The private lives of celebrities has always held a degree of fascination for the general public. In this age of blogs, websites, and social media, we’re closer to our favorite stars than ever, with breaking news about celeb couples blowing up our news feeds and trending in a startlingly short amount of time.
These days, the loss of privacy seems to be part of the deal when it comes to becoming famous and there’s no shortage of outlets ready to feed our seemingly limitless hunger for gossip.
However, certain famous couples have managed to mostly keep out of the spotlight, drawing a distinct line between their personal and professional lives.
Actors meeting on set and getting together is par for the course, and most of the time it’s just like any other workplace romance– well, except for the fact that there’s an entire industry based around bringing us every single update and broadcasting it to a global audience.
With that in mind, we decided to focus on the acting couples you may not be aware of unless you spend your free time painstakingly refreshing your various gossip feeds.
Here are the 20 Incredible Actor Couples That Went Under The Radar.
20. Alison Brie and Dave Franco
Alison Brie and Dave Franco reportedly met at the 2011 Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans. The pair started dating soon after and have managed to maintain their relationship through both their careers skyrocketing.
Brie is probably the more famous of the two, thanks to her roles in Mad Men, Community and GLOW.
However, Dave Franco’s no slouch, appearing in comedies like Superbad, the Jump Street movies, the Neighbors movies and more recently having a starring roles in Nerve and The Disaster Artist, the latter of which saw him sharing the screen with his brother, James.
The couple wed in a private ceremony last year and seem to suit married life.
Brie has stated that their marriage has made her feel “settled” and “almost more free… rather than trapped.” They’ve worked together on-screen too, appearing in a Funny or Die sketch together as well as co-starring in The Little Hours.
19. Norman Reedus and Diane Kruger
Fans may have a love-hate relationship with The Walking Dead, but most people still seem to love Norman Reedus. While Reedus became big after playing the crossbow-wielding Daryl Dixon, many people knew him from parts in The Boondock Saints and Blade II.
Diane Kruger became internationally known after appearing as Helen of Sparta in 2004 epic Troy before appearing in the National Treasure movies and Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds.
There had been many murmurings about the pair’s status since they became friends, but everything was seemingly confirmed when the couple were pictured partying, holding hands, and kissing in New York City last year.
At the 2018 Golden Globes, the couple made things official.
They appeared on the red carpet together with Reedus attending to support Kruger, who starred in In The Fade, which ended up taking Best Foreign Film at the ceremony.
18. Orlando Bloom and Nina Dobrev
Many actors struggle to find a franchise, but Orlando Bloom kicked off his Hollywood career with not one, but two big series, namely The Lord of the Rings and the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
He’s worked steadily since then and even reprised his role as the ridiculously perfect Legolas in The Hobbit sequels. He’s had a longterm friendship with actress Nina Dobrev, best known for playing lead Elena Gilbert in The Vampire Diaries, but reports suggest that it may have morphed into something more.
Nothing is confirmed, though, and considering some of Bloom’s past headline-grabbing romances, it looks to stay that way for the time being.
There are conflicting reports about their status as a couple, with supposed insider sources saying they have a very casual relationship, but until things are made properly, publicly official, we won’t know for sure.
17. Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton
Many Stranger Things fans were excited when Nancy and Jonathan finally got things together in the series, but it seems that a relationship between Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton blossomed off-screen too.
The couple were understandably cagey about making things public, but months of rumors were confirmed when they made things “red carpet official” in 2017, delighting thousands of internet “shippers” in the process.
The pair credit their on-screen chemistry to their closeness in real life and they seem to have a playful relationship.
When asked about her boyfriend, Dyer quipped “He’s alright, I guess. He doesn’t mess up our scenes too much!”
Whether their characters will stay together on the show for season 3 remains to be seen, but for some fans, the evolution of the “Jancy” relationship is yet another reason why the third series of the hit show can’t come soon enough.
16. Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn
Taylor Swift is notorious for her dating history. The singer/media megastar has had numerous famous flings and her relationships have always served as fodder for her music, with many fans poring over her lyrics and guessing which of them refer to her famous exes.
Most recently, Taylor has been dating British actor Joe Alwyn, known for his roles in Ang Lee’s war movie Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk and in mystery drama The Sense of an Ending.
The pair have been photographed together, but seem to be trying to keep things on the down low.
Tracks from Taylor’s latest album have offered up clues to their relationship, with many fans believing that songs like “Gorgeous”, “Don’t Blame Me” and “Delicate” all contain hints to how smitten she is with her actor beau.
Alywn had better play his cards right, lest he receive the usual lyrical smackdown in Swift’s future work.
15. Lucy Hale and Riley Smith
Lucy Hale is perhaps best known for her role as Aria Montgomery in Pretty Little Liars. The show ended its seven year run last year and Lucy has been working hard ever since.
Riley Smith is also a seasoned actor, having appeared in 24, True Blood, Nashville and Frequency as well as movies like Eight Legged Freaks and Not Another Teen Movie.
The pair met on CW show Life Sentence, in which Hale plays the lead role of Stella Abbott, and they reportedly got along famously.
Details about their relationship are scarce as things seem pretty new, but they were pictured sharing a romantic Valentine’s Day date that sent the gossip mill into overdrive. Many fans are eager to see if this progresses further, but only time will tell with this one.
14. David Cross and Amber Tamblyn
David Cross started his career doing stand-up comedy at the age of 17. He started writing for The Ben Stiller Show in the early ’90s before appearing in HBO’s sketch comedy Mr. Show alongside Bob Odenkirk.
He’s probably best known as Tobias Fünke in Arrested Development, but has an impressive IMDbi page, documenting his roles in everything from Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! to his voice work in the Kung Fu Panda franchise.
Amber Tamblyn rose to prominence with her lead role in series Joan of Arcadia, but moved on to shows and movies like House, The Sisterhood of Traveling Pants and 127 Hours. The pair dated for years, before eventually marrying in 2012. The couple had a daughter last year, named Marlow Alice Cross.
13. Melissa Benoist and Chris Wood
Supergirl fans were sent into a spin when Kara (Melissa Benoist) and Mon-El (Chris Wood) finally confessed their feelings for each other and set about making up for lost time.
It seems that little acting was required for this element of the show and Benoist and Wood got together off-screen too.
The rumors were already swirling considering that both actors had gone through public breakups and seemed very friendly with each other, but snaps of the pair enjoying a romantic holiday together confirmed their relationship.
Before wearing the iconic S Shield, Benoist was best known for her role in Glee, playing Marley Rose, although the actress has also appeared in Homeland as well as Whiplash and Patriots’ Day.
Chris Wood, on the other hand, made his name with Containment and The Vampire Diaries before smouldering things up as the former Daxam prince.
12. Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally
Both Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally have iconic sitcom characters to call their own.
Most people will probably know Offerman as mustachioed man’s man Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation, whereas there will be just as many who will know Mullally as the shrill socialite Karen Walker from Will & Grace.
The two met while doing theater work and married in 2003.
Since then, they’ve appeared together in each others’ shows, with Mullally having a memorable recurring role as Ron’s crazy ex-wife Tammy (aka Tammy II) and Offerman recently appearing in the new series of Will & Grace.
The couple also toured with a stage show called Summer of 69: No Apostrophe in which they talk very frankly about their marriage through lewd jokes, songs, and skits.
11. Michael Emerson and Carrie Preston
Michael Emerson has had a long and extensive career in entertainment. People will know him from roles in The Practice, the first Saw movie, Lost, and Person of Interest.
He met his wife, fellow actor Carrie Preston, during a stage production of Hamlet and they married in 1998. Preston, meanwhile, made a name for herself with performances in True Blood and The Good Wife.
