How Henry Cavill's girlfriend Natalie Viscuso went from being the privileged teen reality star daughter of a millionaire to finding love with the actor in lockdown and bonding over cooking and chess

Henry Cavill's relationship with Hollywood exec girlfriend Natalie Viscuso has been going strong for almost three years now. 

Despite keeping most parts of their relationship private, the Superman actor, 40, and Natalie, 34, have shared the occasional sweet snap playing chess or cooking together. 

Natalie works in TV but had a brief taste of life in front of the camera as a teenager on the MTV hit My Super Sweet 16.

And MailOnline understands Natalie's father Michael is a former nightclub mogul, which led to her appearance on the TV series that later became a global hit.

Now, the New Mexico-turned-California executive loves hanging out in the beautiful nature her new home has to offer alongside boyfriend Henry and their two dogs. 

Henry Cavill's relationship with Hollywood exec girlfriend Natalie Viscuso has been going strong for almost three years now

Despite keeping most parts of their relationship private, they have shared the occasional sweet snap playing chess, walking their dogs or cooking together

Who is Natalie Viscuso?

Natalie is the former Vice President of TV at Vertigo Entertainment but had a brief taste of life in front of the camera as a teenager on the MTV hit My Super Sweet 16.

A description of the episode read: 'At 15 years old, Natalie is now living in a $5 million house and cruising around town in her dad's Bentleys and Ferraris. What more could she want? How about being the most popular girl at school?'

During the episode, Natalie was described as hailing from 'sleepy Roswell, New Mexico,' but moved to La Jolla, California, with her father and his then-fiancé.

Natalie's father Michael is a former nightclub mogul, which led to her appearance on the TV series that later became a global hit.

Previously, she was the vice president of television and digital studios at Legendary Entertainment.

It's one of the production companies behind Cavill's movies Man of Steel (2013) and Enola Holmes (2020).

Natalie attended the University of Southern California which she graduated from in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in Cinematic Arts. 

Natalie's mother Tammie Kay Baumann died in August 2017 after a battle with cancer.

A year after her death, Natalie wrote: 'Today I'm choosing to remember her in all of her incredible beauty, joy and radiance that she was so loved for. The last photo here is only a couple months before she died, and yet, she was still stunning, positive minded and shining with love. She never believed she was dying. 

'She had such a hunger for life and desperate need for us to be together, mother and daughter...she just wouldn't accept death. She fought the most excruciating battle... I actually can't fathom anything worse. But she fought every step with her beautiful smile brightening up the darkest of rooms. 

'She is the strongest woman I've ever known. Today, that's what I'm remembering. And of course, #f**kcancer.'

The Superman actor, 40, announced his relationship with Natalie, 34, in 2021 and in 2022, the two went red carpet official, attending their first event together: the Enola Holmes 2 premiere in New York City

Natalie is the former Vice President of TV at Vertigo Entertainment but had a brief taste of life in front of the camera as a teenager on the MTV hit My Super Sweet 16

Natalie's mother Tammie Kay Baumann died in August 2017 after a battle with cancer

How did they meet?

Henry announced his relationship with Natalie in 2021.

A source close to the couple told MailOnline Henry and Natalie met years ago after 'crossing paths' while working in the same industry but romance finally blossomed during lockdown.

'Henry first connected with Natalie years ago, and while a romantic spark wasn't instant between them, they always kept in touch' an insider explained.

'Despite strict travel restrictions in place, Natalie flew from the States to the UK so she could be with Henry, and they were able to go unnoticed from prying eyes in Berkshire as they visited local markets together.

'As a hugely famous actor, Henry is usually very discreet about his personal life and relationships but he's smitten with Natalie, who's been a party girl and aspiring model from a young age, even starring in MTV hit My Super Sweet 16.'

The lovebirds went public with their relationship in April 2021 with an adorable snap of the two playing chess, possibly referencing to the hit drama series, The Queen's Gambit.

In the caption of his post, Henry confirmed that the two were dating, penning: 'This is me looking quietly confident shortly before my beautiful and brilliant love Natalie destroys me in chess.'

