Toni Collette has played many deep, varied characters over the years. But in all of these roles, whether that be in Muriel's Wedding or The Sixth Sense, she has always refrained from playing a character similar to herself in real life.

This might also mean that the characters usually have deep meanings behind their lives, but the life they have is not similar to hers. One of such roles is her portrayal of Joy in Wanderlust.

The show, about a counselor trying to revive her own marriage with her husband, Alan, has nothing in common with her actual life with her husband, Dave Galafassi.

But, her part was so good, even Galafassi was moved.

Toni Collette’s Husband Praised Her Part in ‘Wanderlust’

In the show, Collette's character, Joy, a therapist, is in a situation where she finds herself wanting more out of her marriage with her husband, Alan.

She starts to question monogamy and whether she should act on her temptations for another man.

Extramarital affairs take place from both her and Alan's sides. Collette understood the intricacies of marriage and how real it is for those situations to happen in real life.

"Everybody goes through the same stuff," Collette said of her character's situation. She recognized how people look for perfection in their marriages at the beginning.

But she also thought it was a difficult thing to predict how your spouse might grow and change. "And if you don't make an effort to [do that] together, you don't know what'll happen," said the actress of marital woes.

The show is full of "fumbly sex scenes," as SMH put it, some of which Colleen is in. Between acting on these and delivering funny, deep lines for her role, Collette gave a great performance on the show.

Her real-life husband, Galafassi, understood all of this. When asked if he had watched it during her interview with SMH in September 2018, she got teary-eyed.

"All of it," Collette admitted. Speaking of his understanding nature, she said, "He's really open-minded and pretty aware of what life can throw at people."

Her husband also told her, "This is the best thing you've ever done." The compliment had made her cry.

While talking to Now To Love in January 2019, she revealed a few more details about her marriage and how her character's life was different from her own.

She had a realization about growing together and the importance of communication even before she got the role.

However, the actress clarified that having an open relationship was not something she would even consider in her real life.

Toni Collette with her husband Dave Galafassi.

Toni Collette with her husband Dave Galafassi. (Photo: Twitter)

When asked why she thought her marriage lasted as long as she did, she credited Galafassi.

"My husband is such a good person. He's so patient. He's amazing with our kids," she gushed. "and he's so loving, caring, and supportive. He puts everybody else first. I'm the luckiest woman, I really am."

Toni Collette’s Wedding and Family Life

Collette first met her husband in early 2002 in Sydney. She went to a friend's boyfriend's band, Gelbison's, album launch.

Galafassi was in charge of the drums, and they got to know one another after the concert. They again met days later at a house party.

Their relationship took off after spending an unplanned 12 hours at the party.

Then came their wedding, on January 11, 2003. It was a traditional Buddhist sunset wedding with Buddhist monks assisting the service.

The couple now has two kids — Sage Florence and Arlo Robert. Daughter Sage was born on January 9, 2008, and Arlo came into the world on April 22, 2011.

Collette now lives with her family in Sydney.