Having spent months or years filming together on the set of movies and TV shows, some actors developed strong bond that remains intact even when they're no longer working together.
- Dec 10, 2023
AceShowbiz - Working together usually develops a bond between co-workers. Such thing also happens to actors, who often spend months, if not years, filming together on the set of movies and TV shows. Their friendships, in turn, help create dynamics that translate into their chemistry on-screen.
While most co-stars keep their relationships throughout the period of filming, not a few of them continue to maintain their friendships even when they're no longer together. In honor of their solid friendships, here are a number of co-stars who are BFFs in real life.
1. Michelle Williams and Busy Philipps
Michelle Williams and Busy Philipps' friendship started when the latter joined "Dawson's Creek" in its fifth season. "We just had an immediate love for each other that's continued over the years," the "Freaks and Geeks" star gushed over their instant connection. On the secret to their solid friendship, the "Cougar Town" alum shared in an interview with Us Weekly in June 2019, "I think the secret to longevity in friendships is putting in the time and the understanding and working through any issues that might arise."
2. Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz
Viewers may remember Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz as co-stars in 2006's "Bandidas", but they were already friends long before that. They even had nickname for each other, "huevos." The "Vanilla Sky" actress once explained the meaning of the nickname to Allure, "We didn't have children yet, so we used to sleep much more than now. So it was a way to call each other lazy." She added, "We [slept] in the same bed so many times, and it was like she was always trying to wake me up and call me huevos."
3. Hilarie Burton and Sophia Bush
Hilarie Burton left "One Tree Hill" earlier when she exited after season 6, but her friendship with Sophia Bush stands through the test of time even years after the show ended its nine-season run. "We've been through so many stages of life together," Bush told Us Weekly of her "OTH" family in December 2020. "But I think something that we really cherish - Hilarie and I were talking about this not too long ago - is just having, interestingly enough, as we've all gotten older, having our friendships deepen even more."
4. Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds
Unlike friends who often act sweet to each other, Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds' friendship was disguised as a fake feud. In a 2020 interview with The Daily Beast, the Australian hunk said it started out when they met on the set of 2009's "X-Men Origins: Wolverine". "We started ribbing each other that way, and then it all escalated with the Deadpool thing and him calling me out, and trying to manipulate me through social media to do what he wanted," he said of how Reynolds tried to convince him to reprise his role as Wolverine for a "Deadpool" movie, which worked as the duo will reunite on-screen in "Deadpool 3".
5. Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak
Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak dated on-and-off throughout their period working on "The Office", but decided they were better off friends. Thus, when the actress/screenwriter welcomed her daughter in 2017 and son in 2020 without naming the father, there were speculations that Novak was the father. Kaling never confirmed this, but she admitted that Novak has a special place in her and her children's lives. "(Novak is) the godparent to both my kids - and they have such a great relationship - and so far (the rumors haven't) affected my happiness at all, it hasn't affected my kids or B.J.," she said in 2022.
6. Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire
Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire met on the L.A. audition circuit as child actors in the 1980s and early '90s and were principal members of the infamous "P***y Posse". The two made their names in Hollywood through separate projects, before they got to work together in 2013's "The Great Gatsby". The two are still close to this day and have been spotted hanging out over the years.
7. Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz
Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz were friends before they starred together in 2000's "Charlie's Angels" and its 2003's sequel "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle", but they have been closer since then. So loyal they are to each other that Barrymore jokingly said Diaz would be her one phone call should she ever end up in jail. Thankfully, instead of going through such rough time to prove their solid friendship, Diaz only needed to serve as a bridesmaid at Barrymore's wedding.
8. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have a long history that started way before they had their first breakthrough in Hollywood. Though they picked up a few credits on their own at the beginning of their careers, they gained prominence after they co-wrote and co-starred in "Good Will Hunting" (1997), for which they won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. The longtime buddies do not only mantain a close relationship, but also have worked on several other projects together, namely "The Last Duel" (2021) and "Air" (2023).
9. Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox
"Friends" cast is known as one of TV families who have a tight-knit relationship off-screen, but Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox are particularly close to each other. In a 2014 interview with More magazine, the "Horrible Bosses" actress spilled what she loves about her best friend and former co-star, "There's absolutely no judgment in Court. You'll never feel scolded. She's extremely fair, ridiculously loyal and fiercely loving." She also said of their early friendship, "I've slept in her guest bedroom a lot. Without giving away too much of my private stuff, all I can say is she's been there for me through thick and thin."
10. Brad Pitt and George Clooney
Brad Pitt and George Clooney perhaps bonded over their love for pranking. When they were working together in the "Ocean's" trilogy, they were pulling secret gags on each other and their co-stars. Apparently trusting his friend with his romantic relationship details, the "Bullet Train" star has reportedly received advice from the "ER" alum amid Pitt's romance with Ines de Ramon. The duo have worked on several other projects together, including "Burn After Reading" (2008) and upcoming film "Wolves".
