The Cutest 'How We Met' Stories in Hollywood

Mar. 15, 2025

01of 25Steve & AnneJOE CORRIGAN/Patrick McMullan via GettyComedian Steve Martin met his wife of 15 years (and mother of their 9-year-old daughter), Anne Stringfield, when she was fact-checking an article about him forThe New Yorker,according to a recent profile inThe Hollywood Reporter,and the rest was history.In the same profile, Martin said that he’s been proposing the idea of retirement for years, but Stringfield keeps him honest: “My wife keeps saying, ‘You always say you’re going to retire and then you always come up with something.’ I’m really not interested in retiring. I’m not. But I would just work a little less.“That’s because he’s enjoying time at home more than ever. ‘I have a family life that’s really fun,” he says. “To film a movie now, to go someplace else to live, I’m not willing to do that anymore. I can’t disappear for three months.”

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Steve & Anne

JOE CORRIGAN/Patrick McMullan via Getty

Comedian Steve Martin met his wife of 15 years (and mother of their 9-year-old daughter), Anne Stringfield, when she was fact-checking an article about him forThe New Yorker,according to a recent profile inThe Hollywood Reporter,and the rest was history.

In the same profile, Martin said that he’s been proposing the idea of retirement for years, but Stringfield keeps him honest: “My wife keeps saying, ‘You always say you’re going to retire and then you always come up with something.’ I’m really not interested in retiring. I’m not. But I would just work a little less.”

That’s because he’s enjoying time at home more than ever. ‘I have a family life that’s really fun,” he says. “To film a movie now, to go someplace else to live, I’m not willing to do that anymore. I can’t disappear for three months.”

02of 25Riz & FatimaChris Pizzelo/Pool/GettyIn January 2021,Sound of Metalactor Riz Ahmed revealed the serendipitous way he met his author wife Fatima Farheen Mirza in New York City.“We just both sat down at the same table in a café, where we both turned up to write,“he said onThe Tonight Show. “We were both jostling over the same laptop plug points, like a very modern way of meeting.“Ahmed said the two quickly “struck up a friendship” and later “reconnected down the line.“The spouses made their red-carpet couple debut at the 2021 Oscars, and the Best Actor nominee had viewers swooning when he was spotted fixing Mirza’s hair. “I’m the official groomer,” he joked.

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Riz & Fatima

Chris Pizzelo/Pool/Getty

In January 2021,Sound of Metalactor Riz Ahmed revealed the serendipitous way he met his author wife Fatima Farheen Mirza in New York City.

“We just both sat down at the same table in a café, where we both turned up to write,“he said onThe Tonight Show. “We were both jostling over the same laptop plug points, like a very modern way of meeting.”

Ahmed said the two quickly “struck up a friendship” and later “reconnected down the line.”

The spouses made their red-carpet couple debut at the 2021 Oscars, and the Best Actor nominee had viewers swooning when he was spotted fixing Mirza’s hair. “I’m the official groomer,” he joked.

03of 25Jon & SuleikaMatt Sayles/A.M.P.A.S. via GettyIn a tribute to her boyfriend after he picked up an Oscar for Best Original Score forSoulat the 2021 ceremony, writer Suleika Jaouad revealed she met Jon Batiste in perhaps the purest of ways: at band camp!“To watch this man grow and evolve from the awkward shy boy I met at band camp into the luminous, showstopping man he is today—it’s beyond words,“she wrote on Instagram. “I couldn’t be more proud of you @jonbatiste.”

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Jon & Suleika

Matt Sayles/A.M.P.A.S. via Getty

In a tribute to her boyfriend after he picked up an Oscar for Best Original Score forSoulat the 2021 ceremony, writer Suleika Jaouad revealed she met Jon Batiste in perhaps the purest of ways: at band camp!

“To watch this man grow and evolve from the awkward shy boy I met at band camp into the luminous, showstopping man he is today—it’s beyond words,“she wrote on Instagram. “I couldn’t be more proud of you @jonbatiste.”

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Vanessa & Cole

Cole Tucker and Vanessa Hudgens.Vanessa Hudgens/instagram

This was one Zoom meetingveryworth turning the camera on for.

“Me and Cole met on a Zoom meditation group. Very random, yes,“Vanessa Hudgens saidonEntertainment Tonightabout connecting with her MLB player boyfriend Cole Tucker during the pandemic. “Zoom, you’ve got to love it.”

