Being in a relationship is beautiful and it can be doubly rewarding if you're working with your partner because you get to be with each other more often. However, things can get awkward if you split up and still have to continue working together. Or does it? Apparently, not for everybody!
These celebrities broke up but continued working together, proving the odds wrong. Many of them claim they’re great friends today while some aren’t that close. Regardless, they’ve never let their personal differences stand in the way of their professional commitments. Let’s check out who’s made the list.
Dwayne Johnson & Dany Garcia, Hobbs & Shaw
Dwayne Johnson and Dany Gracia got divorced in 2008. Since then, they’ve worked together on several of Dwayne's movies. He said that everyone should know that relationships and marriages aren't easy; people have to be intentional about making things work. He added that the two were friends before the divorce and that hasn't changed.
He said maintaining that friendship was not easy but they just had to find what worked. When people asked him for advice, he told them it is necessary to put in the work and not forget that there was a friendship before. This open-mindedness has helped them work together on the 2019 film Hobbs & Shaw.
Amanda Seyfried & Dominic Cooper, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
Dominic Cooper and Amanda Seyfried started their relationship in 2008. They met on the set of Mamma Mia! However, the two parted ways in 2011. Both acted again in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again which was released in 2019; this time as friends. Amanda’s partner, Thomas Sadoski, was not happy with the collaboration.
According to her, she was not moved by her husband's sentiments about her acting with her ex. She said it seemed Sadoski thought Dominic was in love with her, in the same way, that he was in love with her and it was sweet. She added that she wasn’t attracted to Cooper but her husband was jealous nonetheless.
Kyle Maclachlan & Laura Dern, Twin Peaks
Many years after Kyle Maclachlan and Laura Dern ended their romantic journey, they met again during the filming of Twin Peaks. They acted in a steamy love scene, but despite their history, both handled things pretty well. It was like going back 25 years since they were so physically close to each other.
Kyle said they had to be without clothes and the director told them what they had to do. He instructed Kyle to talk Laura through the scene so that she would be more comfortable. When Kyle was talking to Laura, he started by saying, welcome back after 25 years.
Naomi Watts & Liev Schreiber, Chuck
Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber were in a relationship for 11 years before they broke up. They still maintain their friendship. Watts and Schreiber starred as husband and wife in the movie Chuck. Schreiber said he could remember his reaction when he saw Naomi on the first day of shooting the trailer.
She was wearing a leopard print dress with fake boobs and hair. Her presence was a treat to him. He added that when he found out she would be on the set of the movie, he knew he was about to have a fun-filled experience.
Christina Anstead & Tarek El Moussa, Flip or Flop
Christina Anstead and Tarek El Moussa divorced after 7 years of marriage. After the separation, they were cast to work together as hosts on the show, Flip or Flop. The public knew about their split in December 2016 but assumed things were going okay between them, given their good rapport.
Tarek and Christina said they had agreed not to let the dissolution affect their jobs. They are committed to their work and won't let their feelings interfere with the show. The show was renewed for an eighth season in 2018.
Cameron Diaz & Justin Timberlake, Bad Teacher
In 2006, when Cameron and Justin broke up, there was no visible evidence that they didn’t like each other anymore. They started dating in 2003. The pair starred in a 2011 movie titled Bad Teacher, and according to Cameron, their collaboration was great.
She continued by sharing that they have always enjoyed each other’s company. Cameron and Justin were both in a movie that was full of comedic scenes, which was right up their alley. She concluded that Justin was the perfect actor for the movie. In 2016, Cameron retired from acting.
Nina Dobrev & Ian Somerhalder, TheVampire Diaries
In 2013, Nina and Ian split but fate had other plans for them. They continued working together on the TV show, The Vampire Diaries, as lovers. As a result, they collected the Best Chemistry Award at People’s Choice Awards in 2014.
