It's hard enough having an ex - let alone them being known around the world on account of their talent, looks and money.
But this is the reality for these twelve people, who took to Reddit claiming to have dated some household names. I mean, if you'd spent some one-on-one time with the likes of Chris Pratt and Christina Hendricks, you'd also find any opportunity to talk about it.
While there's no way to verify if these accounts are actually true, we have to remember that celebrities are just people, and they want to find love as much as the rest of us...
1. Emilia Clarke is really witty, apparently
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2. Chris Pratt needs to invest in some deodorant
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3. Robert Downey Jr. is "kind of a jerk"
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4. Adam Sandler is too pure for this world
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5. Hayden Panettiere is genuinely kind
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6. Monica Lewinsky is "amazingly intelligent", because duh
Celebrity couples are often a bit of a mixed bag, right? It's always cool to see two famous people hook up and get cosy with one another, and when they're a good match then the pairing can often be better than the sum of its parts. However, in the vast majority of cases, they don't seem to last very long. Maybe it's because the media can't give them any privacy, or because their personalities clash, but often they only seem to go out for a week or so before breaking up with other.
As a result of this, there are plenty of celebrities who have dated each other in the past, whom we've forgotten were ever an item. In fact, it can actually be quite jarring to see pictures of them with their former flame, if you're already used to their current partner. For example, did you know that Ryan Gosling and Sandra Bullock used to be an item? It's true! So for a blast from the past, scroll down to check out our list of the top 10 celebrities you've forgotten ever dated each other.
The world of celebrity relationships is one that remains relatively shrouded from us. Read all the tabloids you want and you'll only ever uncover is tiny tidbits of information which only give way to speculation and rumour, not fact. We can deny it, but we all have voyeuristic tendencies - the majority of which tend to revolve around whether our favourite on-screen coupling is translating into a romantic liaison off-screen.
And it's hard not to care - we see these faces, day in and day out on shows such as Game of Thrones, Stranger Things and whatever new original Netflix has released. I mean, who wasn't secretly elated that Jon Snow and Ygritte found a way to be together outside of Westeros? And before you start worrying about me, no, I don't really care, but considering that we live in a world full of stress (commuting, finances, grocery shopping, you name it), it's quite nice to de-compress with a bit of good ol' fashioned gossip at the end of the day.
So let's dive into something particularly salacious today, shall we? Here are 13 celebrities who managed the impossible and actually kept their relationship out of the press - some even managed it for years!
1. Matthew Broderick dated his Ferris Bueller's Day Off co-star Jennifer Grey without the press knowing until they were both involved in a horrifying car-crash in 1987
2. Big Bang Theory co-stars, Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki dated in secret for two years
3. Lena Headey and Jerome Flynn aka Cersei Lannister and Bronn were together for a year back in 2002, but things ended so badly that they are "no longer on speaking terms" and have to be kept apart on the set of Game of Thrones
4. Alexis Bledel & Milo Ventimiglia kept their relationship a secret for three years before breaking up in 2006. They met on the set of Gilmore Girls, naturally
5. Sophia Bush and Austin Nichols started seeing each other secretly in 2006 and no one found out about it till 2010
6. Raven-Symoné and AzMarie Livingston kept their relationship quiet for three whole years
10. Bradley Cooper and Renee Zellweger dated for two years before calling it quits in 2011. What?! 11. Drew Barrymore & David Arquette used to date when they were "kids"...
12. January Jones and Ashton Kutcher dated for three years before splitting in 2001. This was just before the Mad Men actress went on to achieve worldwide fame 13. After years of speculation, Katie Holmes and Jamie Foxx are now a confirmed thing, and many believe that they've been dating in secret for a whopping five years!
Well, I don't know about you but some of those really took me by surprise. Seriously, who would have guessed that Madonna and Michael Jackson used to get it on?!
If you're dying to know more about Katie Holmes and Jamie Foxx's liaison, this is exactly how they managed to keep it secret for five years
There was a point where online dating was only for those who had been unlucky in love for a long time and were willing to find any algorithm that landed them a date after a lengthy dry spell. By 2017, pretty much any single person you speak to has some experience with Tinder or similar apps and services, normalising this as the main way people are meeting their prospective partners.
Yet it turns out that even more people are using online dating to find love than we initially thought. Specifically, even the rich, beautiful and famous are trying the enterprise out. Check out this full list and see which celebrities braved the world of online dating to find the right person.
After her divorce from Nick Cannon, but before her engagement to James Packer, she reportedly tried out online dating. In fact, her Match.com profile is apparently still active.
Berry has revealed that she didn't have much luck using online dating, though she has done it anonymously. Speaking to the BBC, she said: "When I decided to say: 'Oh by the way, the person you've been chatting with for a week is me, Halle Berry,' they thought I was just some kook."
