We watch them on television and love the dynamic between characters. Yet, finding out the actors are best friends in real life somehow provides another level of excitement and another reason to like them. Finding close connections, especially among competitors and peers in an industry as competitive as Hollywood, can be rare.
Here are some actors who are known for being BFFs behind the camera and others who may surprise you.
1. Michael Sheen and David Tennant
These Good Omens actors had worked around the same circles for several years before working on the Good Omens screen adaptation. In an interview with On Demand Entertainment, Sheen said the two just clicked from the first script read-through. “Filming that first season, we were obviously together a lot of the time, and it was just easy. There was no ego involved.”
They’ve also collaborated in Staged(2020-2023), where they play alternate versions of themselves. Tennant’s youngest daughter, Birdie, is also friends with Sheen’s daughter, Lyra, so the families are often together in some way.
2. Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds
If you haven’t seen the videos of Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds pranking one another, do yourself a favor. They’re hilarious — even if you’re not a big fan. They’ve been friends for about 15 years and have worked on X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) together.
Recently, they teased fans about an upcoming collaboration in a film where their characters meet for the first time. Deadpool & Wolverine will be in theaters in July 2024.
3. Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson
While the pair met during an awards ceremony, they didn’t start working together until 2015. Their first film, Central Intelligence, came out in 2016, and they’ve since worked on several movies together, including the Jumanji franchise.
During interviews, the actors’ banter and moments of appreciation for each other highlight their remarkable friendship. Their ability to effortlessly switch between playful teasing and genuine admiration is a testament to their strong bond.
4. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson
Yes, they’re husband and wife, but they’re also best friends. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson first became friends in 1981 when they met on the set of Bosom Buddies (1980-1982).At the time, Hanks was already married.
Wilson and Hanks married in 1988 after making their relationship public in 1986. They’ve been inseparable ever since, often traveling on location to each other’s work.
5. Naomi Watts and Nicole Kidman
The two Australian actors met in 1991 when they were filming Flirting.While they’ve never appeared together in film since, they’ve remained best friends for forty years, and you can often see them together on social media.
In a Good Day New York interview, Watts said she’d love to do another film with Kidman. “We’ve been talking about it for too long, we’ve gotta make it happen,” she said.
6. Emma Stone and Jennifer Lawrence
Both Oscar-winning actresses Emma Stone and Jennifer Lawrence’s friendship began on an unusual footing. They were initially introduced by Woody Harrelson and started texting one another before finally meeting in person.
Today, they’re the best of friends, but the La La Land (2016) star admitted to Vanity Fair that she was initially jealous of Lawrence. Eventually, she realized there was enough room for everyone to succeed in Hollywood, and they’ve been great friends ever since.
7. Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake
Backstage at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards proved fateful for the talk show host and singer—it was where they first met. Justin Timberlake has since appeared with Fallon many times, doing comic routines on Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show.
In an interview during lockdown, Fallon and Timberlake mentioned that they spoke often and have even been on holiday together, including an African safari. They say their relationship started as “nothing serious” — it was mainly them being funny around one another.
8. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck
Unlike most people in Hollywood who met on set or after their careers took off, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck were childhood friends. They first came to our attention when they co-wrote and starred in the film Good Will Hunting (1997).
Their friendship is still strong, and they’ve even worked on a few things together despite their busy acting schedules. In 2023, they acted together in Air, a film about Nike’s marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro, and later in 2024, were in the Netflix thriller Animals, directed by Ben Affleck and starring Matt Damon.
9. Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox
It seems only fitting that these two met on the show Friends (1994-2004). The cast has remained close since filming the hit TV show in the 1990s. Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox, though, are truly best friends. They’ve mentioned how they’re like family, and if there’s anyone they would confide in, they’d go to each other first.
The two have often been spotted together in public — including when Courtney Cox received her Hollywood Walk of Fame star. They’re also often seen on holiday together on the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico.
10. Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire
Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire both started their careers as child actors, and that’s exactly how they met. While they’d been on the circuit auditioning for similar roles, they finally got to work together in 1993 on This Boy’s Life. These guys have been through a lot together and even spent time yachting in Ibiza.
They also starred in Don’s Plum (2001) and got to work together again on the 2013 film The Great Gatsby. Can it really be classed as work if you’re hanging out with your best friend, though?
11. Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth
The two Marvel stars have claimed that they have too much fun together and have trouble getting their jobs done if they’re around each other. They first met in a New York nightclub shortly after Chris Evans had completed filming Captain America: The First Avenger (2011).
Evans says watching his friend’s career and family life evolve is great. “With Chris Evans, I have a real brotherly bond,” Hemsworth told Variety in 2019. “I think they wouldn’t pair us up on this press tour because we just spend the whole time screwing around, and none of it is on topic.”
12. George Clooney and Brad Pitt
Since filming Ocean’s 11 in 2001, George Clooney and Brad Pitt have been fast friends. They’ve co-starred in other films besides the Ocean’s 11 franchise, including Burn After Reading (2008) and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002). Their on-screen chemistry is a testament to their friendship.
“We bring out the best in each other,” said Pitt in an interview with ET. The two have worked on charity causes together, including the George Clooney Foundation for Justice, and are often found playing pranks on each other.
13. David Beckham and Gordon Ramsay
These guys work in two totally different industries, so you might wonder how they’d meet. Back in 2006, the celebrity chef catered David Beckham’s pre-World Cup party. Since then, they’ve been great friends, and their families often spend time together.
Beckham was part of the dining room guests in the 2023 season of Hell’s Kitchen. They are also often seen together at sporting events.
14. Emily Blunt and Anne Hathaway
Emily Blunt and Anne Hathaway first met on the set of The Devil Wears Prada in 2006. Reflecting on their first encounter, The Princess Diaries (2001) star reminisced about hearing of Blunt’s potential casting in the Meryl Streep film, describing her as an “amazing girl out of England” and an instant movie star to People Magazine.
The Oppenheimer (2023) star was equal in her praise, saying that even though Hathaway was already a big star, she was welcoming and took Blunt under her wing.
15. Emma Roberts and Lea Michele
The Scream Queens (2015) stars met on set and became firm friends. Their friendship has continued to thrive beyond the show, with both actresses supporting each other’s careers and personal endeavors, such as Lea Michele’s Broadway role in Funny Girl.
“I love you so much, Emma Roberts. Thank you for being the greatest friend a girl could ask for,” Lea wrote on Instagram. They’ve also been known to defend each other against silly rumors.
Ree Winter
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Ree Winter, an Australian journalist now based in New Orleans, combines her love for solo travel with a sharp eye for great flight and accommodation deals. She eagerly shares her travel insights with her audience, drawing from her rich experiences. Ree holds a Master's degree in Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and History. Her fascination with history is evident in her stint as a tour guide at historic house museums, showcasing her knowledge of architectural history. Beyond journalism and history, Ree has a unique flair for coffee culture. As a barista, she's operated a coffee van at various events and markets, showcasing her skill in coffee preparation.