Shortly after announcing and confirming their relationship, Henry jumped back onto social media in response to negative comments aimed towards his beau.

He had typed out in a statement on a post that he had seen, 'some social animosity of late.'

The actor further explained that although it could, 'be fun to speculate' and gossip, the 'passion is misplaced, and it causes harm to the people I care about most.'

'I am happy in love, and in life. I'd be enormously grateful if you were happy with me. If you can't bring yourself to be happy with me, then at the very least try to do yourself proud and be the best version of yourself,' Henry concluded.

In 2022, the two went red carpet official, attending their first event together: the Enola Holmes 2 premiere in New York City.

The couple's attendance at the London premiere of Argylle comes after they attended the South Korean premiere earlier this year.

The couple give a glimpse inside their relationship from time-to-time, with social media pictures showing them playing chess and cooking together

Henry once showed them playing the board game and wrote: 'This is me looking quietly confident shortly before my beautiful and brilliant love Natalie, destroys me at chess'

Inside their private relationship

The couple give a glimpse inside their relationship from time-to-time, with social media pictures showing them playing chess and cooking together. 

Henry once showed them playing the board game and wrote: 'This is me looking quietly confident shortly before my beautiful and brilliant love Natalie, destroys me at chess'

In a separate post featuring the same image, Natalie penned: 'Just teaching my dear Henry how to play some chess...or...maybe he let me win?' 

Natalie and Henry shared a French Bulldog named Meat, but he sadly passed away in April 2022.

They brought her elderly French bulldog with them while travelling via private plane for work commitments.

Her pooch had been travelling frequently to and from the US and Europe since the couple announced they were dating.

Dogs of that breed have trouble breathing as a Brachycephalic breed and flying can cause complications for the dogs.

Henry previously said his own pet dog Kal is his best friend who has 'saved his emotional and psychological bacon many times.'

Natalie and Henry shared a French Bulldog named Meat, but he sadly passed away in April 2022

In 2023, the couple introduced their new French Bulldog Baggins on social media

In 2023, the couple introduced their new French Bulldog Baggins on social media. 

Henry wrote on Instagram: 'Back in April, our French Bulldog, Meat, died. He lived a very long life (14 and a half years) and his last years were filled with adventure and fun. Nevertheless his passing hurt. It hurt a lot. 

'Life must go on, however, and it did, but there was a hole in our hearts that needed nourishing. There is no replacing Meatboi, but Natalie and I have opened a new chapter in our lives, in a few ways, and this little chap is one of them! This is Baggins! 

'Kal is being a rather tropey grumpy old man, and Baggins is ever enthusiastic to make friends. Baggins is a little wonder and also a little terror, just as puppies should be, and he is indeed nourishing our hearts.'

Natalie's 2021 public apology

In 2021, Natalie was forced to apologise after blacked-up pictures from a 2008 Namibia trip resurfaced online.

The row the images caused was so fevered that there had been calls for Netflix to drop Henry from his part in hit show The Witcher because of his association with her.

The pictures show Natalie dressed in east African tribal attire and her skin coloured from the neck down in what appears to be Otjize, a pigment – made out of butterfat and ochre - used by the Himba community of Namibia to protect themselves from harsh climate.

They were taken when she was appearing in a 2008 MTV reality show where she spent time with an African tribe in Namibia who dressed her in native clothing as part of an initiation ceremony.

Natalie publicly apologised to try to draw a line under the 'cultural appropriation' row.

In 2021, Natalie was forced to apologise after blacked-up pictures from a 2008 Namibia trip resurfaced online

She told MailOnline: 'Firstly, I'd like to say that I'm sorry if this image surfacing has caused any offense. It is a photo from 2008 for a TV show in Namibia.

'The tribe I was living with painted my skin as part of an initiation ceremony and an acceptance into their culture.

'Never in a million years did I think that this would be offensive, in fact, I felt honored that they would initiate me.

'However, with the lessons that we are all learning in today's climate, it is important that I recognize that this is potentially hurtful. My deepest and most sincere apologies.'