Actresses Who Married Their Childhood Sweethearts

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Finding lasting love in the spotlight is often considered a difficult task for many high profile celebrities. However several famous actresses managed to find their perfect partners long before they ever walked a red carpet or starred in a blockbuster film. These women stayed true to their roots by building lives with the people they knew from high school or college. From meeting in small towns to connecting on the campuses of prestigious universities these relationships have stood the test of time and fame. Their stories provide a heartwarming glimpse into the personal lives of stars who prioritized long term stability over the typical Hollywood dating scene.

Elizabeth Banks

Elizabeth Banks
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Elizabeth Banks met her future husband Max Handelman on her very first day of college at the University of Pennsylvania in 1992. The actress known for her role in ‘The Hunger Games’ and her husband navigated the challenges of long distance and early career struggles for over a decade before marrying in 2003. They eventually founded their own production company together and have collaborated on several major film projects. Banks frequently mentions how their shared history provided a strong foundation for their family life and professional success. Their partnership remains one of the most stable and enduring relationships in the modern entertainment industry.

Heather Morris

Heather Morris
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Heather Morris is well known for her role on the hit television series ‘Glee’ where she played the character Brittany Pierce. She met her husband Taylor Hubbell while they were both attending high school in Arizona. Despite the sudden fame that came with her musical career the couple remained committed to one another throughout the years. They officially tied the knot in 2015 and have since welcomed two children into their family. This relationship highlights how a solid connection from formative years can survive the intense pressure of the spotlight.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Julia Louis-Dreyfus
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus found her life partner Brad Hall while they were both students at Northwestern University in the early 1980s. They performed together in a comedy troupe called The Practical Theatre Company before both being hired for ‘Saturday Night Live’ in 1982. The ‘Seinfeld’ and ‘Veep’ actress married Hall in 1987 and they have remained a formidable duo in the comedy world ever since. They have raised two sons while supporting each other through major health challenges and professional milestones. Their decades long marriage is frequently cited as a gold standard for enduring love in a notoriously fickle industry.

Uzo Aduba

Uzo Aduba
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Uzo Aduba surprised many of her fans when it was revealed that she had married her childhood friend Robert Sweeting. The ‘Orange Is the New Black’ star has known Sweeting since they were growing up in the same small town in Massachusetts. They transitioned from being friends to a romantic couple later in life and held a secret wedding ceremony in 2020. Aduba has expressed that having someone who knew her before she became famous provides a sense of grounding and comfort. The couple recently welcomed their first child and continues to keep their personal life relatively private.

Carey Mulligan

Carey Mulligan
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Carey Mulligan and her husband Marcus Mumford actually started their relationship as childhood pen pals who lost touch over time. The ‘Promising Young Woman’ actress and the lead singer of Mumford and Sons reconnected as adults after they had both achieved international fame. They were married in 2012 in a rustic ceremony and have since established a quiet life away from the paparazzi. Their unique history suggests that fate played a significant role in bringing them back together after years of being apart. The couple often appears at events together but remains focused on their growing family and philanthropic work.

Mila Kunis

Mila Kunis
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Mila Kunis famously met her husband Ashton Kutcher when she was only 14 years old on the set of ‘That ’70s Show’. Although they played a couple on the screen they did not pursue a real life relationship until many years after the show ended. Kunis has often discussed how their early friendship allowed them to build a deep level of trust and understanding. They reunited in 2012 and eventually married in a private ceremony in 2015. Their journey from teenage coworkers to a married couple with children is a favorite story among fans of the classic sitcom.

Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton
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Dolly Parton met her husband Carl Dean at a laundromat in Nashville on her very first day in the city at the age of 18. The legendary singer and actress married Dean in 1966 and they have remained together for over five decades. Despite Parton being one of the most famous women in the world her husband has famously avoided the spotlight and rarely appears in public. The star of ‘Steel Magnolias’ often jokes that the secret to their long marriage is the fact that they are very different people. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2016 by renewing their vows in a private ceremony.