3. Adele
As she revealed in her memoir, Adele used online dating, specifically eHarmony, signing up after a relationship ended.
The singer let late-night host Jimmy Fallon set up a Tinder profile on her behalf, though it's unknown how much she actually got into the app.
5. Lindsay Lohan
Not only has the actress been spotted on Tinder, but through Instagram she revealed she had the awkward experience of spotting her own brother on the app.
6. Eric Stonestreet
The star of Modern Family told Ellen that he's had a great time on Tinder, though he rarely meets people due to how nervous he gets beforehand.
7. Hilary Duff
Hilary Duff has been spotted by fans and celebrities alike, as this Instagram from Miley Cyrus shows
After her break-up with John Mayer, the pop star admitted to being "deep into Tinder"
Next time you launch the Tinder app, or whatever online dating service you prefer, you might just run into a celebrity. Depending on where you're living, you might find the millionaire crush of your dreams is only a swipe away.
There's a very specific age range that remembers Myspace. While the social media platform might still be around, it was once king of the hill; a place where all the kids went to find the coolest new indie bands and spend hours picking out the perfect song for their profile and deciding who makes it into their top friends list.
Anyone a little bit older or a little bit younger would have missed out on the phenomenon, but there are some celebrities who were big at the time and tried it out, before Instagram and Twitter took over. Looking back, however, it seems their profiles were as embarrassing as our own...
"I've never been the kind of girl who needs a boyfriend. I don't go out looking for guys. But then again, I don't write alot of love songs. Basically.. I'm single"
6. Tom Hardy
The actor's Myspace photos are legendary. Here's just a few of them:
If you're worried one day someone will stumble upon some embarrassing photos of you from back in the day, rest assured that at least you're not a celebrity - these guys have millions gazing on their most cringeworthy moments.
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Cougars are notorious in popular culture. Who could forget Stifler's mom seducing Finch in American Pie? Many young men have fantasized about hooking up with an attractive older woman, never mind a famous one. What's fame if you can't use it to date a younger man anyway?
Cougars get a bad rap. If Hugh Hefner can have seven girlfriends in their twenties, then Madonna can have a boyfriend that age too. Sure, some of these relationships might not be as genuine as those between two people the same age, but some of them really have stood the test of time. Famous wealthy women have been dating younger men for years, and Hollywood has its fair share of cougars. We're going to give you the lowdown on the most notorious.
[post_page_title]Madonna[/post_page_title]
She probably makes all her toyboys feel like they're virgins. The Queen of Pop's a cougar to be reckoned with...
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She's not just the Queen of Pop, she's the Queen of Cougars too. Madonna's been dating younger men for most of her life. The most recent of whom, Aboubakar Soumahoro, is an incredible 33 years younger than her at just 25 years old. To be fair to him, Madonna certainly doesn't look like she's 61. She could easily pass for a woman in her thirties!
[post_page_title]Sandra Bullock[/post_page_title]
The most badass cougar - I mean, Miss Congeniality - to ever grace the red carpet.
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Bullock famously dated Ryan Gosling when she was 38 and he was just 22 after they met on the set of Murder By Numbers. But it was (swoon) Ryan Gosling. I don't know many women who wouldn't date him, cougar or not. Bullock's also got strong opinions on those who criticize her for being a cougar, asking the question, "Why are we stopping great connections based on age, or race or color or whatever, gender, whatever?" Well said, Sandra!
[post_page_title]Demi Moore[/post_page_title]
Ahh, Ashton Kutcher. He's certainly not with an older woman because he can't get one his own age that's for sure.
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I don't think there are many women who wouldn't date Ashton Kutcher if they had the chance. Demi Moore was no exception, even though they had an age gap of 15 years. The two even married in 2005 but divorced in 2013 after separating two years previously. Whilst Moore doesn't deny her attraction to younger men, she isn't a fan of the cougar label. She said, "Cougar has become so distasteful. I really hate that expression. It (the term, “puma”) has a sweeter quality, more elegant. And then somebody said to me, ‘Pumas are only for people in their 30s.'"
[post_page_title]Janet Jackson[/post_page_title]
Sometimes younger men are the answer for older women who've had no luck with men their own age!
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After being unlucky in love for years, Janet Jackson finally found her prince in Wissam Al Mana, a Middle Eastern industrialist, who's nine years her junior. Their age gap isn't an issue for Jackson, but she did initially keep their relationship quiet. She said, "I came to realize that younger men had less of a problem with who I am than older men. With the younger guys, there was less ego. Things were less competitive." Good on you, Janet.
[post_page_title]Jennifer Aniston[/post_page_title]
Jennifer Aniston's younger beau looks as cute as a button here!
