Actresses Who Left Their High School Sweethearts to Date Their Famous Co-Stars

Becoming a celebrity can drastically change someone’s personal life, especially when they’ve grown up with a longtime partner. It’s common for actresses to start their careers with someone, then develop feelings for a co-star while working closely together on set. These relationships often grow from spending many hours filming and sharing creative moments. Fans are always intrigued by stories of childhood loves being replaced by glamorous Hollywood romances. This article highlights several well-known actresses who found new love with their co-stars after leaving their early relationships.

Blake Lively

You know, before Blake Lively was Blake Lively – before ‘Gossip Girl’ made her a household name – she had a really sweet, long-term relationship with her childhood friend, Kelly Blatz. Everyone back home thought they’d end up together, honestly. Then she landed the role of Serena in ‘Gossip Girl’ in 2007, and everything changed. That’s when she and her co-star, Penn Badgley, started dating, and it was everywhere. It was a total shift – from this quiet life with her first love to being one of Hollywood’s ‘it’ couples. It was fascinating to watch, even as a fan!

Vanessa Hudgens

Before becoming famous, Vanessa Hudgens had a few relationships growing up. Her big break came with the 2006 Disney Channel movie ‘High School Musical,’ which changed both her career and personal life. She then began dating her co-star, Zac Efron, who played her love interest in the film. Their relationship was a major part of teen culture throughout the late 2000s as they worked on several ‘High School Musical’ sequels together, solidifying Hudgens’ status as a rising star.

Miley Cyrus

Before moving to California to focus on acting, Miley Cyrus dated several people in Tennessee. On the set of the movie ‘The Last Song’ in 2010, she met actor Liam Hemsworth and quickly felt a connection. This new relationship ended her previous romances. For over ten years, their relationship became one of the most famous in Hollywood. This experience showed how a role in a film can significantly change a young actor’s personal life.

Kristen Stewart

Kristen Stewart dated actor Michael Angarano for several years as she was starting her career. They met as young actors and experienced many important moments together before the huge success of the movie ‘Twilight’ in 2008. However, when she began filming ‘Twilight’ with Robert Pattinson, things changed. She ultimately ended her relationship with Angarano and began a romance with her co-star. This new relationship was heavily covered by the media and greatly shaped how the public saw her at the time.

Carey Mulligan

Before becoming a celebrated actress and Academy Award nominee, Carey Mulligan had relationships with various people, including childhood friends and early partners. She and Marcus Mumford were long-distance pen pals before either achieved fame. In between, she famously dated Shia LaBeouf, whom she met while filming ‘Wall Street Money Never Sleeps’ in 2010, and they quickly became close. Ultimately, she found lasting love and married Mumford, completing a romantic journey back to her roots.

Jennifer Lawrence

Before becoming famous through roles in major films, Jennifer Lawrence had a fairly low-key personal life and dated several people. When she landed the part of Mystique in ‘X-Men First Class’ (2011), she ended those earlier relationships. On set, she met British actor Nicholas Hoult, and they began a lasting romance. They became one of Hollywood’s most recognizable couples, staying together through multiple ‘X-Men’ sequels. This time in her life also saw her receive numerous important acting awards.

Julia Roberts

I’ve always been fascinated by Julia Roberts’ life, and I remember reading about her earlier relationships before she became a huge star in the early nineties. She seemed to fall for people she worked with, which is common in Hollywood, and one of her most talked-about romances was with Kiefer Sutherland while they filmed ‘Flatliners.’ They even got engaged! It was a really public relationship, but sadly, they broke it off just days before their wedding. It’s clear her career has always been accompanied by some very high-profile loves, often with her co-stars.

Sandra Bullock

Before becoming a major star, Sandra Bullock dated people who weren’t in the public eye. As her career grew, she began to fall for her co-stars. On the set of ‘Love Potion No. 9’ in 1992, she started dating Tate Donovan, her leading man. This relationship signaled a change, as she began dating other well-known celebrities. Throughout these early years of fame, she was notably good at keeping her personal life private.