Angela Bassett

Angela Bassett
TMDb

Angela Bassett and her husband Courtney B. Vance first crossed paths while they were both students at the Yale School of Drama. While they did not start dating immediately they maintained a strong friendship as they both pursued careers in the acting world. They eventually reconnected in Los Angeles and began a romantic relationship that led to their marriage in 1997. The ‘9-1-1’ star and Vance have since become a prominent couple in Hollywood known for their mutual support and collective success. They have raised twins together while continuing to deliver award winning performances on stage and screen.

LaTanya Richardson Jackson

LaTanya Richardson Jackson
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LaTanya Richardson Jackson met her husband Samuel L. Jackson while she was a student at Spelman College and he was at Morehouse College. They began dating in the early 1970s and worked together in the local theater scene before moving to New York City to find more opportunities. The couple married in 1980 and has remained a steadfast unit through the ups and downs of their respective careers. Richardson has appeared in films like ‘Fried Green Tomatoes’ while also serving as a producer and director. Their long term commitment is often celebrated as one of the most inspiring relationships in the entertainment business.

Pauletta Washington

Pauletta Washington
TMDb

Pauletta Washington met her husband Denzel Washington on the set of the television film ‘Wilma’ in 1977. This early encounter sparked a relationship that would see them through his rise to becoming one of the most iconic actors of all time. Pauletta is a talented actress and pianist in her own right with credits in projects like the series ‘She’s Gotta Have It’. They married in 1983 and later renewed their wedding vows in South Africa with Archbishop Desmond Tutu officiating. The couple has four children who have also found success in various creative industries.

Kyra Sedgwick

Kyra Sedgwick
TMDb

Kyra Sedgwick first encountered Kevin Bacon when she was only 12 years old after seeing him in a play. They met officially years later on the set of the television movie ‘Lemon Sky’ and began a relationship shortly after. The star of ‘The Closer’ married Bacon in 1988 and they have been inseparable throughout their long careers. They frequently collaborate on creative projects and share a passion for music and environmental activism. Their marriage has endured for over 35 years making them one of the most durable couples in the history of film and television.

Rhea Perlman

Rhea Perlman
TMDb

Rhea Perlman met Danny DeVito in 1971 when she went to see a friend perform in an Off Broadway play. The two actors moved in together just two weeks after meeting and spent over a decade as a couple before officially marrying in 1982. Perlman became a household name for her role on the classic sitcom ‘Cheers’ while DeVito rose to fame on ‘Taxi’. Although they have experienced periods of separation they have remained legally married and deeply committed to their family. Their history together spans over half a century and includes many successful collaborations on screen and behind the scenes.

Danielle Fishel

Danielle Fishel
TMDb

Danielle Fishel is best known to audiences for her role as Topanga Lawrence on the beloved sitcom ‘Boy Meets World’. She met her husband Jensen Karp while they were both students at Calabasas High School in the 1990s. Although they were friends during their teenage years they did not pursue a romantic relationship until much later in life. They reconnected through social media and eventually married in 2018 in a ceremony attended by many of her former cast members. Fishel has since reprised her iconic role in ‘Girl Meets World’ and launched a successful hair care line.

Sasha Pieterse

Sasha Pieterse
TMDb

Sasha Pieterse became a teen icon for her portrayal of Alison DiLaurentis on the mystery series ‘Pretty Little Liars’. She began dating Hudson Sheaffer when she was still a teenager and the couple shared many of their early milestones together. They became engaged in 2015 and officially married in 2018 at a beautiful castle in Ireland. Pieterse has credited her husband for being a constant source of support during her struggles with a hormonal condition and the pressures of child stardom. They welcomed their first child in 2020 and continue to share glimpses of their happy life on social media.