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Well, maybe she was just heartbroken after Brad dumped her for Angelina. But Jennifer Aniston famously dated John Mayer in 2009. He was nine years younger than her. Sadly, their age gap proved to be fatal for their relationship as Aniston couldn't understand Mayer's preoccupation with technology. So boys, if you want a cougar, you're going to have to learn how to put down your phone for longer than five minutes!
[post_page_title]Cameron Diaz[/post_page_title]
These two made a mighty fine pair despite their age difference.
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Everyone's favorite bad teacher had a relationship with a younger man and it thankfully lasted longer than Jennifer Aniston's relationship with John Mayer. Cameron Diaz started dating the equally famous Justin Timberlake in 2003 when he was 21 and she was 33, and their relationship lasted four years, which isn't bad for any celebrity couple - never mind one with an age gap.
[post_page_title]Nicole Scherzinger[/post_page_title]
She might be a cougar, but she sure doesn't look like one. These two look like they could be on the cover of Vogue.
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This cougar had a lengthy relationship with her younger beau, Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, which lasted an impressive eight years - although it was very much on and off. These two had a six-year age gap. Even though they parted ways (for good) in February 2015, Scherzinger, during their relationship, said, "sometimes it feels like he’s older than I am" so it's unlikely that it failed because of their age gap. Once it was over, Scherzinger even said that she "sincerely" wished him the best even though they don't talk anymore. D'aww.
[post_page_title]Courtney Cox[/post_page_title]
She helped capture the notorious Ghostface and she captured this younger man's heart too...
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There's little doubt that many young men fantasized about Courtney Cox in the late nineties. I'm sure they were delighted when she turned out to be a cougar and married a younger man, David Arquette, in 1999, who was seven years her junior. The two sadly divorced in 2013, but, hilariously, Arquette even helped to co-create her TV show Cougar Town before they parted ways. I'm sure that the show's name was no coincidence.
[post_page_title]Ivana Trump[/post_page_title]
She might look old enough to be her toyboy's mom, but Ivana Trump certainly looks pleased with herself here. Who can blame her after being married to Donald for so long? That's one hell of an upgrade!
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Just like her former husband Donald, Ivana Trump's not one for dating men her own age. She officially became a cougar in 2008 when she married a man 23 years younger than her, Rossano Rubicondi. Like a lot of age gap relationships, it didn't last and the two divorced a year later in 2009. But it didn't put her off younger men. In fact, she said she was only dating them from now on. Oh well, at least Donald and Melania have lasted longer.
[post_page_title]Paris Hilton[/post_page_title]
Paris Hilton's a fan of baby-faced boys. But they seem to have kept her out of trouble. Recently, at least!
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She might be young herself, but Paris Hilton likes to date men who're even younger. I think that's more shocking than an older woman going for younger men! She dated a model, River Viiperi, who was eleven years younger than her. She was so committed to the relationship that she said she wanted to settle down with him. Once again, it wasn't to last and the two broke up after two years together. Paris then moved onto an 18-year-old...
[post_page_title]Mariah Carey[/post_page_title]
Now that's what I call a pair of Hollywood smiles! This cougar and her toyboy are glowing.
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We all know that heartache can cause people to do some pretty crazy things. After splitting from her older husband, Tommy Mottola, who was 23 years her senior, her taste in men changed dramatically. She dated a string of younger men and then decided to marry her boyfriend, Nick Cannon, after just SIX WEEKS of dating!
[post_page_title]Jennifer Lopez[/post_page_title]
They made a fabulous looking couple, but the age gap caused by JLo and her man was just too big...
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JLo caused as stir in 2011 when she started dating someone 18 years younger than her. Casper Smart was her backup dancer. Like Nicole Scherzinger and Lewis Hamilton, they had a fairly lengthy on and off relationship. But, once again, the age difference proved to be too much of a problem. They broke up when Casper decided to go and watch a UFC fight in Vegas instead of attending a charity event with his cougar.
[post_page_title]Sharon Stone[/post_page_title]
Is it just me or does Sharon Stone look vaguely like someone familiar? Stifler's mom! Is that you Finch?!
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Sharon Stone's big break came in the form of an extremely steamy movie, Basic Instinct. I'm sure that her toy boy, Martin Mica, felt like a very lucky man when they first got together - even though she is old enough to be his mother, at 30 years his senior. According to Stone, "I really get pursued by men in their twenties, like, a lot. They probably know there’s food in the fridge and that somebody’s going to talk to them and ask them how their day was." So if there are any aspiring cougars out there: make sure your refrigerator's stocked up.
[post_page_title]Sam Taylor-Johnson[/post_page_title]
These two might look more like a mother and son than lovers, but they have proven the strength of their love.
