If you’ve ever shipped an onscreen couple, then you probably know the feeling of satisfaction that comes with watching your favorite characters fall in love off screen. Sometimes fictional romances that turn into real-life relationships do work out (see: Zendaya and Tom Holland). Other times, though, actors playing lovers on screen don’t always stay together in real life.
There are plenty of actor couples who’ve had to work together after breaking up IRL, and we imagine the experience is pretty awkward. Even if they don’t share intimate scenes, filming a TV show or movie with an ex means lots of time spent together. Some A-list exes have been able to stay cordial – for example, Penn Badgley said he and Blake Lively “handled it” and remained professional when their “Gossip Girl” characters had to share a kiss after their real-life breakup. Others had a little bit more trouble separating art from life and dealing with seeing their exes on set every day.
From Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder on “The Vampire Diaries” to Madelyn Cline and Chase Stokes on “Outer Banks,” here are just a few celeb costars turned couples who had to keep working together after calling it quits.