The couple have co-starred numerous times, with Preston playing Emerson’s former fiancée in Person of Interest as well as appearing together in the movies Straight-Jacket and Ready? OK!
Although they didn’t share any scenes together, Carrie also had a memorable role as Ben Linus’ mother Emily in a flashback episode of Lost.
Considering their history of sharing the screen, we wouldn’t be surprised if Michael turns up in The Good Fight, a spin-off from The Good Wife, sometime soon.
10. Emma Watson and Chord Overstreet
Emma Watson is one of the biggest younger actresses currently working after starring as Hermione Granger in the hugely popular Harry Potter movies.
She hasn’t rested since then either, starring in movies like The Bling Ring and Noah, as well as the massive box-office hit that was the live-action Beauty and the Beast adaptation.
Chord Overstreet will be less familiar to most, but rose to prominence on Glee, playing singing heartthrob Sam Evans.
Watson had previously said that she wasn’t interested in dating famous people, but her new coupling with Overstreet seems to have changed her mind.
The pair were photographed holding hands and being all lovey-dovey strolling around Los Angeles, but it seems like it’s early days for the actors.
9. Clark Gregg and Jennifer Grey
You’d be hard pressed to find someone who didn’t like the MCU’s Phil Coulson. Gregg’s S.H.I.E.L.D. agent was the common thread between several of the Phase One Marvel movies and we were all bummed out when Loki cruelly murdered him in 2012’s The Avengers.
Of course, Gregg would reprise the role in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV show, and there was much celebration when it was announced he’d be returning to the movies in next year’s Captain Marvel.
What you may not know is the fact that Clark’s wife is Jennifer Grey, known to entire generations as Frances “Baby” Houseman in Dirty Dancing.
8. Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara
Both Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara come from famous acting families. Joaquin started around the age of eight, with his first credited role in TV version of Seven Brides For Seven Brothers.
He’s probably best known for playing the odious Commodus in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator, his role as Theodore in 2013’s Her, and for playing Johnny Cash in the critically acclaimed Walk the Line biopic.
Rooney Mara made her debut in Urban Legends: Bloody Mary in 2005, but moved to much higher profile roles in movies such as The Social Network and the American remake of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.
The couple went public with their relationship at Cannes last year and seem pretty happy with each other.
They both appeared in Her, but will next share the screen in Mary Magdalene, with Mara playing the titular Biblical figure.
7. Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher
Considering the amount of controversy that Sacha Baron Cohen has attracted over his career, it’s unlikely that there will be many who don’t know his work.
The comedian became a household name as clueless interviewer/rapper Ali G, but hit global notoriety as his characters Borat Sagdiyev, Brüno Gehard, and Admiral General Aladeen.
Wife Isla Fisher has had a very different path to fame. She started with television roles in her native Australia before moving into comedy movies like the live-action Scooby-Doo, Wedding Crashers, and Hot Rod.
The pair met in 2002, dated, and finally married in Paris in 2010.
They’ve since had three children together, but so far have only partnered on screen once, in Cohen’s The Brothers Grimsby.
Fisher seems to take Baron’s antics in her stride and it’s clearly working, with the couple celebrating their 16th anniversary at the end of last year.
6. Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis
Jason Sudeikis was hired as a writer for Saturday Night Live in 2003, but soon became part of the regular cast.
He left the show in 2013 to pursue a movie career and appeared in the Horrible Bosses movies and We’re The Millers, as well as in notable roles in TV shows like 30 Rock and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
He met fiancée Olivia Wilde around the time of the 2011 SNL season finale, but apparently took six months to ask for her number.
Wilde became famous after playing Dr. Remy Hadley, aka “Thirteen,” in medical drama House, but soon transitioned to big budget movies like Tron: Legacy and Cowboys & Aliens.
Wilde was apparently attracted to Sudeikis’ moves on the dance floor and the pair started dating, getting engaged in 2013. The duo have two children together, but are yet to officially tie the knot.