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Henry & Liv Lo

Henry Golding and Liv Lo at the Fragrance Foundation Awards in N.Y.C. in June.Gregory Pace/Shutterstock

Last Christmasactor Henry Golding loves a woman who takes charge, and that’s exactly what his wife, Liv Lo, did on the night that they met.

He said of the meet-cute, “It was one of those old-fashioned stories,” none of this swiping left and right the Goldings! “We were in a club on New Year’s Eve,” Golding toldKelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest. “And I saw her from afar and she was like, this wild cat. I was kind of just getting over my hangover from the day previous and I was like, ‘I have no time nor energy on getting to know this girl.’ "

But Liv didn’t care about his hangover and instead approached him as he was heading to the bathroom, Henry said. “She just steps in my way, and she’s like, ‘Why haven’t you said hello to me yet?! I’m leaving tomorrow and you’re never gonna see me again. What’re you gonna do about it?’ "

06of 25CHRIS & KATHERINEVALERIE MACON/AFP/GettyNewlywedsPrattandSchwarzeneggermet in a place that means a lot to them both individually and as a couple. Prattsaidof their meeting, “We met at church! There’s a lot of kismet, a lot of connections, but that is where we met.” The couple — who gotengagedafter seven months of dating andtied the knotin June 2019 — are frequently seen attending Sunday services together.

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CHRIS & KATHERINE

VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty

NewlywedsPrattandSchwarzeneggermet in a place that means a lot to them both individually and as a couple. Prattsaidof their meeting, “We met at church! There’s a lot of kismet, a lot of connections, but that is where we met.” The couple — who gotengagedafter seven months of dating andtied the knotin June 2019 — are frequently seen attending Sunday services together.

07of 25KATY & ORLANDOStefanie Keenan/Getty"In-N-Out plays a big role in my life,” Perry joked during a February 2019interview about her relationshipwith Bloom onJimmy Kimmel Live.“We bonded over an In-N-Out burger about three years [ago] at the Golden Globes. He stole one off of my table … he took it and I was like, ‘Wait! Who — oh, you’re so hot. Fine, take it.’ ““And then I saw him at a party and I was like, ‘How are those onions resting on your molars?’ He’s like, ‘I like you.’ And then, you know, cut to,” Perry said, showing off her engagement ring.

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KATY & ORLANDO

Stefanie Keenan/Getty

“In-N-Out plays a big role in my life,” Perry joked during a February 2019interview about her relationshipwith Bloom onJimmy Kimmel Live.“We bonded over an In-N-Out burger about three years [ago] at the Golden Globes. He stole one off of my table … he took it and I was like, ‘Wait! Who — oh, you’re so hot. Fine, take it.’ "

“And then I saw him at a party and I was like, ‘How are those onions resting on your molars?’ He’s like, ‘I like you.’ And then, you know, cut to,” Perry said, showing off her engagement ring.

08of 25GINA & JOEMatt Winkelmeyer/GettyRodriguez fell for LoCiceroon theJane the Virginset — during a particularly racy moment.“He came on as a stripper that my mother hired for my bachelorette party. Jane is, like, super against it and super terrified and just, like, doesn’t know what to do with all that. But Gina does,” she joked onThe Tonight Show.“He’s like a walking Photoshop. Like, perfection. It’s so terrifying. I think I was, like, drooling and trying to remember my lines at that moment.““Janegave me a lot of things,” she added. “Not only an amazing life and a dream come true, but … my love — the love of my life.”

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GINA & JOE

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

Rodriguez fell for LoCiceroon theJane the Virginset — during a particularly racy moment.

“He came on as a stripper that my mother hired for my bachelorette party. Jane is, like, super against it and super terrified and just, like, doesn’t know what to do with all that. But Gina does,” she joked onThe Tonight Show.“He’s like a walking Photoshop. Like, perfection. It’s so terrifying. I think I was, like, drooling and trying to remember my lines at that moment.”

“Janegave me a lot of things,” she added. “Not only an amazing life and a dream come true, but … my love — the love of my life.”

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JAMES & JULIA

Dave Benett/Getty

For Corden, it was love at first sight when he met wife Carey. Corden’s friend Dominic Cooper introduced the two at a Save the Children event — where Carey was working at the time — andthe chemistry was instant.

“We sat and we very jokingly kind of planned the rest of our lives together, an hour and a half after we met,” he revealed. “I remember saying to her, ‘Well, what about on Friday we could do nothing together? … And if our evenings are enough of nothing, then maybe this would be come something,’ " he said. “And she said, ‘That sounds like a fun idea.’ "

Corden and Carey went on to tie the knot in 2012 and now share son Max and daughters Charlotte and Carey.