Salma Hayek Pinault

Salma Hayek Pinault began her career with success on Mexican television and developed early relationships in Mexico before moving to Hollywood. She worked diligently to break into the American film industry, often collaborating with other gifted actors. During this time, she began a long-term relationship with Edward Norton. Together, they worked on various projects, including the highly praised film ‘Frida’ (2002). This relationship marked her shift from being a well-known star in Mexico to an internationally recognized figure with high-profile connections.

Reese Witherspoon

Before becoming a famous actress, Reese Witherspoon had relationships in her youth. She met her future husband, Ryan Phillippe, while filming ‘Cruel Intentions’ in 1999. Their romance grew during the movie’s production, and they eventually married, staying together for several years. She transitioned from her teenage relationships to build a life with another up-and-coming actor. Their relationship was one of Hollywood’s most celebrated and admired pairings in the late 1990s.

Emma Stone

Before becoming a famous actress, Emma Stone kept her personal life private and dated several people. Her career changed dramatically when she landed the role of Gwen Stacy in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ (2012). It was during auditions that she met her co-star, Andrew Garfield, and they immediately connected. She began a very public relationship with him, ending her previous relationships, and they remained together throughout filming of the second movie.

Sophia Bush

Before becoming famous, Sophia Bush had relationships while she was in college. Her big break came with the role of Brooke Davis on the popular drama ‘One Tree Hill’ in 2003, which significantly impacted her life. During her time on the show, she began dating and eventually married her co-star, Chad Michael Murray. Their relationship became a major focus for fans, and this shift from her personal life to a public marriage with a colleague was a pivotal moment in her career.

Melissa Benoist

Before becoming famous for her TV roles, Melissa Benoist had a few relationships. She met actor Blake Jenner while they were both on the show ‘Glee’ in 2009, and they quickly connected. Their relationship developed as they played students on the show, and they eventually began dating long-term, eventually marrying and building a life together. They collaborated on several projects before ultimately deciding to separate.

Naya Rivera

Naya Rivera started her career in entertainment at a young age and had a few relationships before finding fame. She became well-known for playing Santana Lopez on the hit show ‘Glee’ in 2009. While on ‘Glee,’ she began dating her co-star Mark Salling, which was a significant event for the show’s cast and signaled her entry into the world of celebrity relationships. She continued to date other people she met through her work in the entertainment industry.

Lea Michele

Lea Michele started her career as a Broadway performer and had several relationships within the theater world. She became a global star with her role in ‘Glee’ (2009), where she met Cory Monteith. She ended her previous relationships to build a strong connection with her co-star, and their romance became a central part of the show, both on and off screen, for years. This time marked her shift from a successful stage actress to a prominent television star.

Lili Reinhart

Before becoming famous, Lili Reinhart grew up with typical teenage relationships in her hometown. She moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of becoming an actress and eventually got the part of Betty Cooper on ‘Riverdale’ in 2017. While working on the show, she began dating her co-star, Cole Sprouse. This relationship brought a lot of media and fan attention, transforming her life from relative normalcy into being one of the most well-known young couples in the entertainment world.

Camila Mendes

Camila Mendes had a somewhat nomadic childhood and dated several people before becoming famous. She rose to prominence playing Veronica Lodge in the popular TV show ‘Riverdale’ which premiered in 2017. While working on the show, she began a relationship with her co-star, Charles Melton, after previous relationships ended. Their romance was widely publicized and enjoyed by fans, demonstrating how a TV set can be a place where an actress’s personal life evolves.

Joey King

Joey King started her career as a young actress and, as she grew up, navigated relationships common to those transitioning into adult roles in Hollywood. She became widely known for her role in the 2018 Netflix film ‘The Kissing Booth.’ During filming, she began dating her co-star, Jacob Elordi, who played her on-screen love interest. Their on-set chemistry blossomed into a real-life romance that lasted as both their careers took off, and she later moved on from those early relationships into more high-profile connections that were followed by her many fans.

Zendaya

Zendaya started her career on the Disney Channel and had a few relationships as a teenager, which she mostly kept private. As she began taking on bigger roles in movies, like ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ in 2017, she became close to her co-star, Tom Holland. Their friendship eventually turned into a highly publicized romance, and they’ve become one of Hollywood’s most popular couples. People continue to follow their relationship closely, especially as they continue to collaborate on successful films.