5. Jamie Foxx and Katie Holmes
Actor/singer/producer/comedian Jamie Foxx has been in a crazy number of movies and television shows.
Some of his biggest Hollywood roles have been as the titular hero in Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained, as Electro in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and as Ray Charles in 2004’s Ray, for which he won the Best Actor Oscar.
Katie Holmes, on the other hand, rose to fame on Dawson’s Creek and has appeared in a smattering of other roles including playing the original Rachel Dawes in Batman Begins.
Her ill-fated marriage to Tom Cruise thrust her into the spotlight, but the couple divorced in 2012.
Both Foxx and Holmes have been rumored to be dating for years, but this wasn’t confirmed until 2017.
Many put the fact that things have been kept a secret down to an alleged clause in Holmes’ divorce, preventing her from publicly dating anyone for five years.
4. Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest
Some people struggle with knowing what they want out of life. This wasn’t a problem for Jamie Lee Curtis, however.
The actress, famous for playing Laurie in the Halloween series as well as for roles in True Lies and the 2003 Freaky Friday remake, apparently had her sights set on comedic actor Christopher Guest since seeing him in Rolling Stone, promoting his movie This Is Spinal Tap.
She reportedly passed her number to Guest’s agent and the rest is history. Something’s clearly working, as they recently celebrated 33 years together.
They keep their relationship low key, and when Guest has been asked about it, he’s been pretty honest about how unglamorous it is: “We go home and we wear sweatpants and the baby takes a dump and we change the diaper. I don’t mean to put you off here, but I just tend not to talk about it.”
3. Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet
Many of us can only dream of meeting, let alone courting, our childhood crushes, but Jason Momoa did just that.
The actor, best known for playing Khal Drogo in Game of Thronesand for portraying Aquaman in the DCEU, apparently had a crush on future wife Lisa Bonet at the age of 8, after seeing her as Denise Huxtable in The Cosby Show.
The pair met through mutual friends, but Momoa confesses that he wasn’t exactly the ladies’ man we assume he is.
He “freaked out” when he first met her and even deepened his voice to appear more manly.
He obviously got over his jitters and the pair finally wed in 2017 after many happy years and two children together. They’ve taken their off-screen partnership on-screen too, playing lovers in Road to Paloma, which starred, was directed, produced, and co-written by Momoa.
2. Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz
This couple of unfairly talented and good-looking Brits have mostly kept to themselves, despite their global fame.
Rachel Weisz’s breakthrough role was as Evelyn “Evie” Carnahan opposite Brendan Fraser in 1999’s The Mummy and things snowballed after that.
Roles in Enemy At The Gates, The Mummy Returns, and Constantine followed before she took on more complex roles in The Constant Gardener and The Fountain.
Daniel Craig started getting recognition after roles in big movies like Tomb Raider and Road to Perdition before he became the sixth actor to take on the role of James Bond in Casino Royale.
Although they were already friends, Craig and Weisz grew closer on the set of Dream House.
They dated for a while before marrying in a private ceremony in 2011 with only four guests in attendance.
1. Naomi Watts and Billy Crudup
We all have to start somewhere and Noami Watts’ first big role was as Jet Girl in the Tank Girl movie, which despite being a critical and commercial flop, is now something of a cult classic.
She was cast by David Lynch in Mulholland Drive and her career took off, appearing as the lead in both The Ring and The Ring Two, I Heart Huckabees, Peter Jackson’s King Kong, and numerous critically acclaimed movies like 21 Grams and Eastern Promises.
Billy Crudup forged his career in movies like 1996’s Sleepers before moving on to higher profile roles in Almost Famous, Mission: Impossible III, Public Enemies, and Watchmen.
The pair met while filming Netflix series Gypsy, playing husband and wife. They hit it off and have reportedly been dating ever since.
Can you think of any other actor couples that have been kept under the radar? Let us know in the comments!