Candace Cameron Bure

Candace Cameron Bure
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Candace Cameron Bure was introduced to her husband Valeri Bure by her ‘Full House’ costar Dave Coulier at a charity hockey game. She was only 18 years old at the time and the couple felt an immediate connection despite their different professional backgrounds. They were married in 1996 and have since raised three children while managing their busy careers. Candace has remained a staple on television through her work on ‘Fuller House’ and numerous holiday films. The couple celebrated over 25 years of marriage and often shares advice on maintaining a strong family dynamic.

Robin Wright

Robin Wright
TMDb

Robin Wright married her high school sweetheart Dane Cox in the early 1980s before she achieved major fame on ‘Santa Barbara’. Although the marriage was relatively short lived it represented a significant chapter in her early life before her high profile relationship with Sean Penn. Wright went on to become a critically acclaimed actress known for ‘The Princess Bride’ and ‘House of Cards’. Her early marriage to a non celebrity highlights her roots in a normal upbringing away from the glitz of Hollywood. She has since balanced a demanding career with her role as a mother and activist.

Cheryl Howard

Cheryl Howard
TMDb

Cheryl Howard met her famous husband Ron Howard while they were both students at John Burroughs High School in Burbank. She has appeared in many of his films including ‘Splash’ and ‘Angels and Demons’ in various supporting roles. The couple married in 1975 and has raised four children who have also pursued careers in the entertainment industry. Cheryl is also a writer and has balanced her creative pursuits with her long term commitment to her family. Their marriage is often cited as one of the most successful and grounded in the history of show business.

Ayesha Curry

Ayesha Curry
TMDb

Ayesha Curry first met her husband Stephen Curry when they were teenagers in a church youth group in North Carolina. Although they did not date immediately they reconnected as adults when Ayesha was pursuing an acting career in Los Angeles. She appeared in several television shows and movies before finding massive success as a cookbook author and television personality. They were married in 2011 and have since become one of the most visible power couples in professional sports and media. Ayesha continues to balance her acting roles with her successful lifestyle brand and family life.

Simone Smith

Simone Smith
TMDb

Simone Smith met her husband LL Cool J when they were both teenagers in Queens New York. She has appeared in several television projects including ‘Lip Sync Battle’ and has become a prominent entrepreneur and jewelry designer. The couple married in 1995 and have since raised four children together while building their respective brands. Simone has often discussed how their early bond helped them navigate the complexities of fame and fortune. They are frequently seen supporting each other at major red carpet events and philanthropic galas.

Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin
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Sarah Palin married her high school sweetheart Todd Palin in 1988 after they met as students in Wasilla Alaska. While primarily known for her political career she has appeared as an actress and personality in television programs such as ‘Who Is America?’. Their relationship was a focal point of her public persona during her time as a governor and vice presidential candidate. They raised five children together while building a life in their home state far from the traditional entertainment hubs. Although they eventually decided to end their marriage their history remains a notable example of a childhood romance in the public eye.

Kim Scott

Kim Scott
TMDb

Kim Scott met her former husband Eminem when they were both teenagers attending high school in Michigan. She has been depicted in numerous musical projects and documentaries that chronicle the rise of the famous rapper. The couple had a famously tumultuous relationship and were married twice during their many years together. They share a daughter and have navigated the pressures of extreme fame and personal struggles while maintaining a connection for their family. Their history together began long before the world knew him as a global superstar.

Sonequa Martin-Green

Sonequa Martin-Green
TMDb

Sonequa Martin-Green met her husband Kenric Green while they were both students and young performers in a play together. They shared a passion for the craft of acting and decided to build their careers together as a couple. Martin-Green eventually landed major roles in ‘The Walking Dead’ and ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ while her husband also found success in the industry. They were married in 2010 and have often worked on the same television projects throughout their marriage. Their partnership is built on a shared history of performing on stage before they ever achieved mainstream recognition.

Please share your thoughts on these long lasting celebrity couples in the comments.

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