Hollywood romances have been common as celebrities work together and sparks fly from their chemistry, sometimes even off-screen. While relationships develop during work, the brewing love also brings media scrutiny, a strong fanbase, and pressure to keep things private. Some relationships have made it through the tough odds, and the couples got their happily ever after, while there are a few romances that fizzled out or ended abruptly on bitter terms.
Breakups can be difficult, and it gets even more awkward when A-listers part ways while having a working relationship that requires a contractual commitment to continue filming on the project. Business and pleasure can never be mixed, but these couples have tried romance on the set, broken up, and continued to work together. From Joey King-Jacob Elordi’s young romance to The Big Bang Theory’s stars who remain friends, let’s look at the celebrity couples who broke up while working together.
10 Joey King and Jacob Elordi
In January 2017, Joey King and Jacob Elordi first met to film their Netflix teenage romance movie, The Kissing Booth. They shared snaps on Instahttps://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a33418193/joey-king-jacob-elordi-relationship-timeline/gram to make it official and made several public outings in 2018. In November, it was reported that the couple broke up, and the movie was green-lit for a sequel. The couple worked on two sequels and maintained a professional relationship.
9 Jennifer Lawrence and Nicholas Hoult
Jennifer Lawrence and Nicholas Hoult began their romance after working together in X-Men: First Class in 2010 and got engaged four years later. Within a few months, they broke up just as X-Men: Days Of Future Past had finished filming. Both remain great friends, sharing a similar sense of humor, and went on to star in X-Men: Apocalypse and Dark Phoenix.
8 Cole Sprouse and Lili Reinhart
Riverdale was a highly anticipated series by CW that began filming in March 2016, which is where co-stars Cole Sprouse and Lili Reinhart first met. They sparked relationship rumors and confirmed it in 2017. They dated for four years, supporting each other at premiers and attending the Met Galas, but parted ways in March 2020. Sprouse and Reinhart remained on good terms and filmed the show's fifth season in 2021.
7 Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson
Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson had instant chemistry since meeting for auditions in 2007 for Twilight. After a solid four-year romance, it was reported that Stewart cheated on Pattinson with her Snow White director Rupert Sanders in July 2012. They briefly split but reconciled before the press tour for Breaking Dawn Part 2 began but broke up for good in May 2013.
6 Blake Lively and Penn Badgley
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Starring as Serena and Dan in Gossip Girl, Blake Lively and Penn Badgley fell in love during the first season of the show, dating for three years until 2010. After seeing comparisons between their on-screen and off-screen romance, they parted ways but kept it a secret from the show's crew. They continued working on the show and are now happily married to different people.
5 Jennifer Garner and Michael Vartan
The famous television show Alias was a thriller/mystery created by J.J Abrams, starring Jennifer Garner and Michael Vartan in lead roles. Since the show aired in 2001, the couple briefly dated but mutually broke up and remained friends. As they were friends before getting into a relationship, they maintained a similar connection after.
4 Mindy Kaling and BJ Novak
Mindy Kaling and BJ Novak were writers and actors on the hit NBC comedy sitcom The Office, portraying the characters of Kelly Kapoor and Ryan Howard, respectively. They played a funny but toxic couple on the screen and briefly dated behind the cameras. They broke up but have remained best friends, supporting each other’s ventures. Novak is also the godfather to Kaling’s children.
3 Charlize Theron and Sean Penn
Charlize Theron had been friends with Sean Penn for years before they began dating in 2013. Their romance continued for eighteen months, and they even decided to work on a project together. Penn directed the drama film The Last Face starring Theron, and after their breakup, the couple had to meet again to reshoot the last few scenes.
2 Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki
One of the most popular sitcoms on CBS, The Big Bang Theory, aired for twelve seasons starting in 2007. The lead actors, Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki, dated between 2010 and 2012 before parting ways. They remained close friends who benefited from the show as they had a romantic relationship on-screen for the remainder of the show.
1 Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Affleck
After ending her long-term relationship with Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow dated Ben Affleck as her rebound in an on-again-off-again relationship in the late 1990s. They met in 1997 at a dinner party hosted by a producer and starred in Shakespeare In Love. The pair had broken up when filming their second movie Bounce began but overcame their awkwardness to work together.
Other notable couples who ended things while working together include Charles Melton and Camila Mendes from Riverdale, Hayden Panettiere and Milo Ventimiglia in Heroes, and Gwen Stefani and Tony Kanal, who were bandmates in No Doubt. Despite ending relationships, these celebrities have discovered the right way to remain on good terms and get the work done.
Sources: Elle, People, Parade, Instyle
