Ebon Moss-Bachrach shares a long-standing partnership with Yelena Yemchuk, which has flourished since the 1990s. Known for his roles in The Bear, Girls, and NOS4A2, Moss-Bachrach isn’t the only accomplished figure in the household. His wife, Yemchuk, has earned recognition in photography, collaborating with prestigious outlets like Vogue.
Their paths initially crossed through a mutual friend during the 1990s, although both were involved in other relationships at the time. After about 18 months, they started dating and eventually had two daughters, Sasha and Maribelle. Through the years, they’ve supported each other’s careers while raising their family together.
Yemchuk, a celebrated photographer, has worked with high-profile outlets like Vogue
Despite their busy schedules, the couple makes time for family. Yemchuk expressed her love for her husband and children in a 2017 interview, while Moss-Bachrach shared in The Talks how family has shaped his career choices, noting that he now limits his theater work to stay close to his loved ones.
Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, Yemchuk relocated to Brooklyn in 1981 during her childhood. Summers spent at Kyiv’s Hidropark remain a cherished memory for her, comparing it to a Soviet version of Coney Island.
Her early exposure to Russian at home and school was partly due to her involvement in gymnastics, which exempted her from Ukrainian classes.
After high school, Yemchuk studied art and design at Parsons School of Design and later at ArtCenter College of Design in California. Photography became her passion when she received a camera for her 14th birthday, thanks to her father’s influence.
The couple first met at a dinner party but didn’t begin dating immediately. Yemchuk was initially uninterested in dating an actor, but after spending time with Moss-Bachrach, she remarked that he lacked the self-centeredness she associated with actors.
Yemchuk’s photography career spans various fields, including fashion. She has contributed to Italian, British, and Japanese Vogue, i-D, and Dazed & Confused, among others. In 2011, she published Gidropark, a photo book reflecting her childhood memories from Kyiv.
Together, Moss-Bachrach and Yemchuk welcomed two daughters, Sasha and Maribelle, born in 2007 and 2010, respectively. Yemchuk shares her native language with her children, who were also cared for by a Ukrainian-speaking nanny.
Though the couple values their privacy, they occasionally share glimpses of family life on social media, such as a vacation photo from Matera, Italy, in 2019.
Before her relationship with Moss-Bachrach, Yemchuk dated musician Billy Corgan, lead singer of The Smashing Pumpkins. Their artistic connection extended into her photography, as she shot promotional images and directed the band’s music video for “Thirty-Three.”
Balancing their careers and family life is an ongoing effort for the couple. In a 2023 interview with Sharp, Moss-Bachrach described how they pass their hectic schedules and adapt to each other’s career demands. Their shared understanding helps them stay connected, even when work takes them in different directions.
Public appearances are another way they show support for one another. Yemchuk accompanied Moss-Bachrach to the Primetime Emmy Awards in 2024 and joined him for the premiere of The Bear’s third season that same year.
Yemchuk frequently returns to Ukraine, visiting since the fall of Communism in the 1990s. Her book on Odesa captures the spirit of the city, which she describes as wild, mysterious, and beautiful. Between 2014 and 2019, she made several trips to complete the project, reaffirming her connection to her roots.
