14 Celebrities Who Went Through a Tough Breakup but Managed to Find Love Again
When a couple’s relationship unexpectedly collapses, many people think that happiness is not meant for them. Just the thought of opening your heart to another person again and venturing into intimacy is frightening. But some celebrity couples prove, from their own experience, that it is possible to find new love even after a bad breakup. The main thing is to have courage and patience.
Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre
The actor met his future wife, Sabrina, in Vancouver during the filming of The Mountain Between Us. At this point, Idris had already been through two divorces, and the last thing on his mind was love. But as soon as he saw Sabrina, something in his heart changed. After they met, the couple never parted ways again, and in 2019, they decided to tie the knot. The actor admits that his wife taught him to appreciate every moment and enjoy the present.
Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade
Gabrielle Union’s first marriage ended in divorce. The actress later recalled that jealousy was the reason for the relationship’s collapse. She always suspected her husband, Chris Howard, of cheating. As a result, heated arguments led to a break-up. Gabrielle largely blamed herself and felt that her life was literally falling apart.
After the divorce, Union decided not to withdraw. Instead, she hit the dating scene. But all that changed in 2007 when she met Dwayne Wade. At first the athlete seemed to her to be the most unsuitable match, but after a while Gabrielle decided to give him a chance. In 2014, they got married and are now raising three children from Dwayne’s previous marriage, as well as their own daughter.
Rachel McAdams and Jamie Linden
In 2012, the actress almost tied the knot. At the time, Rachel was dating Michael Sheen, whom she met on the set of the film Midnight in Paris. A wedding date had already been set, but the lovers suddenly cancelled the ceremony and announced their breakup. Neither Rachel nor Michael ever revealed why they decided to break up.
But McAdams was not discouraged, and in 2016 she finally met her soulmate, Jamie Linden. The couple hardly ever appear together on the red carpet and take care to keep their personal life private. They had a son in 2018, and McAdams announced the birth of a daughter in May 2022.
Elizabeth Olsen and Robbie Arnett
Elizabeth Olsen and Boyd Holbrook met on the set of the film Very Good Girls. There was a spark between the young actors and two years later the couple got engaged. However, Olsen and Holbrook’s relationship didn’t last long and in 2015 they announced their breakup.
This ended up being a serious ordeal for both of them, with Boyd taking the breakup particularly hard. However, both Elizabeth and Boyd soon met their soulmates. In 2017, while on holiday in Mexico, Olsen met musician Robbie Arnett. In 2019, the lovers got engaged and, soon after, got married in secret.
Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig
Rachel Weisz dated director Darren Aronofsky for almost 10 years. The couple seemed happy, but although they were engaged, a wedding never happened. Rachel said that Darren was sometimes so busy with work that he just didn’t have the time or energy to be her boyfriend. For a while, the lovers even lived apart, so that their personal relationship wouldn’t interfere with filming. This, in the end, may have been the reason for their breakup.
Shortly after the breakup, Rachel met with her friend from university, Daniel Craig, on the set of one of her films. A romance soon ensued between them and Daniel was able to change Weisz’ attitude towards marriage. In 2011, the couple had a small ceremony, and since then have been raising a daughter together, as well as two children from previous marriages.
Natalie Dormer and David Oakes
Natalie Dormer was in a relationship with director Anthony Byrne for 11 years. The pair met on the set of The Tudors. For a long time, nothing seemed to threaten their happiness, but working together on the film In Darkness complicated things. Natalie and Anthony were writing the script for the film together and they later admitted that this led to conflicts and quarrels.
The couple decided to part ways, although they were able to maintain their friendship. In 2017, during a production of the play Venus In Fur, Natalie met David Oakes. The actors quickly realised they had a lot in common and soon their friendship turned into love. And in 2021, Dormer and Oakes had a daughter.
Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes
In 2005, Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams were considered to be one of Hollywood’s hottest couples. Sparks seemed to fly between the two actors. But the careers of both Gosling and McAdams were gaining momentum, so busy schedules, as well as the fame that came with it, drove them apart.
