Life imitates art for these performers, who played on-screen romances and then fell in love in real life. Newsweek looks back at how some of Hollywood’s sexiest couples became hits off-screen and behind the scenes. Here’s the list from Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher to Anna Faris and Chris Pratt.
Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher
Mila Kunis (who portrayed Jackie Burkhart) and Kutcher (Michael Kelso) met in 1998, when they were 14 and 19 years old, respectively, while prepping for the pilot episode of the TV show. The actress, who allegedly lied about her age during the audition, even had her first kiss at that age while following script directions with her co-star. In 2017, Kutcher said on Howard Stern’s radio show, “It was awkward because I’m like a 19-year-old kid.” He was not physically attracted to her at the moment. She was fourteen! She was like my little sister.
I wanted to ensure she was okay. The pair eventually dated-onset, then went their separate ways, with the actor marrying the 40-year-old Demi Moore. Kunis later had a nine-year relationship with Macaulay Culkin from the on-screen romances. However, Kunis and Kutcher reconnected at the 2011 Golden Globe Awards, married in 2015, and now have daughters Wyatt Isabelle, Anderson, and Dimitri Portwood.
Kit Harington and Rose Leslie
The couple met on the set of the fantasy series’ second season in 2011, where they played Jon Snow and Ygritte. When paparazzi images of Harington and Leslie leaving a restaurant holding hands were published in 2012, rumors about their budding on-screen romances began to circulate. However, it was not until Harington and Leslie appeared on the red carpet together in April 2016 that the couple formally disclosed their relationship. Leslie reportedly gave birth to their first child on Valentine’s Day weekend in 2021.
Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum
Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum
The two famously met on the filming of the romantic dance film Step Up In 2006, when Tatum played the impoverished Tyler Gage and Dewan played the affluent modern dancer Nora Clark. With photographs of the couple appearing close on the movie’s marketing trail, fans were startled when Tatum proposed to Dewan two years later, at the ages of 28 and 27. However, the Hollywood power couple announced their separation in April 2018, only two weeks after Tatum shared a selfie of Dewan and himself with their faces painted by their daughter Everly, born five years earlier.
Penn Badgley and Blake Lively
The actors initially met while playing rich New York adolescents Serena and Dan in the hit drama Gossip Girl. The on-screen romances grew between Badgley and Lively, were an item for the first three seasons of the show, which aired from 2007 to 2010. Unfortunately, despite their decision to break their relationship in 2010, filming responsibilities required them to continue working together.
Heather Ledger and Michelle Williams
Williams and Heath originally met as lovers on the set of the Academy Award-winning romantic picture Brokeback Mountain In 2004. Their co-star Jake Gyllenhaal recalls that the couple’s real-life chemistry was immediate, and they welcomed their daughter Matilda Rose into the world in 2005. However, the pair began to drift apart and parted in 2007, and Ledger died in New York City at the age of 28 from a lethal combination of prescription drugs.
Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell
Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell met on the set of the TV program The Americans, where they played husband and wife in a KGB-arranged marriage. Rumors began to circulate that the couple was seeing each other off-camera shortly after the show premiered in 2013. The couple’s romance was disclosed in 2014, and the stars revealed Russell’s pregnancy in January 2016.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
This action film shows a perfect husband and wife who realize they are both professional assassins ordered to kill each other. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie met on the set of the 2015 film. They have always denied having on-screen romances while filming, even when Pitt was still married to Jennifer Aniston. The couple eventually married in 2014 in France and had six children together: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne. However, the fairy tale” Brangelina” romance ended in 2016, when Jolie filed for divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences.”
Anna Faris and Chris Pratt
Anna Faris and Chris Pratt grew up barely 20 minutes apart in Washington State, but they first met as lovers in the 2007 romance comedy Take Me Home Tonight. The pair got married in a tiny ceremony in Bali in 2009, and their son Jack was born in August 2012. However, Pratt and Faris announced their breakup via identical social media posts in August 2017.
Final thoughts
Many iconic on-screen romances have sparked real-life romances, blurring the lines between fiction and reality. These co-star couples demonstrate that sometimes, on-screen romances on camera can translate to lasting love off-screen. Notable examples that show on-screen romances could ignite real-life sparks are Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, Williams and Heath, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and more.
For More Great Content
Craving top-tier content that covers it all? From electrifying sports highlights and insider entertainment news to expert gaming tips and sharp betting advice, we’ve got you covered. Dive into our curated articles to stay ahead of the game with the latest sports action, uncover the hottest trends in entertainment, and get the lowdown on gaming strategies that could level up your play. Plus, our betting advice will sharpen your edge and boost your chances of winning big. Whether you’re looking to stay updated or gain a competitive edge, our content is your go-to source for all things exciting and relevant. Don’t miss out—explore now and power up your knowledge! Follow us on Twitter/X @TotalApexSports, to stay informed.
