The list of iconic relationships between Hollywood stars is never-ending, but do you
remember the time when Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon were an item?
The couple first met on the set of the thriller Rendition in 2006 during reshoots in Los Angeles.
But it wasn't until 2007 that a spark formed between the actors. According to People,
Gyllenhaal was the first to make a move. A source told the magazine,
"Jake finds it attractive that she's such a great mom. He really loves kids and wants a family."
Prior to their relationship, Witherspoon was married to actor Ryan Phillippe,
with whom she shares two children. They separated in 2007 and finalized their divorce a year later.
When Witherspoon first met Gyllenhaal, she reportedly thought they'd just
be friends - largely because she was knee-deep in the divorce proceedings.
A source told People, "Things slowly progressed,
but it was never something she thought would happen from the start. She just kind of
developed a crush over time." Much to everyone's surprise, the two had fallen in love.
"Oh my god!"
"Oh my god."
"Oh. My. GOD."
At first, the relationship between Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon proved
little more than just a crush after all, as they parted ways the same year the fling began.
A source told People at the time, "Reese was the one who had to do it.
She just got out of a divorce and was so concerned with her family, she just didn't have the time for
him and he really demanded that." Another source for People went on
to explain how the pair were reportedly still friends and that it was a, quote, "clean break."
They also added that there was, quote, "no chance of getting back together."
That soon proved to be false, as the Hollywood stars were spotted cuddling in Rome later that
year, a month after her divorce was finalized. Of course, all the canoodling led fans to
believe the actors were once again a couple. Witherspoon spilled the beans during a 2008
interview with Vogue, where she described her beau as, quote, "very supportive.". A year later,
the actress gave even more insight into their relationship, mentioning that she and Gyllenhaal
not only went to Coachella together but they also spent their weekends at her farmhouse in Ojai,
just outside of Los Angeles. She told InStyle,
"We have chickens and we grow cucumbers and tomatoes. Jake's a great cook, he does a lot."
Sadly, the ups and downs weren't over, as reports later that year suggested the couple
had split for the final time. A source told People,
"As much as everyone thinks they're right there, they're really not near the whole marriage thing.
Jake would marry her tomorrow, but Reese didn't want to
go there yet, even though he would like to." It seems the couple separated on good terms,
though, with Gyllenhaal going on to explain his admiration for Witherspoon in 2016.
During an episode of The Jess Cagle Interview, he said,
"She is, as I would say about most of the women who I'm close friends with
or had relationships in my life, one of the smartest, strongest, people I've ever met.”
Their relationship may have been fleeting, but it seems that bond has
transformed into a positively strong friendship. A year after their split, Reese Witherspoon met
Jim Toth, an agent at the Creative Artists Agency. Rumors started to spread of their relationship in
February 2010, after they were spotted on a dinner date at an Italian restaurant in Santa Monica.
An onlooker described the couple as, quote, "very flirtatious" and that Witherspoon seemed
very happy and that she was, quote, "smiling all dinner. The mood was upbeat and really good."
The couple confirmed their relationship in March, and were photographed holding hands
in March 2010 during an outing in Ojai, California for Witherspoon's birthday.
Later that December the couple announced their engagement, and were married in March 2011.
Witherspoon and Toth have a son together, Tennessee James and are happily married.
Gyllenhaal, on the other hand, found love with Taylor Swift for three months following his relationship with Witherspoon.
Their eventual break-up was said to have inspired Swift's 2012
album Red with songs like "All Too Well" and "State of Grace" being linked to the movie star.
Following his relationship with Swift, Gylleenhaal was linked to the likes of Minka Kelly, and Alyssa Miller.
The Hollywood actor is currently dating French model Jeanne Cadieu.
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