Nina left The Vampire Diaries in 2015 but that exit did not affect their good friendship. Nikki Reed, who happens to be Ian’s wife, joined the two ex-lovers at a farewell dinner that was held to mark the final season of the show. Based on Nina's wide smile in this photo, it's clear an unbreakable bond had developed between the two.
Sophia Bush & Chad Michael Murray, One Tree Hill
In an article for Cosmopolitan, Sophia addressed the situation with her former husband, Chad Michael Murray; she said the split was a big one and it was real. The One Tree Hill actors, Chad Murray, and Sophia Bush got married in May of 2004. The couple announced their split five months later.
She wasn’t bothered about the issue until everything became popular. The intensity of the media coverage was strange to her. Her entire world was turned upside down during this time; it was devastating. Murray has since remarried, to Sarah Roemer, in 2015.
Michael C. Hall & Jennifer Carpenter, Dexter
Continuing a professional career together after getting separated from each other is not a simple task but Michael and Jennifer are handling their separation quite well. Five years before the final season of the show Dexter in 2013, the co-stars were married.
Michael and Jennifer were married for 3 years, from 2008 until they signed divorce papers in 2011. They continued to work together after their relationship ended and are still quite comfortable with each other. Their professionalism has helped them move on. Michael jokingly advises his fans to not try what they did.
Nikki Reed & Paul McDonald, I’m Not Falling
Nikki Reed and Paul McDonald, a former beautiful musician couple, married on October 16, 2011, and got divorced after 4 years, on January 2, 2015. They composed and sung many songs together. Nikki and Paul are still working together after their separation and the world can see an amicable relationship between them.
They also released their post-marriage album, I'm Not Falling, which they poured their souls into and worked so hard on. Paul is a successful singer and he ranked 8th on the tenth season of American idol. Nikki is a famous actress, model, and singer.
Rachel Bilson & Adam Brody, The O.C.
This couple from the hit teen drama, The O.C., dated for three years while they were working together. However, Bilson and Brody were a bit unlucky because while their characters ended up with an on-screen wedding, in real life, the couple failed to maintain their partnership.
Even after splitting up, both continued to work together. In several interviews and documentaries, Bilson has declared that nothing is wrong between them and that she wishes him all the best. It was their past, and both are happy with their present. There have since been rumors of a revival of The O.C.
Blake Lively & Penn Badgley, Gossip Girl
Blake and Penn are also among the couples who worked together after their separation. They started dating while starring in Gossip Girl. They were playing the role of lovers on the show which instantly triggered their attraction towards each other. After 3 years, the couple split, just like their characters, Serena and Dan.
When they were together, they posted a lot of photos, displaying their adoration for each other. They also handled their separation quite well too. Blake and Penn have remained friends to this day and can often be spotted together at lunches and dinners.
Diane Keaton & Al Pacino, The Godfather
The romantic era of Diane Keaton and Al Pacino is still fresh in the minds of many. Both were among the finest actors of their time. They spent many years together, loving each other. Eventually, Pacino lost interest, and Keaton wanted to settle down. Due to these circumstances, they split up.
Keaton is well-known for her romantic relationships, but she has never married. She had been noticed with many actors like Woody Allen and Warren Beaty before getting in a relationship with Al Pacino. Despite going their separate ways, the two worked together in The Godfather.
Heidi Klum & Seal, America's Got Talent
After being together for nine years, this couple astonished the whole world by announcing their divorce in 2014. Heidi Klum and Seal spent some delightful years together. They also had four kids; Johan, Henry, Lou, and Helena. Heidi had her last name returned to Klum after having changed it to Samuel when she got married.
There’s still a good understanding between Klum and Seal and they have remained as friends. They’ve been seen together many times on various platforms and they also co-parent their children. Klum even invited Seal to be a guest judge on America's Got Talent.
Jenny Slate & Chris Evans, Gifted
Jenny and Chris had an on-and-off relationship. For the first time, they met on the set of Gifted. Later, they were cast for a podcast on Anna Faris is Unqualified. While working together, they fell in love and their chemistry went viral on social media. They were also said to be a notoriously private couple.