Natalia Dyer

Before landing the role of Nancy Wheeler in the popular show ‘Stranger Things’ (2016), Natalia Dyer lived a relatively private life. It was during the filming of the first season that she met her co-star, Charlie Heaton, and they began dating. She transitioned from past relationships to form a lasting connection with him. They have continued to maintain a strong relationship while working together on the show.

Rose Leslie

Before landing the role that would make her a household name, Rose Leslie was dating back home in Scotland. That role, of course, was Ygritte in ‘Game of Thrones,’ and it’s on that set where things got really interesting. She fell for her co-star, Kit Harington – who actually played her love interest on the show! She left those earlier romances behind and eventually married Kit in a wedding the world couldn’t help but follow. Honestly, their relationship is one of the rare success stories you hear about coming out of the often-turbulent world of television.

Ginnifer Goodwin

Ginnifer Goodwin enjoyed a thriving acting career before landing her breakout role as Snow White in the 2011 TV series ‘Once Upon a Time’. On set, she met Josh Dallas, who played Prince Charming, and they fell in love. She ended her previous relationships to begin a romance with him, and their connection blossomed into a marriage and a family. This was a significant turning point for Goodwin, both personally and professionally.

Jennifer Garner

Jennifer Garner and Scott Foley dated and eventually married after meeting on the set of the TV show ‘Felicity’ in 1998. But her life changed when she worked with Ben Affleck on the movie ‘Daredevil’ in 2003. She and Affleck began a long-term relationship, which became a major Hollywood story, and ultimately led to the end of her marriage to Foley. They continued to work together on various film projects for many years.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie’s early career was marked by relationships, including a marriage to her ‘Hackers’ co-star, Jonny Lee Miller. Over the years, she had several well-known romances, often with fellow actors. Her relationship with Brad Pitt, which began while filming ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’ in 2005, was particularly famous and further connected her personal life to her work.

Claire Danes

Claire Danes had a few well-known relationships early in her acting career. She was with musician Ben Lee for a while, but that changed when she started working on the film ‘Stage Beauty’ in 2004. On set, she met actor Billy Crudup, and their relationship quickly attracted a lot of media attention. She ended things with her previous partner to be with him. This time in her life involved a lot of personal change and how the public saw her.

Sienna Miller

Sienna Miller and Jude Law met while filming ‘Alfie’ in 2004, when Miller was a rising star. Although she had dated others previously, her relationship with Law quickly captivated the tabloids. Their highly publicized romance and engagement made them one of Hollywood’s most famous couples. The relationship was marked by constant media attention and several joint work projects.

Rachel McAdams

Before becoming a well-known actress in the US, Rachel McAdams dated people in Canada. Her big break came with the 2004 romantic film ‘The Notebook,’ which launched her career. Despite a rocky start, she eventually began a relationship with her co-star, Ryan Gosling, and the pair became famously linked. This relationship, following her earlier ones, coincided with her rise to leading lady status in Hollywood, and remains a popular topic among fans.

Penélope Cruz

Penélope Cruz dated several people in Spain when she first became a successful actress. Although she worked with Javier Bardem early in her career on the film ‘Jamón Jamón’ in 1992, they didn’t become a couple until much later. After being linked to other famous actors, she and Bardem worked together again on ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ in 2008, and they eventually married in a private ceremony. Their relationship is known as one of the strongest and most admired in Hollywood.

Marion Cotillard

Marion Cotillard was already a well-known actress in France and had dated several people before becoming internationally famous. She met Guillaume Canet on the set of the 2003 film ‘Love Me If You Dare.’ Though they began as friends, she eventually ended other relationships and they became a couple years later. They’ve since worked together on many films and are now considered one of France’s most celebrated cinematic couples, proving that shared work can build a strong, lasting relationship both on and off screen.

Diane Kruger

Looking back at Diane Kruger’s life, it’s fascinating to see how it all unfolded. Early on, she was married to French actor Guillaume Canet, but she eventually found a more lasting connection with Joshua Jackson – they actually met while navigating the bustling Hollywood scene. It’s clear that taking the leap to build a life and career in the United States was a huge turning point for her, really shaping her journey from a successful model to the internationally recognized actress she is today.

2026-03-21 12:18