In 2011, Gosling ran into his old friend Eva Mandes on the set of The Place Beyond the Pines. A romantic relationship developed between the young actors, and Ryan soon confessed that he had finally met the love of his life. The couple are raising two daughters and carefully hide all the details of their personal life.
Martin Freeman and Rachel Mariam
In 2016, Martin Freeman and Amanda Abbington announced their separation after 16 years together. Although both said that they were able to maintain friendship, both Freeman and Abbington took the breakup hard. At this point, both actors were involved in the TV series Sherlock. Freeman recalled how difficult it was for him to work with his ex-wife realising that their relationship was over.
Soon, though, Martin met the French actress Rachel Mariam. The couple officially announced their relationship in 2020. Martin seems genuinely happy with his new girlfriend, and recently there have even been rumours of an engagement.
Kristen Stewart and Dylan Meyer
Kristen Stewart had long been unlucky in love and all of her relationships ended rather quickly. After a four-year relationship with Robert Pattinson, a tough breakup followed, for which Stewart blamed herself and genuinely agonised over hurting someone close to her. The actress recalls that she always tried to hide the details of her personal life and felt some pressure from others.
Kristen had known Dylan Meyer for a long time. One day they met at a party after they hadn’t seen each other for two years, and it was as if Stewart’s eyes suddenly opened. She realized that Dylan was the one she’d been waiting for all her life. So Kristen didn’t wait long and just two weeks later she confessed her love; soon after, Stewart and Meyer got engaged.
Emma Stone and Dave McCary
When Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield started dating in 2011, they quickly became one of the public’s favourite couples. Unfortunately, after four years, the actors decided to split up. There were rumours that Andrew wanted to start a family and have children, but Emma wasn’t ready for that. Sources said that they still had fond feelings for each other, but their relationship just stopped working. Emma later said that it was a difficult year for her.
Stone found new love on the set of a comedy show. with director Dave McCary. The young couple tried to not advertise their relationship. Emma and Dave got married in 2020 and had a daughter a year later.
Liam Hemsworth and Gabriella Brooks
The actor was on-again-off-again with singer Miley Cyrus for over 10 years. In 2019, after a short marriage, the couple decided to separate for good. The divorce was a difficult ordeal for the actor and for some time, he found solace in sports.
Liam got back his peace of mind and happiness when he met Gabriella Brooks. The pair have been dating for two years and according to people close to them, Hemsworth feels much more comfortable with Gabriella, who has helped him believe in himself again.
Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton
In 2015, after 13 years of marriage, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale filed for divorce. The couple cited “unresolvable differences” as the reason for it. This wasn’t an easy time for the singer, but she decided that ending her marriage was a good excuse to rethink everything she had achieved and to do something new. It was her divorce that inspired Stefani to launch her own cosmetics line.
Shortly after breaking up with Rossdale, Gwen started dating Blake Shelton. The pair met on the set of The Voice. The lovers got married in 2021 and are now raising three sons from Gwen’s previous marriage. Blake even decided to leave The Voice to spend more time with his wife and the boys. Recently, rumours have surfaced that the couple are expecting a new addition to the family.
Zoe Saldaña and Marco Perego
The romance between Zoe Saldaña and Keith Britton lasted 11 years. Zoe later confessed that she had dreamed of having children, but her lover wasn’t ready to take that step. And when Britton finally started talking about a family, Saldaña’s work schedule was too busy to make those plans a reality. As a result, the couple decided to split up.
But in 2013, the actress met artist Marco Perego. Zoe didn’t believe in love at first sight until she saw Marco. With him, she felt secure for the first time, and realized that they were meant for each other. Saldaña had never considered marriage before she met Perego, but he managed to change her mind. The couple are now raising three sons.
Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost
Scarlett Johansson got married when she was 23 years old. The actress later admitted that her first marriage fell apart after just 2 years because she was too young for family life. She then tied the knot with French journalist Romain Dauriac, but the couple soon filed for divorce, saying that married life cannot be re-established.
But in 2017, Scarlett finally met her soulmate, Colin Jost. Johansson once noted that if their paths had crossed in high school, she would probably have paid no attention to Colin. Johansson and Jost got married in 2020 and are now raising two children.
Are there any couples you know who have been able to find happiness after a tough breakup?