On-Screen Couples Who Loved Or Hated Each Other Behind The Scenes
Let’s face it, we’re all suckers for a good fictional romance. Whether it’s a slow burn in a favorite TV series or a firey fling in a film, we’re ready to watch it all unfold. Sometimes the chemistry we see on-screen exists behind the scenes as well. However, in other cases the two won’t speak once the cameras stop rolling. So which on-screen flames were real and which were 100% fiction?
Thankfully the actors, and sometimes the co-stars, have come forward with tales of love, hate, and everything in between! Some of the off-screen romance was hidden from the public, other times they were just smiling through the hate.
Keep reading to see which on-screen couples loved or hated each other behind the scenes!
LOVED: Blake Lively & Ryan Reynolds, Green Lantern
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds met back in 2011 on the set of the superhero film Green Lantern, which ended in a happy marriage. Reynolds shares, “We were friends and buddies, and then about a year and a half later, we actually went on a double date but we were dating separate people.” The couple, now married for a decade with three daughters, laugh at the beginning signs of love after meeting on set.
After building a friendship throughout the filming of Green Lantern, and their double date with the wrong partners, the two stayed in touch. Both traveling to Boston, Blake and Ryan took the train together and Ryan finally won Blake over with “sob stories”. A week later, Reynolds joked that they should buy a house together, and that’s exactly what they did.
HATED: Mila Kunis & Ashton Kutcher, That ‘70s Show
Who doesn’t love an enemies-to-lovers story? When starring together on That 70’s Show Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher were known for two things… their fights, and their age gap. With Mila being only 15 and Ashton being 20 the only thing they had in common was their love to bicker with one another.
The two took “fake it til you make it” to a whole new level. The show scripted a kiss between the two and it turned out to be Mila’s first kiss ever. Over time they got to know one another and have become the power couple they still are to this day.
HATED: Stana Katic & Nathan Fillion, Castle
One thing many viewers loved about watching Castle was the budding romance between Castle and Beckett. Nathan Fillion as Richard Castle and Stana Katic as Kate Beckett had a relationship that was far from perfect off-camera. As soon as filming ceased the two would refuse to speak to one another.
Katic was often found in tears over their feud. Though they would both deny any issues, those on set recounted multiple fights. Things got so bad that producers stepped in a practically forced the two to go to real couples counseling! Thank goodness they weren’t dating in real life… what a toxic situation that would’ve been! Oh, how we wish someone had recorded their sessions.
LOVED: Will Smith & Jada Pinkett Smith, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s relationship goes way back to 1994. They met when Jada auditioned to play Will’s girlfriend in the classic sitcom Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Jada didn’t get the part, but they both felt the spark. A year later, Will Smith’s first wife divorced him and he immediately began seeing Jada.
The couple is in favor of giving each other the freedom and space to be themselves. As Jada worded it, “Will and I BOTH can do WHATEVER we want, because we TRUST each other to do so.” They’re certainly not the typical Hollywood couple, but their bond seems to be quite strong.
HATED: Gillian Anderson & David Duchovny, The X-Files
Would you believe it if we told you Scully and Mulder from the X-Files went through periods of intense turmoil? It’s true, the co-workers claimed that there were times when they full-on hated each other. Their feud got so intense that Gillian Anderson neglected to thank David Duchnovy in her Emmy acceptance speech!
Off-set the two had little to no relationship. However, they were thankfully able to keep things professional despite their differences. Thankfully for fans, their hate wasn’t enough to stop them from working together. It looks like they have a successful working relationship, but nothing more. Unfortunately for fans, their love for one another will only ever exist on the screen.
LOVED: John Galecki & Kaley Cuoco, The Big Bang Theory
Big Bang Theory stars John Galecki and Kaley Cuoco are one of TV’s most surprising couples, as they kept their relationship a secret for two years while filming. Kaley later spilled, “It was a wonderful relationship but we never spoke a word about it”. They didn’t want their budding romance to ruin the series, they also worried it would conflict with fans’ acceptance of Penny and Leonard on screen.
Although the relationship only lasted from 2007 to 2009, the couple succeeded in keeping the break-up professional, and even managed to maintain their friendship. Cuoco’s husband Ryan Sweeting, following the relationship with Galecki, was even a fan of the show.
HATED: Vivian Vance & William Frawley, I Love Lucy
If you’ve ever watched I Love Lucy, you probably loved this couple just as much as Lucy and Ricardo themselves. Fred, played by William Frawley, and Ethel, played by Vivian Vance, were known for their on-screen romance. Turns out that behind the scenes they couldn’t be farther from a loving couple. Their huge age gap wasn’t the only issue they dealt with.
