstances that precipitated the argument.
The couple shares three daughters: Banks, age seven, Mae, age four, and Townes, 21 months. Duff also has a 13-year-old son, Luca, from her previous marriage to Mike Comrie.
Beyond their personal relationship, Duff and Koma have collaborated professionally on her forthcoming album, "Luck ... or Something," which marks her return to recording after a 10 to 15-year hiatus. The creative partnership proved successful, with Duff praising her husband's musical expertise and ability to translate technical concepts into accessible language.
"He makes music all day, every day since he was 15 years old," Duff noted, emphasizing Koma's extensive experience in the industry. She described him as functioning almost as a translator during the recording process, bridging her artistic vision with technical execution.
The actress expressed particular appreciation for her husband's understanding of contemporary musical trends. "He also knows my style and he's got his pulse on the cool factor," she stated. "He definitely elevates me and my taste beyond belief."
Duff emphasized that working exclusively with Koma on the album was essential to achieving authenticity in the final product. His intimate knowledge of her life experiences, both challenging and positive, enabled a level of creative honesty that would have been difficult to achieve with other collaborators.
"The most honest stuff came from that because he has a front row to my life and everything I've experienced," Duff explained. "The really difficult times and the really easy good times that made me who I am."
The performer also reflected on the evolution of her independence throughout her career. Having worked in the entertainment industry since childhood, Duff described herself as having maintained a solitary approach to professional challenges for many years. Accepting her husband's support represented a significant shift in perspective.
"Growing up in the industry, I felt like a lone rider for such a long time," she shared. "It took me a really long time to accept how much he could take off of my plate."
The couple's relationship appears to balance occasional conflict with strong mutual support and creative synergy. Duff characterized their partnership as a "unit," emphasizing the comfort derived from having consistent support in navigating both personal and professional challenges.
The forthcoming album represents a significant milestone for fans who have awaited new material from the artist for over a decade. Duff indicated that the project was designed to feel cohesive and substantial, worthy of the extended wait her audience has experienced.