Unfortunately, their on-again-off-again relationship came to an end after a year and a half. Still, they are both good buddies and always remember each other with good words. In an interview, Evans said that Slate was one of his favorite people.
Domenico Dolce & Stefano Gabbana, Dolce & Gabbana
This couple was one of the most talked-about pairs across the world. Dolce and Gabbana are the two most well-known names in the fashion industry. They have been working together for decades. After loving each other for many years, they broke up in 2003.
There were several reasons that caused them to take this step. While talking in an interview, Gabbana was quoted as saying that the worst time of his life was when he broke up with Dolce but still had to work with him. They are on much better terms now but aren’t romantically involved.
Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton, Cleopatra
Taylor and Burton met on the set of Cleopatra. Things were so complicated between them that they got married and divorced twice. The first time, they were married on March 15, 1964. They enjoyed a decade together but later decided to file for divorce.
Strangely enough, this couple chose to unionize again in 1975. This time, it lasted for only one year. Despite the turbulence in their relationship, in 1983, both were seen working together in the play Private Lives. Elizabeth lived for another 27 years after Burton passed away. She died in 2011 from heart failure.
Charlize Theron & Sean Penn, The Last Face
This ex-couple included a prominent actor and director and an equally popular actress. Sean Penn and Charlize Theron met for the first time when Theron was cast for the movie, The Last Face. Penn was the director of the movie and he was attracted to Theron. Later, they started dating.
Their relationship went viral and stories began circulating that they were going to get married. Not much later, news of their break up began floating around. Despite splitting up bitterly, they had to work alongside each other for the promotion of the film.
Katie Holmes & Joshua Jackson, Dawson's Creek
It seems several couples started dating in real life after working together on a romantic teen drama series. During the filming of Dawson's Creek, Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson fell in love with each other and started spending time together. Some photos of the two together revealed they were very close.
During several interviews, Holmes declared Joshua as her first love. They remained with each other for approximately one year and then broke up in 1999. However, due to professional commitments, they had to work together even after the split. Later, Katie fell for actor Chris Klien; they announced their engagement in 2003.
Stevie Nicks & Lindsey Buckingham, Fleetwood Mac
This couple’s story is quite complicated. Nicks and Buckingham were school fellows and they started singing together during those years. Later, they joined Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, and Catherine McVie in Fleetwood Mac. They composed many songs together and got romantically involved.
After their albums became successful, the ego between the two led to the end of their relationship. They had been reunited many times but in the ‘80s, Buckingham quit. The band reconnected in 1996 and the two exes worked together again. However, in August 2018, it was announced that Buckingham was dismissed from the band for the second time.
Mindy Kaling & BJ Novak, The Office
Mindy Kaling and BJ Novak started their relationship as good friends while working on the set of The Office. Eventually, they fell in love with each other. They dated on and off for a few years but their relationship was turbulent. It lasted from 2005 to 2007 when they parted ways.
Today, they’re best friends. Kaling declares that BJ is the godfather to her daughter. She also said that she loves to work with him as he is like family to her and also her closest friend. Kaling's mother likes him too and she sees him as one of the best people she has ever met.
Jack White & Meg White, The White Stripes
The White Stripes were a rock duo that was formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. It consisted of Meg White and Jack White, who composed and performed several singles and released three albums during their run. When the group first achieved prominence, the audience was confused regarding the relationship between the members.
Not much later, rumors of them being brother and sister were initiated by Jack White himself. However, it was later revealed that they were ex-husband and wife. The two got married in 1996 but got separated after a few years. They continued recording albums together for 10 years before announcing the formal separation of their band.
Avril Lavigne & Chad Kroeger, Let Me Go
Avril Lavigne & Chad Kroeger took the world by storm when they got hitched in 2013 and quickly became a beloved couple by the media. They recorded a few singles together before splitting up in 2015. However, there were no hard feelings between the two, who are still friends today.