It started with Vance claiming no one would believe she was married to an ‘old coot’ like Frawley who was 22 years older than her. The two never fully resolved their conflict, and years later Frawley died. Vance found out while at a diner and ordered celebratory champagne for the entire place.
LOVED: Penelope Cruz & Javier Bardem, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem met back in 1992 on set of a Spanish film Jamon Jamon. They finally reconnected in 2007 as an on-set couple again filming Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Penelope was only 16 when she first met Bardem, he recalls the chemistry between them 15 years before beginning an official relationship together.
Bardem explains that their chemistry can be seen when they’re on screen together and that she’ll be able to show her kids how they met and fell in love. This year, the successful couple has a few Oscar wins between them. We wonder if they display them all together, they’d probably need a big shelf!
HATED: Joan Collins & John Forsythe, Dynasty
When fans think of Dynasty, we think of scandal, big hair, drama, fights, and of course Blake and Alexis played by John Forsythe and Joan Collins. They starred as a divorced couple with a multitude of issues. Blake and Alexis’ feud was one of the biggest plot points in the series, Forsythe and Collins seemed to have taken these roles very seriously.
Collins said that Forsythe was cold towards her whenever they weren’t filming. There was one season where he didn’t speak to her at all! Though it seemed the two would never make up, over time they gradually warmed up to each other. Collins ended up being one of the first people to pay tribute to Forsythe after his passing.
LOVED: Natalie Portman & Benjamin Millipied, Black Swan
Although Natalie Portman and her husband Benjamin Millipied didn’t meet as an on-screen couple, they did meet on set. Portman, a star known for valuing her private life, fell in love with Benjamin while he was her choreographer for her role as a ballerina in Black Swan. The film was notoriously difficult for Portman, as she lost significant weight, broke a rib, and had to deal with director Darren Aronofsky.
Having her love bloom with Millipied was a gift that gave Portman the will to push through and succeed, despite animosity with co-star Mila Kunis. Natalie honored their love in her 2011 Oscar speech, thanking her partner for helping her through the best role of her career.
HATED: Charlie Sheen & Selma Blair, Anger Management
It’s no surprise that Charlie Sheen would be at the center of a controversy. His relationship with Selma Blair in Anger Management would be far from smooth. The two played rival therapists who would eventually turn into lovers. This was until early in the second season when Blair got written off.
Many rumors spun about what led to such an abrupt change. Sheen had reported Blair’s behavior and told many how upset he was that she had complained about his work ethic while on set. Though Sheen disputes the idea of Blair being kicked off because of him, nothing has been officially confirmed. On the other hand, Blair claims to have found out she was fired via text from Sheen!
LOVED: Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band
Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn are one of Hollywood’s most respected couples. They met on screen in 1983, but the couple saw no point in saying “I do”, and chose to remain unmarried even after over 35 years. Hawn shares her wisdom claiming, “In a healthy, longer-term relationship, I would say it’s great to be together about 68 percent of the time.”
Kurt and Goldie go as far back as 1966, first acting together in The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band, but only started dancing together and falling in love on the Swing Shift set. In an interview with Closer Weekly, Russell said his favorite thing about Goldie is that she’s still dancing for him today.
HATED: Kirk Cameron & Julie McCullough Growing Pains
Some people who turn to religion develop a more peaceful lifestyle. Unfortunately for Kirk Cameron, this was not the case. You probably know him as Mike Seaver from Growing Pains. Towards the end of the show, he converted to Christianity, and seemingly also became a terror to have on set, trying to have aspects of the show changed when he didn’t like them.
His co-star Jullie McCullough played Julie Costello, and the two never seemed to get along. While there are two sides to the story, most seem to side with McCullough. She claims Cameron’s hatred for her hit an all-time high when she posed for playboy, since this didn’t align with his new Christian values.
LOVED: Ryan Gosling & Eva Mendes, The Place Beyond the Pines
Together for nearly a decade, Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes kindle their love with family time at home. They’re parents to two daughters, Amanda and Esmerelda, and keep fame and family life so separate, that their daughters don’t even know their mom and dad are A-List celebs. Ryan and Eva met as colleagues on the set of The Place Beyond the Pines and slowly began going public as a couple.
One of their first sightings was at Ryan’s mom’s college graduation in Toronto. Mendes talked about falling in love and starting a family with Ryan, saying, “it made sense for me to have…not kids, but his kids. It was very specific to him.” In 2015, the couple got to co-star in Lost River as well, four years into their relationship.
HATED? Jennifer Aniston & Tate Donovan, Friends
Some celeb couples dated while filming a show together, others couldn’t stand each other from the first table read. But this next situation doesn’t quite fit either of those scenarios. Jennifer Aniston and Tate Donovan are a special case where they split and then ended up working together. Donovan got the call to be on Friends shortly after they parted ways.
