Aaron Taylor-Johnson takes off his wedding ring for a discreet outing

James Bond favourite Aaron Taylor-Johnson was spotted in London without a wedding ring, just months after he sharply criticised the “bizarre” age difference.

The 34-year-old “The College Gunman” actor began dating his wife, filmmaker Sam Taylor-Johnson, 57, in 2009 – when Aaron was 18 and the “Back to Black” director was 42 – after they met on the set of the John Lennon biopic “Nowhere Boy.”

After getting engaged that same year, the couple finally married in 2012. They have two children together (Wylda Rae, 14, and Romy Hero, 12) and even celebrated their marriage with a renewal of their vows on their 10th anniversary two years ago.

However, their relationship was not without backlash, with fans raising concerns about their large age difference and how young Aaron was when they got together.

But now the “Kick-Ass” star has been spotted alone in London, without his famous gold wedding ring – the reason for this is unclear, however.

The actor was in West London, where he was enjoying a solo dinner, dressed in a grey hoodie and black trousers, and appeared engrossed in a telephone conversation when passers-by noticed the absence of his wedding ring.

The absence of such an important piece of jewelry is due to a rare remark by the English actor on the social discourse surrounding his relationship.

Earlier this year, he told Rolling Stone UK that the gap never bothered him.

“You have to realize that at 13, I was doing what most people were doing in their 20s,” Aaron told the publication in March.

“You're doing something too fast for someone else? I don't understand that. At what pace should one enjoy life? That's strange to me.”

The Hollywood star recently attended the Venice Film Festival and the premiere of “Battleground.” He wore the gold band on the red carpet, making its sudden absence all the more surprising.

As the couple celebrated the renewal of their wedding vows, Aaron praised his wife on social media.

“Sammy, you are my love, my life, my soulmate, my wife, my world,” he wrote in his post.

Meanwhile, the director of “Fifty Shades of Grey” praised him as an “incredible father to our brood,” which includes her two children from her previous marriage to Jay Jopling, 27-year-old Angelica and 18-year-old Jessie.

There is currently wild speculation that Aaron could succeed Daniel Craig as the elegant British agent 007. At the beginning of the year, even Sam got involved in the rumor mill.

“Keep speculating. He would be great,” she told Jonathan Ross on ITV.

Sam then reflected on his approach as an actor.

“It's really interesting. When I directed Nowhere Boy, he wasn't my husband. When I directed A Million Little Pieces, he was,” she said.

“He gets very intense. It's quite interesting depending on what role he's playing.”

Whether he gets the job remains to be seen, although more James Bond news could be on the horizon.

Right now, Aaron is looking forward to his next big appearance as part of the cast of 28 Years Later, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2002 sci-fi horror series. He will star alongside Jodie Comer, Cillian Murphy and Ralph Fiennes.

Metro.co.uk has contacted Aaron Taylor-Johnson's representatives for comment.

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