Aubrey Cleland first appeared on national television at 19, singing Beyoncé's "Sweet Dreams" for the American Idol judges. Thirteen years later, she is in the news for a different kind of stage: a reported wedding to Chronicles of Narnia star Ben Barnes at a venue in her home state of Oregon. Neither of them has posted about it, and the couple spent most of their relationship out of the headlines. Here is what is verified about Aubrey Cleland, and what is still just reported.
Who Is Aubrey Cleland?
Aubrey Cleland is an actress and singer from Oregon who is best known as the wife of actor Ben Barnes. Page Six, in an exclusive republished by DNYUZ, describes her as an "American Idol" contestant turned actress and says she has appeared in Black Widow, Lethal Weapon, and The Row. It also notes that Barnes often comments on her artwork, which suggests she paints or draws as well.
She does not have a standalone Wikipedia page. Her public record is built from news stories, her own social media, and a few older features from her school years.
Aubrey Cleland's Age
She is 33, according to Page Six, which gives Barnes' age as 45. That fits the older record. In February 2013, her school paper reported her age as 19 when she reached the Top 40 stage of American Idol. Her exact birth date has not been published.
Where Is Aubrey Cleland From?
She is from Oregon. A 2013 Chapman University article names her hometown as West Linn, Oregon, and says she was a sophomore at Chapman. The school paper describes her as an alumna of a Jesuit school, without naming it. She began singing at weddings, talent shows, and state fairs, according to that same school report, and her brother Ty Cleland said, "She's been singing for as long as I can remember."
Aubrey Cleland's American Idol Journey
Cleland's Idol run is her most documented public chapter. According to the school paper, she had auditioned for the show in earlier years and made it through Hollywood Week to the Top 40 in 2013. Chapman University's news site reports she got through the sudden death round and was one of 20 contestants still competing, singing a version of Beyoncé's "Sweet Dreams."
The judges were generous. Chapman quotes Nicki Minaj saying she was "obsessed" with her, Keith Urban calling her "the whole thing," and Mariah Carey describing her as "limitless." Neither source says how far she ultimately went, and the two sources do not agree on the season, so we are not naming one.
Aubrey Cleland's Acting Career
Page Six lists three credits: Black Widow, Lethal Weapon, and The Row. It does not say what roles she played, and we could not verify the size of any of them. Because IMDb-style listings often include small and background parts, it would be a mistake to describe her as a lead in any of those projects.
She has also appeared in Barnes' creative work. She was in his December 2024 music video for "Nevermind," and in January 2025 she joined him on stage in Portland for a duet of "One Minute More," per Page Six.
How Aubrey Cleland Met Ben Barnes
That is still unknown. Page Six says the pair began dating in the summer of 2024, but does not say how they met. A couple of months later she was in his music video, and by July 2025 they were photographed on a dinner date in London. Until one of them tells the story, we are not going to fill in a version.
Aubrey Cleland and Ben Barnes' Engagement
They were quietly engaged in England on December 31, 2025, New Year's Eve, after spending their first holiday together with their families, according to Page Six. The outlet first reported the engagement in August 2026. Neither Cleland nor Barnes has publicly addressed it.
Aubrey Cleland and Ben Barnes' Oregon Wedding
The wedding took place on a Sunday at Chateau de Lis in Oregon, per Page Six. Around 150 guests attended. Cleland wore a corset style dress and Barnes wore a tailored dark suit. Page Six described the speeches as "soulful and funny" and the celebration as "dreamy."
The exact date was not given, and we have not seen a statement from the couple or their representatives, who did not respond to Page Six's requests for comment. For now, the wedding is a report from one outlet.
Aubrey Cleland and Ben Barnes: The Relationship Timeline
Here is the sequence as Page Six reports it, from first public sign to wedding:
- Summer 2024: The couple begins dating.
- December 2024: She appears in his music video for "Nevermind."
- January 2025: She joins him on stage in Portland for a duet of "One Minute More."
- July 2025: They are photographed on a dinner date in London.
- December 31, 2025: They get quietly engaged in England.
- August 2026: Page Six first reports the engagement.
- October 2026: Page Six reports the Oregon wedding.
The pattern is revealing. For roughly two years, almost everything public about the relationship came from creative projects and a few photographs, and almost nothing came from the couple themselves.
Why Aubrey Cleland Is Trending
Ben Barnes is the better known of the two, and most of the interest in his wife starts there. A wedding with about 150 guests in her home state, reported exclusively by one outlet, is the kind of story that spreads quickly and then gets padded by sites with little to add.
Because the original reporting is thin, the most useful thing a reader can do is separate three layers: what Page Six reported, what her school and university records from 2013 show, and what remains unknown. That is how this article is organized.
Where Do Aubrey Cleland and Ben Barnes Live?
Los Angeles, according to Page Six. They have made it their permanent home and share a Siamese cat named Simba. They follow each other on Instagram but have not posted about each other, though Barnes often leaves heart emojis on her artwork.
Aubrey Cleland's Net Worth
Her net worth is not public. A working actress and musician with a handful of credits does not generate public financial records, so we are leaving it blank.
What Is and Isn't Confirmed About Aubrey Cleland
- Reported by Page Six: She is 33, an actress with credits in Black Widow, Lethal Weapon, and The Row, and she married Ben Barnes in Oregon.
- Confirmed by school sources (2013): She was an American Idol contestant who reached the Top 40 stage and was a Chapman University sophomore from West Linn, Oregon.
- Reported: They started dating in summer 2024 and got engaged on December 31, 2025.
- Not public: Her exact birth date, her roles in the credited projects, how they met, the wedding date, and her net worth.
- Unconfirmed by the couple: The wedding and engagement, since neither has commented.
Aubrey Cleland Quick Facts
| Detail | What is reported |
|---|---|
| Full name | Aubrey Cleland |
| Age | 33 (reported by Page Six) |
| From | West Linn, Oregon |
| Profession | Actress, singer, and artist |
| Known for | American Idol (2013), wife of Ben Barnes |
| Dating began | Summer 2024 |
| Engaged | December 31, 2025 (reported) |
| Wedding | Chateau de Lis, Oregon, about 150 guests (reported) |
| Net worth | Not publicly disclosed |
| Standalone Wikipedia page | None found |
Aubrey Cleland FAQ
Who is Aubrey Cleland?
She is an Oregon-born actress and American Idol alum who is married to actor Ben Barnes, according to Page Six.
How old is Aubrey Cleland?
Page Six says she is 33. Her exact birth date has not been published.
Was Aubrey Cleland on American Idol?
Yes. In 2013, she reached the Top 40 stage and was among 20 contestants still in the competition, per school reports.
When did Ben Barnes marry Aubrey Cleland?
Page Six reported a wedding on a Sunday in October 2026 at Chateau de Lis in Oregon. The couple has not commented.
What has Aubrey Cleland acted in?
Page Six lists Black Widow, Lethal Weapon, and The Row, without specifying roles.