Joshua Jackson on why he and Diane Kruger aren't married: 'We're not religious'

Joshua JacksonGage Skidmore/Wikimedia

Former "Fringe" star Joshua Jackson recently revealed why he hasn't popped the question to his girlfriend of eight years, actress Diane Kruger.

In addition to citing a lack of faith in the institution of marriage, he pinpointed another reason for why he has not proposed.

"I can tell you why we're not married: We're not religious," he told US Weekly on Wednesday. "I don't feel any more or less committed to Diane for not having stood in front of a priest and had a giant party."

Both Jackson and Kruger were raised Catholic, and both have parents who divorced. Jackson said their family dynamics affected their attitude towards marriage as well.

"We're both children of divorce, so it's hard for me to take marriage at face value as the thing that shows you've grown up and are committed to another person," he explained.

The 36-year-old is not completely ruling out nuptials, however. "It may change at some point," he said. "We may get married."

Kruger, 38, was formerly married to French actor and director Guillaume Canet. They divorced in 2006.

Jackson was attending GQ's 7th Annual Gentleman's Ball when he was asked the intimate question on the red carpet.

He also described the role of chivalry in being a true gentleman.

"Chivalry is part of being a gentleman," Jackson said, "but I don't think actually being composed at all times is gentlemanly.

"Sometimes you need to be outraged by things, and I think that's part of being a man.

"There are certain thing you shouldn't stand by and witness. Lots of things make me lose my cool, so maybe I'm rationalizing, but I don't feel that a quiet forbearance is gentlemanly."

Something the actor finds un-gentlemanly? Letting his woman pay the bill.

"Nah, can't do that," he told US. "Unless the woman specifically asks... You should always pay the bill."

Jackson gained fame on the late 90s teen drama "Dawson's Creek," and currently stars in the Showtime series "The Affair."