They thought this would be a good way to keep things civil but boy oh boy were they proven wrong. Donovan has said that trying to film romantic scenes with his ex was horrible. One time he even said he was getting back to his dressing room and “just weeping” after filming. Thankfully he’s able to laugh about it now.
LOVED: Claire Danes & Hugh Dancy, Evening
Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy’s love story is one to remember. After meeting on the set of Evening in 2007, the talented actors took it slow, enjoying working together in the romantic setting of rural Rhode Island. After fighting her feelings for a while, Claire discovered Hugh’s knack for crafts and caved in. That would be the start of their 15-year relationship.
Even with the challenge of keeping love and family life strong, the couple has dealt with long-distance while Claire worked in North Carolina filming Homeland while Hugh worked on Hannibal in Toronto. Today, Danes and Dancy have two children together, Rowan and Cyrus. Claire claims, “It’s a huge asset to have a partnership with someone you trust and admire, and want to make out with.”
HATED: Nina Dobrev & Paul Wesley, The Vampire Diaries
There’s a fine line between love and hate, Nina Dobrev would know since she actually lived through it. The set of Vampire Diaries was anything but peaceful when it came to Nina Dobrev and Paul Wesley. The two starred as lovers on the show, but Dobrev has said creatively they weren’t in sync.
Though there are a bunch of negative stories surrounding the pair, things are more civil now. The road to peace only took a couple of rocky months. Thankfully they’re able to get along with one another, even if it took a few seasons of filming. Now they’re best friends! The two have reported saying nothing but praise for the other, and talk regularly.
LOVED: Johnny Depp & Winona Ryder, Edward Scissorhands
Before costaring in Edward Scissorhands, former couple Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder first crossed paths at the premiere of Great Balls of Fire! way back in 1989. Depp proposed to Ryder only five months into the relationship, and told Rolling Stone Magazine, “I’m being really honest with you when I say that there’s been nothing ever throughout my 27 years that’s comparable to the feeling I have with Winona.”
Winona and Johnny broke up after four years, and Depp made light of the situation by changing his “Winona forever” tattoo, to “Wino forever”. Winona took the break-up hard, being only 19 at the time. Looking back, both actors believe being so public about their love in their early days of fame was a part of what caused them to separate.
HATED: Bruce Willis & Cybill Shepherd, Moonlighting
The show Moonlighting was loved by many, especially when it came to the lead stars, Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis. Their characters were known for solving cases and their flirty banter. Most fans will be sad to find out that the romantic connection wasn’t quite there in real life. What started as hot and steamy feelings quickly turned sour.
The two could barely stand to be in the same room as one another. Shepherd has described Willis as being “volatile” in nature, however, fellow cast memeber Curtis Armstrong claimed there’s a lot more to their story than meets the eye!
LOVED: Emma Stone & Andrew Garfield, The Amazing Spider-Man
Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield met during the first screen test for their roles in The Amazing Spider-Man. Garfield fell for Stone quickly, claiming “it was like I woke up when she came in, it was like diving into white-water rapids and having no desire to hang on to the side”. The two fell fast, and were spotted holding hands and kissing, though they avoided commenting on their relationship status.
While interviewing on the Ellen Show, Garfield told DeGeneres to “drop it” when she joked about their on-screen chemistry seeming so real. Despite breaking up in 2015, Stone and Garfield remain friendly. Andrew even shares, “It’s been bliss to be able to watch her success and watch her bloom into the actress she is”.
HATED: Tisha Campbell & Martin Lawrence, Martin
We can all agree that the show Martin wouldn’t have been as successful had it not been for the chemistry between Martin and Gina. This husband and wife had a relationship that many looked up to. It just goes to show that Martin Lawrence and Trish Campbell are great actors since they really hated each other when the cameras stopped rolling.
Campbell ended up leaving the show after season five. She also took legal action against Lawrence for repeatedly sexually harassing her, as well as verbal abuse, sexual battery, and other threats. If you were wondering why the sitcom came to a grinding halt, this was the reason.
LOVED: Jennifer Aniston & Justin Theroux, Tropic Thunder
Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux were an iconic Hollywood couple who began a 7-year relationship after meeting on set. The stars met while working on Tropic Thunder in 2007, but sparks didn’t fly until reuniting in 2011. Jennifer adored all throughout their time together, saying “He just gets better every year. He’s just like a lost gem in the sand and he’s just always been there and been brilliant”.
Aniston and Theroux divorced in 2018, as Jennifer wanted her life in LA and Justin insisted on living in New York. The couple has stayed friends over the years following the breakup. Even after separating, Justin posted a happy birthday to Jen, writing “Happy birthday to this fierce woman. Fiercely loving, fiercely kind…and fiercely funny.”
