We’re obsessed with celebrity relationships on and off-screen, and when stars are working in an environment as intense as a TV or movie set it’s not surprising that the two worlds overlap. It’s sweet to see your favourite characters hooking up in real life too, but what happens when relationships between co-stars turn sour? Here are seven well-known co-star couples that came to an end long before their show’s did, and had to keep working together afterwards. Awkward.
Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder
The Vampire Diaries co-stars dated both on and off screen, but called it quits in 2013 after three years together. On the the hand, their TV counterparts Elena Glibert and Damon Salvatore stayed together for a lot longer.
Fortunately, Nina and Ian were great sports about it, even when they awkwardly won Best Chemistry at the People’s Choice Awards in 2014. Elena has since left the show and Ian recently tied the knot with Twilight actress Nikki Reed (must be a vampire franchise thing.)
Joshua Jackson and Katie Holmes
Though most Dawson’s Creek enthusiasts hoped actress Katie would get together with James Van Der Beek – because they felt their TV counterparts Dawson and Joey were meant to be – in reality she fell for Joshua, who played Dawson’s pal Pacey.
The pair dated early into the show’s five-year-run, but the relationship didn’t last long. However, Katie still refers to Joshua as her very first love.
Blake Lively and Penn Badgley
There was plenty of dating amongst the Gossip Girl cast during the shows six seasons, but the most high-profile off screen relationship was that of Blake and Penn, who played Serena and Dan on the show.
The couple seemed so in love, always being caught together off-camera acting cosy, but they never made it past the three year mark. They had to carry on working together for two years post break-up, with their characters getting married in the show’s finale.
Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter
This situation was odder than most, as Michael and Jennifer actually played siblings on the Dexter but married in real life.
They began dating in 2007 and quietly eloped New Year’s Eve 2008, and Jennifer supported Michael through his cancer battle in 2009. Still, the relationship broke down not long after he went into remission and they divorced in 2011, but Dexter didn’t finish until 2013.
Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki
In the Big Bang Theory Penny and Leonard are the definition of opposites attract, but what may surprise viewers is that the actors who play them Kaley and Johnny secretly dated in real life too.
They managed to keep their relationship under wraps for two years before parting amicably, whereas their characters recently got married on the show.
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart
Perhaps the most famous recent example of an office romance gone wrong, Robert and Kristen got together while filming the first Twilight film. For years they refused to publically acknowledge they were a couple, driving Twilight fans and the paparazzi crazy with the speculation. Kristen admitted they were together in 2012, but not long after was photographed getting down and dirty in a car with Snow White and the Huntsmen director Rubert Sanders.
She issued a public apology to Pattinson via People Magazine, saying: “I’m deeply sorry for the hurt and embarrassment I’ve caused to those close to me and everyone this has affected. This momentary indiscretion has jeopardized the most important thing in my life, the person I love and respect the most, Rob. I love him, I love him, I’m so sorry.” The pair put on a brave face while promoting the final Twilight installment in 2013, but Robert later admitted they’d split long ago.
Adam Brody and Rachel Bilson
Their characters Seth and Summer in the hit teenage drama The OC made for such a cute couple that fans were thrilled when Adam and Rachel were revealed to be together in real life too.
They began dating during the first season in 2003 and split in 2006, a year before the show ended. Adam is now married to Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester, and the pair had their first child – a girl called Arlo Day – earlier this year. Rachel is engaged to fellow actor Hayden Christiansen, with who she has a one-year-old daughter named Briar Rose.