India, Oct. 2 -- Joaquin Phoenix has recently sparked marriage rumours with his longtime partner, Rooney Mara. On his Sunday appearance on the Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso podcast, the Joker star was discussing his 2020 Oscars speech when he referred to the 39-year-old actress as his "wife" publicly for the first time.

Phoenix told host Fragoso that he got the inspiration for his acceptance speech while he "was talking with my mom and my wife." Moments later, the 49-year-old called the Carol star by her first name, confirming that he was indeed talking about her. "Rooney was like, 'That's what you should say!'" he said. Despite the podcast being the first time he called her wife, Phoenix refrained from giving a clarification on his alleged...