If you were convinced there was more to Grace Van Patten and Jackson James White's relationship on screen then it turns out you would be correct. The co-stars have gone from an onscreen couple to dating in real life (and they are certainly not the first, nor will they be the last co-stars to do this). Unsurprisingly, fans who called it, could not be happier about the coupling.
But when did their professional relationship take a turn and become romantic? And what can we expect to see from them as the Tell Me Lies progresses? It seems their story is just getting started…
How Did Grace Van Patten's Relationship With Jackson James White Start?
It is not just great chemistry on screen for Grace Van Patten and Jackson James White because the pair are actually in a relationship in real life. The series, Tell Me Lies, follows the story of their characters' volatile relationship and fans were convinced there was something more happening behind the scenes. Turns out, they were right.
The speculation was fueled when Van Patten commented on her celebrity crush during an interview with E! News. She said White was her "biggest crush ever." E! News also noted that the pair had been spotted together outside the film set in October 2022.
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This included an appearance at the Ralph Lauren spring/summer 2023 fashion show and outings in Los Angeles.
Just a month earlier, both Van Patten and White discussed what it was like filming the more steamy scenes on the show. "It's really amazing that we had our intimacy coordinator who really just discussed everything and created such a safe environment for us," Van Patten explained. "Because the scenes are very, very intimate."
In October 2022, James White appeared on the podcast Not Skinny But Not Fat (via Us Weekly) and gave fans a glimmer of hope that something was definitely happening between him and Van Patten.
"All I'm saying is that I'm obsessed with her because she's f***ing amazing," he said. "Our lives are built in together. It's crazy, we have so much to do together. She is the f***ing coolest, most grounded, amazing person IRL that you'll ever meet. She was the fearless leader on our show. She's 25 years old and runs a set like she's been doing this for 30 years. She's so consistent and good at this."
That's not all he said though, he also revealed that the crush was mutual. "I hope it happens," he said of the romance rumors. "I have a huge crush on her."
In an October 2022 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Grace Van Patten was once again asked about the relationship rumors. "Fans should just leave it up for mystery, keep it fun. Who knows?" she said at the time.
She also commented on the intense interest in her love life. "It doesn't bother me at all. It's fun. It's fun like any other discussion about the show," she said. "It's engaging and it's hilarious. I love it."
In November 2022 they would arrive together to the 2022 CFDA Awards in New York City. Daily Mail notes that they posed for photographs holding hands and that White posted a photo of them appearing to be kissing in a photo booth to his Instagram story during the event. This event and the photo were largely interpreted as the official announcement that the pair were dating (and multiple sites reported it as such).
Van Patten has also since posted a photo on her Instagram account of them touching tongues. Us Weekly notes that they have posed for several pictures together over the following months and also attended the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in March 2023.
Is There Going To Be A Second Season Of Tell Me Lies?
Tell Me Lies has been a huge success after it was released on Hulu in 2022. The television series is described on IMDB as "The story of a young woman's obsession with a man who is good at being charming."
It stars Grace Van Patten as Lucy Albright and White as Stephen DeMarco. It was based on the best-selling novel by Carola Lovering (although there are some notable differences between the series and the book).
Good news: the series has been officially renewed by Hulu for a second season, although the details of when and what will take place remain unclear. However, it is speculated that the new season will be released in 2024.
As for the storyline? Showrunner and executive producer Meaghan Oppenheimer is believed to have said this (via Cosmopolitan): It will be "an exploration of toxic relationships and the ways we undermine ourselves when we fall for the wrong people. When Lucy meets Stephen she sees all the red flags, but she ignores them — and it sets her down a path that completely derails her."
Were Grace Van Patten and Jackson James White Destined For Stardom?
The real-life couple and co-stars have not held back when it comes to praising each other for being amazing. This includes a comment that Grace Van Patten made about Jackson James White during an interview with Harper's Bazaar.
She gushed about what it was like working with him, saying, "Jackson is amazing. I remember reading the script for the first time and thinking that Stephen is one of the hardest characters to play and how is anybody gonna play this and not seem like a hundred percent a villain. I remember in our chemistry read, he came in and all the words were manipulative, and his actions were manipulative, but he brought such a humanity to him, and he made him charming, and it made it so confusing."
Fans agree he is the perfect man for the job, but what you may not have realized is that he is the son of two famous parents (and may have always been destined for a life of stardom). Drummer Jack White and actress Katey Sagal are his father and mother.
As for Grace Van Patten? She has already had an impressive career with several roles, and she is the daughter of Timothy Van Patten and her uncle is Dick Van Patten.
