18 Famous Actresses Who Have Been Engaged Without Getting Married

Engagement headlines love a fairytale arc, yet reality often edits the script fast.

Plenty of famous actresses have accepted a proposal, posed for the photos, and then ultimately called it off – no aisle, no vows, no “happily ever after” announcement to close the loop.

Relationships change and the version of the future that looked perfect in month one can feel wrong by month twelve. Celebrity culture just turns that private turning point into public trivia, complete with timelines, rumors, and endless “what happened?” speculation.

Looking back at these cancelled engagements offers a clearer picture of how often love stories pivot, even under the brightest spotlight, and why stepping away can be the most honest decision in the room.

Disclaimer: Details in this article reflect publicly reported engagement timelines and may vary by source or change as new information emerges.

1. Gwyneth Paltrow and Brad Pitt

Back in the nineties, this was THE couple everyone rooted for.

Gwyneth and Brad got engaged in 1996 after meeting on the set of Seven, and fans went absolutely wild. Their split in 1997 shocked the entertainment world.

Years later, Gwyneth admitted she wasn’t ready for marriage at that young age, which makes total sense when you think about it.

2. Winona Ryder and Johnny Depp

If you’ve ever seen photos of Johnny’s famous “Winona Forever” tattoo, you know this romance was intense.

They got engaged in 1990 when Winona was just 19 years old, becoming instant tabloid darlings.

Their relationship lasted three years before ending in 1993. Johnny famously changed his tattoo to “Wino Forever” afterward, which shows he kept his sense of humor.

Young love burns bright but doesn’t always last forever.

3. Nicole Kidman and Lenny Kravitz

For years, this engagement was Hollywood’s best-kept secret until Lenny finally confirmed it in 2017. Nicole and the rock star dated in the early 2000s after her divorce from Tom Cruise.

Their relationship was super private, which makes sense given the media circus around her previous marriage.

Though they never walked down the aisle, both have spoken fondly about their time together.

4. Julia Roberts and Kiefer Sutherland

Picture this: wedding invitations sent, dress ready, guests arriving, and then… nothing.

Julia called off her wedding to Kiefer just three days before the ceremony in 1991, which must have been absolutely wild.

She met him on the set of Flatliners and things moved fast.

The breakup became legendary Hollywood gossip, especially with rumors about her leaving him for his friend Jason Patric.

Talk about dramatic timing!

5. Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck (First Time)

Before they actually got married in 2022, Bennifer 1.0 was the couple that defined early 2000s celebrity culture.

They got engaged in 2002 with that famous pink diamond ring that everyone talked about for months.

Media pressure became so intense they postponed their 2003 wedding and eventually split in 2004.

Good news though: they got their happy ending two decades later, proving some stories deserve a sequel!

6. Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez

J.Lo also said yes to A-Rod’s proposal in 2019 during a romantic beach vacation.

Their relationship seemed solid with their blended family and joint business ventures creating major couple goals.

However, pandemic delays and reported trust issues led to their split in 2021. They released a joint statement emphasizing they’re better as friends, which was actually pretty mature.

Not every engagement needs to end at the altar to be meaningful.

7. Demi Moore and Emilio Estevez

Long before Ashton or Bruce, Demi was engaged to Emilio Estevez in the mid-1980s. They were both rising stars in the Brat Pack era, which made them Hollywood royalty among young actors.

Their engagement ended before they could tie the knot, though the exact reasons remain private.

Demi went on to marry Bruce Willis shortly after, while Emilio continued his successful acting career.

8. Sienna Miller and Jude Law

Their on-again, off-again romance captivated tabloids throughout the mid-2000s.

Jude proposed on Christmas Day 2004, creating what seemed like a fairytale moment for the British beauty and her leading man.

However, infidelity scandals rocked their relationship, leading to their split in 2006.

They briefly reunited later but never rekindled the engagement, ultimately going their separate ways for good.

9. Sienna Miller and Tom Sturridge

After her split from Jude, Sienna found love with actor Tom Sturridge.

They got engaged in 2011 and welcomed a daughter together, building what looked like a stable family life. Despite their engagement lasting several years, they never actually married.

The couple separated in 2015 but remained committed to co-parenting their daughter with respect and maturity.

10. Kate Hudson and Matthew Bellamy

Kate got engaged to Muse frontman Matthew Bellamy in 2011, and they had a son together named Bingham. The couple seemed happy blending their creative careers with family life.

By 2014, they called off their engagement, citing different life priorities.

Kate has been super open about maintaining positive relationships with her exes for the sake of their children, which is honestly admirable.

11. Katie Holmes and Chris Klein

Before Tom Cruise entered the picture, Katie was engaged to American Pie star Chris Klein. They started dating in 2000 and got engaged in 2003, seeming like the perfect young Hollywood couple.

Their engagement ended in 2005, just months before Katie began her whirlwind romance with Tom. The timing was definitely interesting, though both have kept details private over the years.

Life has a funny way of changing your plans completely.

12. Rose McGowan and Marilyn Manson

This was definitely one of Hollywood’s most unexpected pairings!

Rose and the shock-rock icon got engaged in 1998, making headlines everywhere with their unconventional relationship.

Their engagement lasted about three years before ending in 2001.

Rose has since spoken about how that relationship shaped her understanding of love and personal boundaries.

13. Rose McGowan and Robert Rodriguez

After directing Rose in Grindhouse, filmmaker Robert Rodriguez began dating the actress. They got engaged in 2007, with their relationship blossoming through their creative collaboration.

However, their engagement ended in 2009 before they could marry.

Rose later focused on activism and speaking out about industry issues, becoming a prominent voice in the MeToo movement.

Career paths and personal growth sometimes lead people in different directions entirely.

14. Emma Roberts and Evan Peters

These American Horror Story co-stars had an intense on-and-off relationship that lasted years. Evan proposed over the holidays in 2013, and fans of the show were thrilled about their real-life romance.

Their relationship was rocky, with multiple breakups and reunions before finally ending for good in 2019.

Both have moved on to other relationships since then, finding happiness separately.

15. Minnie Driver and Josh Brolin

Minnie and Josh got engaged in 2001 after a whirlwind romance that seemed promising. They were planning their wedding when things took an unexpected turn.

Just six months after getting engaged, they called everything off. Minnie later joked about it in interviews, showing she could laugh about the short-lived engagement.

Quick engagements don’t always equal lasting commitments, and that’s perfectly okay. Knowing when something isn’t right takes real courage and self-awareness.

16. Sydney Sweeney and Jonathan Davino

The Euphoria star got engaged to businessman Jonathan Davino in 2022, keeping their relationship relatively private despite her rising fame.

Fans were excited to see her find happiness outside the spotlight.

Later reports suggest their wedding plans were called off, though details remain scarce. Sydney has always been protective of her personal life, focusing instead on her booming acting career.

17. Uma Thurman and Arpad Busson

Uma and French financier Arpad had an on-and-off relationship that spanned years. They got engaged in 2014 and share a daughter together, creating a blended family situation.

Their engagement eventually ended without a wedding, though they’ve maintained a co-parenting relationship.

Uma has always been private about her personal life, preferring to let her work speak for itself.