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KATIE & JOHN

Jamie McCarthy/Getty

When Molner never called her, Couric asked her friend about him again, and “finally, after much badgering,” he rang. “He finally asked me out, we met at a restaurant and what can I say?” Couric recalled. “He had me at hello.”

11of 25ANGELA & COURTNEYTodd Williamson/GettyIn a sit-down interview with PEOPLE forThe Jess Cagle Interview, Bassett revealed she met her now-husband, fellow actor Vance, in drama school — when he had a girlfriend.“He had a beautiful, beautiful girlfriend at the time, who was also in drama school with us,“Bassett recalled. “So maybe about 14 years later, our paths crossed here in Los Angeles. And I was single, he was single. And I had such an appreciation for him over those years — of his consistency, how he treated other people, of what a supporter he is, what a connector of people and ideas he is, how passionate he is.”

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ANGELA & COURTNEY

Todd Williamson/Getty

In a sit-down interview with PEOPLE forThe Jess Cagle Interview, Bassett revealed she met her now-husband, fellow actor Vance, in drama school — when he had a girlfriend.

“He had a beautiful, beautiful girlfriend at the time, who was also in drama school with us,“Bassett recalled. “So maybe about 14 years later, our paths crossed here in Los Angeles. And I was single, he was single. And I had such an appreciation for him over those years — of his consistency, how he treated other people, of what a supporter he is, what a connector of people and ideas he is, how passionate he is.”

12of 25SARAH & WELLSRachel Murray/GettyThe couple has been going hot and heavy since they took their relationship public over Halloween 2017. And according toModern Familystar Hyland, it’s all thanks to a direct messageBachelor in Paradisealum Adams sent her on social media after exchanging flirty tweets.“Have you seen those memes of ‘Slide into the DMs?’ That. He slid into my DMs,” Hyland revealed onJimmy Kimmel Live.

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SARAH & WELLS

Rachel Murray/Getty

The couple has been going hot and heavy since they took their relationship public over Halloween 2017. And according toModern Familystar Hyland, it’s all thanks to a direct messageBachelor in Paradisealum Adams sent her on social media after exchanging flirty tweets.

“Have you seen those memes of ‘Slide into the DMs?’ That. He slid into my DMs,” Hyland revealed onJimmy Kimmel Live.

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HUGH & DEB

Paul Morigi/WireImage

“Deb, she was a big star. I get picked up, and Deb is in the front seat of the car. I’ll never forget,” Jackman recalled to PEOPLE. “She took off her seatbelt and she turned around and put out her hand and took off her sunglasses and said, ‘Hi, I’m Deborra-lee Furness, nice to meet you.’ I remember thinking, ‘I like this girl.’ "

14of 25HARRY & MEGHANChris Jackson/GettyPrince Harryand Markle have a mutual friend to thank for their royal romance! The couple revealed that they were set up on a blind date in the summer of 2016 and knew very little about each other before they met. “It was definitely a set-up — it was a blind date,” Harry said during thecouple’s revealing interview. “It was a blind date for sure.”

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HARRY & MEGHAN

Chris Jackson/Getty

Prince Harryand Markle have a mutual friend to thank for their royal romance! The couple revealed that they were set up on a blind date in the summer of 2016 and knew very little about each other before they met. “It was definitely a set-up — it was a blind date,” Harry said during thecouple’s revealing interview. “It was a blind date for sure.”

15of 25MANDY & TAYLORMandy Moore/InstagramMandy Moore has Instagram to thank for meeting, dating and ultimatelymarrying Goldsmith, the frontman for the band Dawes. “I took a picture of their album and posted it on Instagram,” theThis Is Usactress revealed to PEOPLE. “Somehow, Taylor saw it and sent a note to me. We started emailing back and forth, then we went on a date and the rest is history. Thanks Instagram, for helping me meet my fiancé!”

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MANDY & TAYLOR

Mandy Moore/Instagram

Mandy Moore has Instagram to thank for meeting, dating and ultimatelymarrying Goldsmith, the frontman for the band Dawes. “I took a picture of their album and posted it on Instagram,” theThis Is Usactress revealed to PEOPLE. “Somehow, Taylor saw it and sent a note to me. We started emailing back and forth, then we went on a date and the rest is history. Thanks Instagram, for helping me meet my fiancé!”

