Making movies and TV shows is hard work, but there's also plenty of down time, especially
for the actors.
A lot of thespians form lasting friendships with each other during these off-camera moments,
and some of these friendships develop, amusingly, among actors who play mortal enemies.
Here are some real-life besties who are not-so-friendly when paired up on-screen.
X-Men mates
In the long-running X-Men cinematic universe, Professor X and Magneto are played with incredible
talent and nuance by esteemed British actors Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen, respectively.
This inspired casting spawned a bromance for the ages.
While they met in the '70s, they didn't become friends until the filming of 2000's X-Men.
They bonded over similar life experiences—both initially turned to acting as an escape from
personal torment, and both were stars of the English stage before becoming sci-fi icons.
McKellen told 60 Minutes,
"We are the same actor, really.
We've had the same career.
So we're peers.
We're equals.
We're not rivals."
"If you could, each of you, write a hashtag that best sums up your bromance.
[...] Do you mind holding it up?
That is so sweet."
Dead men bonding
The Shakespearean rivalry on The Walking Dead between Rick and The Governor, two very Southern
alpha males, was ably carried out by two actors who in real life are veteran British actors:
Andrew Lincoln and David Morrissey.
According to Walking Dead mastermind Robert Kirkman, the two are, quote, "pretty good
friends" from way back who often screwed around on set together.
In fact, his friendship with Lincoln was part of the reason why Morrissey was so happy to
join the cast.
Morrissey told Uproxx,
"We went to the same drama school, but not at the same time.
So I knew him then and his great friend at drama school was the son of a really good
friend of mine, so I've known him since he started, really, and I've followed his career
very closely."
Riverdale rival roommates
Riverdale is a pretty wacky show, somehow successfully transplanting the characters
of the goofy and square Archie comics into a Twin Peaks-esque town full of murder, violence,
and inappropriate romantic relationships.
The Betty Cooper and Cheryl Blossom roles are both played with over-the-top relish by
actresses Lili Reinhart and Madelaine Petsch, respectively.
On-screen, their characters don't much trust or care for one another.
But real life is nothing like that for Reinhardt and Petsch.
When Glamour asked Petsch about meeting her Riverdale cast mates for the first time, the
actress gushed over Reinhardt.
"I met her once before, but now she's my best friend.
I live with her."
Bella and Jane Forever
Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning have appeared in four movies together, but their highest
profile pairing was in the Twilight movies.
Stewart, of course, played protagonist Bella Swan, while Fanning was Jane, a powerful villain
who could project horrific pain into people's brains.
Stewart and Fanning have clearly spent a lot of time together, and as a result, they absolutely
love and adore one another.
In 2016, Fanning introduced Stewart at Elle's Women in Hollywood Awards like this:
"I can honestly say that my friendship with Kristen is one of the most special bonds in
my life.
She has held my hair back and talked me through heartbreak.
She has always been there for me when I have needed her most and most of all she has taught
me the power of being 100 percent yourself 100 percent of the time."
When it was Stewart's turn to speak, she delivered the sweetness, too, telling Fanning,
"Dude, I love you so much."
High School chums
Several of the young, untested stars of the High School Musical trilogy went on to have
solid careers in movies and TV, including Ashley Tisdale and Vanessa Hudgens.
In the movies, they played rivals, if not enemies: Tisdale portrayed Sharpay, East High's
literal and figurative drama queen, who had her stage time usurped by talented upstart
Gabriella, played by Hudgens.
In 2017, almost a decade since the release of High School Musical 3: Senior Year, Hudgens
told Women's Health that she's still very much still in touch with Tisdale.
"She's one of those girlfriends who will be my friend forever."
"My best friend, Vanessa Hudgens!"
"Ta-da!"
Brotherly love
Tom Hiddleston and Chris Hemsworth became fast friends while playing Loki and Thor in
the first Thor film.
Hemsworth told Collider,
"It's much easier to hate someone on screen, if you actually like them off screen."
Hiddleston added that his relationship with Hemsworth is, quote, "quite literally a bromance,"
adding that he,
"... can't imagine having to go to the emotional extremity that we both had to go to, if we
actually didn't like each other."
"It's probably for the best that we never see each other again."
"That's what you've always wanted."
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