HATED: Jennifer Aniston & Jay Mohr, Picture Perfect
Picture Perfect isn’t just the name of this movie, it’s also how many would describe the relationship they saw on screen. It was undeniable that Jay Mohr and Jennifer Anniston had some chemistry going on. Many are shocked when learning it was all fueled by mutual disgust. At the time, Mohr had been caught taking jabs and Anniston during interviews.
While he would never explicitly say he was talking about her, it was pretty obvious what he was implying. He would talk about how hard it was to work on sets where the lead woman was unhappy with his presence. So how did he cope with this? By going to his mom’s house and crying!
LOVED: Sarah Michelle Gellar & Freddie Prinze Jr., Scooby-Doo
Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. first found friendship on the set of I Know What You Did Last Summer actors. They got to know each other while driving between set locations and found themselves working together again on Scooby-Doo in 2001. This time starring as a couple, the stars finally fell in love. Prinze told Us Weekly, “From the first time we kissed, I didn’t go on another date — it was just Sarah.”
Gellar and Prinze married a year later while in their early 20s, and later had two children, Charlotte, and Rocky James. Together since 2001, the couple is an inspiring example of true love in Hollywood.
HATED: Nick Nolte & Julia Roberts, I Love Trouble
When it comes to filming a movie, nothing is more awkward than an on-set feud. It can make the whole environment uncomfortable for everyone. Not many people want to deal with conflict, even if the film is called I Love Trouble. However, Nick Nolte and Julia Roberts took this title quite literally. If you thought there was any chemistry going on behind the scenes, think again.
Roberts would refer to Nolte as “completely disgusting.” We’re not sure what exactly he did… but it doesn’t sound too good. Nolte then clapped back and described Roberts as “not a nice person”. We wonder whose side their castmates were on were on…
LOVED: Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, Eyes Wide Shut
Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman shared their honeymoon phase on the set of the 1990 film Days of Thunder. Tom spoke to Vanity Fair about their first meeting as “that special connection when you recognize your soul mate”. The connection was instant, and both Cruise and Kidman were eager to marry and start a family.
The “it” couple of the early 90’s stayed strong while raising two adopted children and even working together in a break-up movie. In 1996, they starred together again in Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut. In 2001, Tom and Nicole called it quits after a decade together. While the breakup might’ve been difficult, it was a romance that won’t soon be forgotten.
HATED: Harrison Ford & Sean Young, Blade Runner
Blade Runner is a classic sci-fi film that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats during their first watch. Yet with so much going on, one thing that sticks out to everyone is the blossoming romance between Rick Deckard and Rachael Tyrell. Nothing warms people’s hearts more than watching their love story unfold.
It’s hard to believe these two didn’t get along behind the scenes, especially with Harisson Ford’s reputation for hooking up with his co-stars! To many fans’ dismay, the two couldn’t stand the sight of each other. So much so that the film crew dubbed their love scene as, “the hate scene”!
LOVED: Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart, Twilight
Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson first met when they auditioned for Twilight, they’d go on to work together throughout the 5-part series. Pattinson and Stewart even had their first kiss the same day they met during their audition! The beloved Bella and Edward duo may have been “young and stupid”, but their genuine connection likely helped during filming.
After all these years, Kristen outwardly expresses her love for Robert, saying that he was her first love. The two broke up in 2013 after Kristen was said to have cheated on Pattinson with director Rupert Sanders while filming Snow White. Needless to say, this was a blow to Twilight fans everywhere.
HATED: Ryan Gosling & Rachel McAdams, The Notebook
We all remember when Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams started dating. The same people who loved the Notebook were obsessed with everything about their relationship. They seemed like they had it all figured out! The heartwrenching film left us all in tears and wanting a love like theirs. Who knew they started out as enemies?
Gosling wasn’t too sure of McAdams at first. When they started filming Gosling had asked that McAdams be removed from the set. He claimed he was getting nothing from her performance. Chemistry-wise, he thought they were doomed to fail…boy was he wrong. The two kept closely working together despite their differences. And surprise surprise, they’d end up dating!
LOVED: Samira Wiley & Lauren Morelli, Orange Is The New Black
Couple Samira Wiley and Lauren Morelli weren’t just acting on set of the successful Netflix series Orange is the New Black. Morelli, married to a man at the time, recalls crushing on Wiley as early as reviewing her audition tape. Wiley, openly lesbian throughout her 20s, helped Morelli accept her sexuality as a friend, and eventually a lover through their on-screen relationship in the Netflix series about women’s prison.
Friends and coworkers since 2012 and partners since 2014, Samira and Lauren recently welcomed their first child. Isn’t that an incredible love story? After Poussey was written out of the series, the two of them should’ve collaborated on a film based on their romance!