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ALI & GEORGE

Noam Galai/WireImage

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GEORGE & AMAL

Mike Marsland/Mike Marsland/WireImage

18of 25GLORIA & EMILIOBruce Glikas/Getty Images for Gabrielle’s Angel FoundationThe Estefans met during a jam session back in 1975. “In comes Emilio. He’s playing the accordion in very short shorts, and he looked like he was naked, so that was the first impression that I got,” Gloria said in an interview for PEOPLE and ABC News’ new series People Icons. “Then my mom drags me to a wedding a few months later, and I walk in the door, and there [he is] playing ‘The Hustle.’ He tracked me down two weeks later.”

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GLORIA & EMILIO

Bruce Glikas/Getty Images for Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation

The Estefans met during a jam session back in 1975. “In comes Emilio. He’s playing the accordion in very short shorts, and he looked like he was naked, so that was the first impression that I got,” Gloria said in an interview for PEOPLE and ABC News’ new series People Icons. “Then my mom drags me to a wedding a few months later, and I walk in the door, and there [he is] playing ‘The Hustle.’ He tracked me down two weeks later.”

19of 25JOHN & EMILYKevin Mazur/Getty"It was one of those things where I wasn’t really looking for a relationship and I was thinking I’m going to take my time in L.A.,” Krasinski said on an episode ofThe Ellen DeGeneres Show. “Then I met her and I was so nervous. I was like, ‘Oh god, I think I’m going to fall in love with her.’ As I shook her hand I went, ‘I like you.’ "

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JOHN & EMILY

Kevin Mazur/Getty

“It was one of those things where I wasn’t really looking for a relationship and I was thinking I’m going to take my time in L.A.,” Krasinski said on an episode ofThe Ellen DeGeneres Show. “Then I met her and I was so nervous. I was like, ‘Oh god, I think I’m going to fall in love with her.’ As I shook her hand I went, ‘I like you.’ "

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STEPHEN & EVELYN

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REESE & JIM

Joshua Blanchard/Getty

“I remember thinking … Jim was a really good friend, pulling [his drunk pal] out of that situation. That’s just kind of who he is, a really good person.”

22of 25TOM & RICHARDRabbani and Solimene Photography/WireImageFor Ford, “love at first sight” was something he experienced when coming face-to-face with his now-husband, Buckley, on an elevator ride 30 years ago. “By the time that elevator landed on the ground floor I thought, ‘You’re the one.’ That’s it. Click. Sold,“Ford said during an appearance onThe Jess Cagle Interview. “It was literally love at first sight.” He continued: “Our eyes locked and within a month we were living together. We have been together ever since.”

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TOM & RICHARD

Rabbani and Solimene Photography/WireImage

For Ford, “love at first sight” was something he experienced when coming face-to-face with his now-husband, Buckley, on an elevator ride 30 years ago. “By the time that elevator landed on the ground floor I thought, ‘You’re the one.’ That’s it. Click. Sold,“Ford said during an appearance onThe Jess Cagle Interview. “It was literally love at first sight.” He continued: “Our eyes locked and within a month we were living together. We have been together ever since.”

23of 25AARON & LAURENCharley Gallay/Getty"We fell in love at Coachella,” Paul shared when asked about how he and his wife, Lauren, met. The actor expanded in a different interview withPEOPLE: “The first night her and I hung out, we had our first kiss on the Ferris wheel. I told her that night that one day I was going to marry her.”

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AARON & LAUREN

Charley Gallay/Getty

“We fell in love at Coachella,” Paul shared when asked about how he and his wife, Lauren, met. The actor expanded in a different interview withPEOPLE: “The first night her and I hung out, we had our first kiss on the Ferris wheel. I told her that night that one day I was going to marry her.”

24of 25JOE & SOFIARob Latour/REX/ShutterstockManganiello and his now-wife, Vergara, first met at the White House Correspondents Dinner in 2014 back when theModern Familyactress was still engaged to Nick Loeb. “I mean she had a boyfriend at that time, so I probably could have got in a fight for doing that,” Manganiello said about not dating Vergara until she was single. “I’m not trying to start a fight at the White House,” he added.

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JOE & SOFIA

Rob Latour/REX/Shutterstock

Manganiello and his now-wife, Vergara, first met at the White House Correspondents Dinner in 2014 back when theModern Familyactress was still engaged to Nick Loeb. “I mean she had a boyfriend at that time, so I probably could have got in a fight for doing that,” Manganiello said about not dating Vergara until she was single. “I’m not trying to start a fight at the White House,” he added.

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CHRISSY & JOHN

Michael Tran/FilmMagic

source: people.com