Layne Beachley reveals why she wasn’t attracted to husband Kirk Pengilly during their first date

They may have one of the strongest marriages in Australian showbiz, having recently celebrated their 12-year wedding anniversary. 

But legendary surfer Layne Beachley, 50, has admitted her relationship with husband Kirk Pengilly, 64, was anything but love at first sight. 

Speaking to the Life Uncut podcast this week, Layne revealed she and INXS rocker Kirk had absolutely no chemistry when they initially met, describing their first date as an ‘absolute s**tshow’. 

The couple first met in Sydney’s Dee Why on the Northern Beaches 20 years ago after promising mutual friend Jon Stevens they would go on a date.

‘There was no connection, no chemistry, nothing. I didn’t even want to go on the date. I had no interest in him whatsoever,’ Layne explained. 

‘John Stevens [from INXS] decided that we would be a great match. And quite honestly, I was much more attracted to Jon Stevens that I was to Kirk Pengilly,’ she added dryly. 

Layne admitted she had ‘no idea’ why Jon thought she’d be a good match for musician Kirk, yet he somehow managed to create a perfect couple. 

‘Kirk and I have nothing in common and that continues to be reinforced daily how little we have in common. But we’ve been together for 20 years. We’ve been married for 12 years’ she mused. 

The surfing world titleholder then recalled the couple’s disastrous first date, which included a game of ten-pin bowling at Dee Why RSL and an intimate dinner at a nearby restaurant. 

Speaking to the Life Uncut podcast this week, Layne revealed she and INXS rocker Kirk had absolutely no chemistry when they initially met, describing their first date as an ‘absolute s**tshow’. Pictured in 2004 

‘The whole way Kirk decides to talk about surfing. And I’m like, ‘F**k me, really? The last thing I want to think about and talk about is surfing, but you obviously think that’s maybe the only thing I do know anything about,’ she recalled. 

‘Kirk hates the sun, hates the sand, doesn’t like going to the beach – yet we live right by one – and then when we sit down at dinner we’re yawning in each other’s face.’ 

Layne said she even considered escaping the date by climbing out of the window in the bathroom window. 

The couple first met in Sydney’s Dee Why on the Northern Beaches 20 years ago, after promising mutual friend Jon Stevens they would go on a date. Pictured in 2010

Eventually, the owner of the restaurant recognised that the date was a disaster, so he tried to diffuse the awkwardness by sitting down at their table with a bottle of limoncello. 

Things quickly loosened up as the drinks began to flow, and it wasn’t long before she and Kirk were laughing and telling jokes. 

The drunken twosome eventually ended up at Layne’s house, where they watched the popular Pixar film Monsters Inc before sharing a kiss on the balcony. 

‘Kirk and I have nothing in common and that continues to be reinforced daily, how little we have in common. But we’ve been together for 20 years. We’ve been married for 12 years’ she mused. Pictured in 2015

The couple have been together ever since, with Layne referring to Kirk as the ‘love of my life’ in a sweet birthday tribute last July. 

In an interview with Stellar magazine in October 2020, they revealed how the Covid lockdowns brought them closer.

‘When it was truly lockdown, we were sitting down and eating at home all the time… and we’ve become more social with each other,’ Kirk, 62, said.

The couple have been together ever since, with Layne referring to Kirk as the ‘love of my life’ in a sweet birthday tribute last July 

While acknowledging how the pandemic has had a devastating impact on the lives of many, Layne did say that she’s been able to see the silver lining.

‘COVID has been a s**t time for a lot of people, but it’s been an absolute blessing for me – and allowed me to reset,’ the 48-year-old explained.

‘Before March we were all gung-ho and we never really considered stopping to reflect on the quality of our lives, the nature of our relationships, and the quality of our health and wellbeing.’

In an interview with Stellar magazine in October 2020, they revealed how the Covid lockdowns brought them closer. Pictured in 2021