Maisy Fernandez,
Sep 06, 2009
Sometimes, making a relationship thrive is hard enough.
But it must be darn near impossible when an actor also works with their significant other, especially with the added pressure of America watching. Talk about not having any alone time!
So we applaud Hollywood couples who work (or have worked) together on TV shows without causing drama on the set. Because let's be frank: Nobody wants to see a sullied personal relationship throw a monkey wrench in quality television shows.
Here are TV some hot costar couples that we're rooting for and some from the past we were sad to see split.
Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin
These True Blood co-stars, who play couple Bill and Sookie on the show, recently got engaged in real life. Knowing that certainly makes their True Blood love scenes feel realistic, even though it also makes the viewer feel a bit like a Peeping Tom. Clearly, though, they have chemistry -- with or without the fangs.
Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter
As serial killer Dexter and his potty-mouthed detective half-sister, Debra, these complex Dexter characters light up the small screen with their, um, shenanigans. But when they're out in real life, the unassuming marrieds quietly peruse hole-in-the-wall antique shops and hit hip neighborhood hangouts when visiting Carpenter's hometown of Louisville. Stars -- they're just like us!
Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan
Proving that all Hollywood unions don't go up in flames, Fox and Pollan have been a couple since 1987, after Pollan played Fox's girlfriend on Family Ties during the 1985-1986 season. While they weren't yet dating during the show, their fictional romance became real when they worked together on the movie, Bright Lights, Big City, proving their love overcomes the pressures of employment. And the rest -- 22 years, so far -- is history.
Jerry Ferrara and Jamie-Lynn Sigler
On Entourage, the general public is shocked that Sigler (who plays herself) is dating Vince's jobless, pot-smoking, guy-next-door friend, Turtle. This coupling had the same "no way!" effect in real life, too. And to us, that makes it so much more interesting than an expected "super couple" like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.
Evangeline Lilly and Dominic Monaghan
Like Hall and Carpenter, these two play siblings on Lost. And like Ferrara and Sigler, it might be said that the woman in this relationship is dating down in the looks department. (I mean, hello, Monaghan played a hobbit!) But looks aren't everything, and being on one of TV's most intriguing shows in years makes for a scorching hot couple, even if they have been on-again, off-again over the years.
Josie Bissett and Rob Estes
Although they were involved with other people on the original Melrose Place, this attractive duo were married for more than a decade before calling it quits in 2005. At home, they must have been so thankful for their pairing, which was far more successful than their their on-screen MP personas. Ever-suffering Jane's relationships were always downers, and Kyle was always waiting for the other shoe to drop with super-bitch Amanda (Heather Locklear).
Brian Austin Green and Tiffani Thiessen
When Beverly Hills, 90210 was hot – the original series, not the remade travesty that airs now – few young actors enjoyed bigger celebrity or had more admirers that its stars. So when hottie Green and Saved By The Bell alum/sexpot Thiessen were together for seven years, it was gossip-worthy. Not to mention, it was far sexier than Green's on-screen relationship with eternal virgin/stick-in-the-mud Donna Martin (Tori Spelling).
Blake Lively and Penn Badgely
Not only are these two Gossip Girl stars pleasing to the eye, they are a couple after our own hearts. In the endless stream of paparazzi photos, they're frequently cavorting at the beach or perched poolside, looking totally relaxed and happy -- a nice, normal retreat from their brooding (Dan) and enviably perfect (Serena) TV characters. They are the Brian Austin Green and Tiffani Theissen of today.
Mark Valley and Anna Torv
Life imitates art for these Fringe co-stars, who, unbeknownst to their castmates, secretly got hitched late last year. On the show, Valley plays Torv's ex-lover. In reality, they're ... well ... we're not really sure. They fly under the radar, which is actually kind of a nice change from most Hollywood couples.
Jamie Kennedy Jr. And Jennifer Love Hewitt
On screen, Kennedy and Hewitt currently play Eli and Melinda -- friends who talk to dead people on The Ghost Whisperer. In real life, the two have been dating since at least March. Ironically, Hewitt didn't wait for the body of her previous relationship with Ross McCall to get cold -- they broke off their engagement in January -- before taking up with Kennedy. Ah well. If there's one thing we've learned from The Ghost Whisperer, it's that life is short.
