Malin Akerman Says Husband Jack Donnelly 'Taught Me a Lot' About Communication: 'He's a Master at It' (Exclusive)

The actress tells PEOPLE how her husband's communication skills "allowed" her to be "vulnerable and lean into him a bit"

Malin Akerman considers husband Jack Donnelly a pro at communication in their marriage.

"He's a master at it. He's taught me a lot," she tells PEOPLE in this week's issue. "I wasn't very good at it. I was very good at just kind of plowing through, surviving and going for it, [thinking] that I can do everything and I don't need help."

"He's allowed me to be vulnerable and lean into him a bit, and it's been beautiful to be able to communicate with someone who's your partner."

The Billions actress, 45, and Donnelly, 38, tied the knot in Tulum, Mexico, in December 2018 after previously announcing their engagement in October 2017. Akerman was previously married to musician Roberto Zincone from 2007 to 2013, with whom she shares 10-year-old son Sebastian.

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Date nights are also key to her marriage with Donnelly, Akerman says.

"I love date nights. We both live for them," she says. "Sometimes, when we know we're not going to be able to do a date night one week, then we go out for breakfast together."

"We put a lot of importance on that," Akerman continues. "It is incredible how many people don't do it and how you see their connection fizzling, especially when you have kids and everything revolves around things that need to be done versus giving yourself a moment to be together."

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The couple finds smaller moments every day to reconnect too. Once Sebastian goes to sleep around 8 p.m. or 9 p.m., Akerman and Donnelly follow an evening routine: They'll make a cup of tea, have a piece of chocolate, "curl up on the couch" and watch a TV show or movie.

"That's the bulk of my day right now when I'm not working," she adds.

Akerman can be seen next in The Christmas Classic, a holiday movie about Elizabeth Bird (Akerman) returning to her small hometown, vying to win a series of ski events so the local ski resort's owner, Randy Collins (Ryan Hansen), agrees to sell to her boyfriend's corporation.

The Christmas Classic is in select theaters Nov. 3, then on Showtime and Paramount+ Dec. 15.

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