Piper Perabo and her husband, Stephen Kay, first crossed paths while filming the hit USA Network spy series Covert Affairs—and years later, they still love working side by side.
“I would work with her all day, every day,” Kay shared during the Tribeca Festival Lisboa on Saturday, expressing his admiration for collaborating with his wife. “He’s my favorite director. We trust each other,” Perabo added at the press conference in Lisbon, Portugal.
The Coyote Ugly actress fondly recalled how their relationship blossomed in the midst of chaos—specifically, in the heavy traffic of Marrakesh during a challenging shoot.
“I didn’t really know how to drive a manual car. And Stephen and I were filming in Marrakesh and the only car they could get was a manual car. And it’s a chase scene,” she explained.
“So I have to jump in the car, start the car and drive into live traffic in Marrakesh. And it’s pretty hard to learn to drive a stick at the same time as you’re acting.”
She continued, “But it was so cool to have Stephen as we were falling in love jump in the car and teach me how to drive a stick. And I really wanted to impress him and make him think I can do anything.”
Reflecting on her breakout role in Coyote Ugly, Perabo said, “It was only my third professional job. For me, it was a fulfillment of my dreams to play a studio movie. To get to play the lead role, to work with all those incredible women.”
“It was almost more than I could handle. I’m amazed that people still watch and remember it,” she added.
Tribeca Festival Lisboa concluded on Saturday.