18 Celebrity Couples You Probably Forgot Were Ever A Thing
Hollywood romances come and go faster than a superhero changing costumes in a phone booth.
Some celebrity couples burn bright and fade into the memory vault, leaving fans scratching their heads years later.
Get ready to take a trip down memory lane with pairings that once made headlines but now feel like fever dreams!
1. Ryan Gosling and Sandra Bullock
Back in 2002, these two A-listers shared more than just screen chemistry. Bullock was already a household name while Gosling was still climbing the ladder to stardom.
Their romance lasted about a year, flying under the radar despite their age gap of sixteen years. They met on the set of ‘Murder by Numbers’ and kept things pretty low-key.
2. Nicole Kidman and Lenny Kravitz
If you blinked during the early 2000s, you might have missed this unexpected pairing.
Kidman, fresh off her divorce from Tom Cruise, found comfort with the rock star extraordinaire. Their connection was intense but brief, sparking tabloid frenzy for a hot minute.
Kravitz brought his cool rocker vibe while Kidman was Hollywood royalty. Though short-lived, their romance proved opposites really do attract sometimes!
3. Madonna and Tupac Shakur
How’s this for an unexpected crossover episode? The Queen of Pop and the legendary rapper dated secretly in the mid-1990s.
Tupac later revealed their relationship in a heartfelt letter written from prison, explaining he ended things due to racial dynamics and public perception.
Their romance remained hidden for years until that letter surfaced. Talk about a relationship that would’ve broken the internet if social media existed back then!
4. Cher and Tom Cruise
Picture this: Cher, the iconic diva, dating a twenty-three-year-old Tom Cruise in the mid-1980s. They met at Sean Penn and Madonna’s wedding, and sparks flew despite their sixteen-year age difference.
Cher later admitted Cruise was shy and sweet during their time together.
However, their romance fizzled pretty quickly. She’s described him as one of her top five lovers, which is quite the hall of fame!
5. Drew Barrymore and Luke Wilson
These two brought major rom-com energy to real life in the late 1990s. Barrymore and Wilson dated while both were rising stars, their relationship blossoming with that classic Hollywood charm.
They kept things relatively private, avoiding the paparazzi circus that often follows young celebrities.
Though their romance ended, they remained friendly over the years. Honestly, they would’ve made the cutest couple for the tabloids!
6. Cameron Diaz and Jared Leto
From 1999 to 2003, these two blonde bombshells were Hollywood’s golden couple. Diaz was at the peak of her rom-com reign while Leto balanced acting with his band Thirty Seconds to Mars.
Their four-year relationship seemed solid, with red carpet appearances and public affection. Yet like many Hollywood romances, it eventually ran its course.
Fun fact: they never publicly explained why they split!
7. Scarlett Johansson and Josh Hartnett
Before Scarlett became a Marvel superhero, she dated the brooding heartthrob Josh Hartnett from 2005 to 2006.
Both were young, gorgeous, and at the top of Hollywood’s hot list. Their relationship was brief but generated plenty of buzz in the tabloids.
Hartnett later stepped back from the spotlight while Johansson’s star kept rising.
8. Julia Roberts and Matthew Perry
America’s Sweetheart dated Chandler Bing? Yep, it happened!
From 1995 to 1996, Roberts and Perry were an item during ‘Friends’ peak popularity.
Roberts even guest-starred on the show, playing a character who had history with Perry’s Chandler.
Their romance lasted only a few months but created major headlines. Perry reportedly had to woo her with daily faxes before she agreed to appear on the show!
9. Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal
Following her divorce from Ryan Phillippe, Witherspoon found love with Gyllenhaal from 2007 to 2009. They seemed picture-perfect together, often spotted with Witherspoon’s kids enjoying family outings.
Both were Oscar-nominated actors at the height of their careers, making them Hollywood royalty.
Despite looking solid, they called it quits after two years. Sources cited different life stages as the reason for their split.
10. Demi Moore and Emilio Estevez
Way before Ashton Kutcher or Bruce Willis, Moore was engaged to Emilio Estevez in the mid-1980s. Both were young Brat Pack members riding the wave of teen movie success.
They seemed destined for marriage, with wedding plans and everything. However, they called off their engagement just before tying the knot.
11. Sarah Jessica Parker and Robert Downey Jr.
Long before Carrie Bradshaw and Iron Man, these two dated for seven years from 1984 to 1991.
They met on a film set and became one of young Hollywood’s most talked-about couples. Parker stood by Downey during his early struggles with addiction.
Eventually, his personal battles became too much for their relationship to survive. Parker has spoken kindly about their time together, despite the painful ending.
12. Brad Pitt and Juliette Lewis
Before becoming half of Brangelina, Pitt dated the quirky actress Juliette Lewis from 1990 to 1993. They met on the set of a TV movie and instantly clicked.
Lewis was only sixteen when they started dating, though their relationship became public when she turned eighteen.
Their romance was intense and passionate, very rock-and-roll. Both have moved on to other relationships but remain respectful about their past together!
13. Ashton Kutcher and January Jones
Years before Ashton became Mr. Demi Moore or married Mila Kunis, he dated January Jones in the late 1990s.
Both were struggling actors trying to make it in Hollywood, sharing an apartment and supporting each other’s auditions.
Jones later described him as not particularly supportive of her career. Ouch!
They’ve both gone on to massive success, though their paths rarely cross anymore.
14. Tobey Maguire and Rashida Jones
Spider-Man’s first web? Rashida Jones!
In the late 1990s, Tobey Maguire dated the multi-talented actress before either became household names. They were young Hollywood hopefuls navigating the industry together.
Their relationship stayed pretty low-key, ending before Maguire landed his iconic Spider-Man role. Jones went on to star in ‘The Office’ and ‘Parks and Recreation,’ becoming a comedy favorite!
15. Katy Perry and Travie McCoy
Before ‘I Kissed a Girl’ made her a superstar, Katy Perry dated Gym Class Heroes frontman Travie McCoy from 2008 to 2009.
Their relationship was full of rock-star energy, with both musicians supporting each other’s careers.
However, Perry’s skyrocketing fame created tension between them. McCoy later wrote songs about their breakup, channeling heartbreak into his music like a true artist!
16. Kristen Stewart and Michael Angarano
Before the whole ‘Twilight’ saga and her relationship with Robert Pattinson, Stewart dated actor Michael Angarano from 2005 to 2009. They met on the set of ‘Speak’ when both were teenage actors starting out.
Their relationship lasted four years, ending around when Stewart’s fame exploded with the vampire franchise. Angarano has continued acting in smaller projects, staying out of the massive spotlight!
17. Natalie Portman and Gael García Bernal
Oscar-winner Natalie Portman dated Mexican heartthrob Gael García Bernal in the late 2000s.
Both were critically acclaimed actors known for choosing artsy, meaningful projects. Their romance was passionate but relatively brief, lasting about a year.
They kept things private, rarely appearing together publicly. Did you know?
Portman has always been super protective of her personal life, avoiding tabloid drama whenever possible!
18. Alanis Morissette and Ryan Reynolds
From 2004 to 2007, the ‘Jagged Little Pill’ singer was engaged to Ryan Reynolds. They seemed like an odd pairing, the intense rocker chick and the funny guy, but they made it work for three years.
Reynolds married Scarlett Johansson shortly after, while Morissette channeled her heartbreak into her album ‘Flavors of Entanglement.’ Music therapy at its finest!