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This age gap's almost as big as the one between Madonna and her current beau at 23 years. Sam-Taylor-Johnson was known as Taylor-Wood until fate intervened and she met Aaron Johnson on the set of Nowhere Boy. He was a nineties baby. A nineties baby! She's taken umbrage at her cougar label and said, "In the old days, “controversial” in a relationship meant same-sex or mixed races. Now, it is a woman with a younger man." Fair point.
[post_page_title]Julianne Moore[/post_page_title]
This fresh-faced cougar doesn't look out of place next to her younger man. They make a very handsome pair!
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It's nice to hear a story of a cougar having a romance that lasts. For some people, age really is just a number! It certainly was for Julianne Moore and her husband, Bart Freundlich, who is ten years younger than her. They've been married for over 20 years now and even have two children together.
[post_page_title]Geena Davis[/post_page_title]
Some say third time's the charm, but Geena Davis finally got lucky on her fourth marriage to a toyboy.
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Like Janet Jackson, after being unlucky in love with three failed marriages under her belt, Geena Davis eventually found what she was looking for in a much younger man, Reza Jarrahy, who she married in 2001. She said she had doubts about the relationship in its infancy and said, "I remember thinking, This guy is cute — and ridiculously young. At first, to be honest, I was just approaching it like something that would be fun. I wasn’t thinking too far ahead of the game." But fast forward 16 years and the two are still happily married with three children. A regular fairytale!
[post_page_title]Susan Sarandon[/post_page_title]
If you're going to date a cougar, you'll need to accept that you can only play lighter sports together...
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The colossal age gap between Sarandon and her husband can only be rivaled by some of the most extreme cougars on this list like Madonna. At 64, she began dating a man who was a shocking 31 years younger than her in 2011, Jonathan Bricklin. Their romance also lasted a while, five years to be precise, but the two eventually split in 2015.
[post_page_title]Eva Mendes[/post_page_title]
Ryan Gosling just can't keep his hands off of attractive older women. But can you blame him when they're this hot?
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Hollywood beauty Eva Mendes joined the cougar club when she began dating serial toyboy Ryan Gosling in 2011. He's 12 years younger than her. Their relationship's been much more successful than Gosling's relationship with Bullock. They're still together today and even have two children together!
[post_page_title]Kathy Griffin[/post_page_title]
Sometimes all a relationship needs to work is laughter and this comic's romance with her toyboy is living proof!
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Fiery redhead Kathy Griffin has become one of Hollywood's most notorious cougars. Her current toyboy is Randy Bick, a marketing executive who's twenty years her junior. She said of the relationship, "I didn't think it would last". But their love has proven everyone wrong, including Kathy herself, and they're still together today!
[post_page_title]Vivica A. Fox[/post_page_title]
Just as her same suggests Vivica A. Fox is a real foxy lady, and she also has a penchant for younger men.
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She dated 50 Cent when she was 39 and he was 28. While their relationship only lasted a year, dating younger men wasn't a one-off for the actress and she was dating 28-year-old Omar White in 2011 when she was 47.
[post_page_title]Robin Wright[/post_page_title]
Sometimes, people have a penchant for beaus of a certain age, other times, age really is just a number.
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Despite never having any notable age-cap relationships previously, Robin Wright is engaged to Ben Foster. They have a fairly sizable age cap, with him being 39 and her being 53.
[post_page_title]Chili[/post_page_title]
Another one-time cougar is singer Chili, who was the older woman in Usher's life for quite a long time.
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These two dated for two years, when he was 25 and she was 33.
[post_page_title]Halle Berry[/post_page_title]
Isn't it odd to think that a lot of celebs in this list were already well into their education by the time their beaus were born?
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Halle Berry dated Gabriel Aubry when he was 30 and she was 39. Clearly, the age difference really didn't make a difference and the pair were together for five years.
[post_page_title]Katie Couric[/post_page_title]
Another serial cougar is Katie Couric, who eventually found the one in a man seven years her junior. She is 62 and he is 55.
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Prior to dating John Molner, she was with a man, Brooks Perlin, who was seventeen years younger than her. Maybe she's like Hugh Hefner and finds that surrounding herself with young people helps keep her young - even if seven years is a fairly modest age difference.
[post_page_title]Eva Longoria[/post_page_title]
Sometimes cougars look so young that their toyboys don't even know they're toyboys...
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This desperate housewife had an on-screen romance with her TV toyboy Jesse Metcalf, but claims it wasn't serious - at least it wasn't for her. She said, "Jesse played my toyboy …but I felt just like his mum". However, off-screen she's still a cougar and has dated a number of young men, including 25-year-old Mark Sanchez, a football player.
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