“Chavril”, as the duo was dubbed, is often seen attending red carpet events and galas together and the media describes their relationship as a weird one. They are known for standing up for each other socially and their song, Let Me Go, made headlines for its emotional content.
Michael Vartan & Jennifer Garner, Alias
Though their romance was short-lived, Michael Vartan and Jennifer Garner were counted amongst one of the most handsome couples of Hollywood. The two met on the sets of Alias and fell in love. Vartan was quoted in an interview saying that they were best friends during the romance.
Contrary to what usually happens, the two stars have remained friends to date, several years after their break up. Maybe that has something to do with the fact that they had to work together on the set of Alias until it wrapped up in 2006.
Kristen Stewart & Robert Pattinson, Twilight
Now here is an envy-worthy on-screen and off-screen couple. When Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson came together for the Twilight series, the world was taken by this innocent and beautiful couple. The two fell in love during the filming of the movie and also continued working together. That was until something rather awkward happened.
In 2012, Stewart was caught red-handed, cheating with director Rupert Sanders, and things went south for the couple. Well obviously! The two publically called it quits in 2013 but not before having to work together for months to promote the movie. Currently, they are on good terms and are sometimes spotted hanging out.
Jennifer Lawrence & Nicholas Hoult, X-Men
X-Men played an important role in Jennifer Lawrence's and Nicholas Hoult's lives. They started dating when they met on the set of the movie, but their relationship ended in 2014. Jennifer said X-Men had been her life and it was always her priority. She shared that in her 5-year long relationship with Nicholas, her life revolved around him.
Unfortunately, the two broke up when filming for the movies ended. Hoult also appeared reminiscent of the good times but he added that after they finished shooting the movie, it was like going back to high school after the holidays. The two remain cordial with each other.
Gwen Stefani & Tony Kanal, Don't Speak
The world may have forgotten this couple’s story, but Stefani is never going to forget the love she had for Tony Kanal. If you’ve listened to Don't Speak while crying alone, you’d definitely be a fan of Kanal. The two were in a relationship for 7 years. They loved each other to bits, but in 1994, Kanal ended things with her.
The popular album, Tragic Kingdom, was inspired by the story of this couple. While talking on The Howard Stern Show, Stefani was quoted as saying that she was deeply in love with Tony and those days were the best days of her life.
Kourtney Kardashian & Scott Disick, Keeping up with the Kardashians
Kourtney Kardashian & Scott Disick were among the most controversial couples. They met for the first time at a house party and were introduced by film producer Joe Francis in 2006. After that meeting, they started dating. They stayed together for a rough 9 years and also had 3 kids; Mason, Reign, and Penelope.
The ups and downs of their relationship were also documented on Keeping up with the Kardashians. However, after trying to work on their 9-year romance, they decided to break up. Despite getting separated, the two continued shooting the series together in 2015.
Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony, Q’Viva! The Chosen
Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony were married for 10 years before they split. However, despite getting separated, they hosted their global talent TV hunt, Q’Viva! The Chosen together. In 2016, they recorded a Spanish album too. Anthony said they were co-existing but on different levels.
He added that it was a long story not a brief one, and their marriage and children were chapters in it. In 2017, Lopez said that they have settled the custody of their children. She admitted that working together with him after the separation has been awesome. The decision is healthy for their relationship.
Kaley Cuoco & Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory
This couple was famous for their chemistry on The Big Bang Theory. In real life, Cuoco and Galecki dated each other for 2 years. The bond between them was strong, but they ended their relationship in 2010. The circumstances that fueled the separation weren’t made known, however, they continued to work together and still have great chemistry.
Cuoco has been asked several times about their post-breakup working experience and she has always answered that despite being a tad difficult in the beginning, eventually, they became comfortable with each other. She says that today, they are very good friends.