Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter were already married when they spent their days playing brother and sister on Dexter. They finalized their divorce two years before the show's conclusion, forcing them to navigate a complex new dynamic on set. Hall later joked about the unusual situation, acknowledging the commitment it took to keep their personal split from affecting their professional partnership. | © Showtime Networks
Dwayne Johnson and his ex-wife, Dany Garcia, have built a massive production empire together long after their marriage ended in 2007. Johnson has been open about the hard work it takes to maintain a functional partnership after a divorce, emphasizing that their initial friendship was the foundation. Their successful collaboration, which includes blockbusters like Hobbs & Shaw, proves that with effort, a personal split doesn't have to mean the end of a powerful professional team. | © The Rock / YouTube
Jennifer Aniston and Tate Donovan were in a serious two-year relationship when he was cast on Friends. The tricky part was that they were in the midst of their real-life breakup while filming scenes where their characters were supposed to be falling for each other. Donovan later admitted it was tough to act that out while their own romance was ending. | © NBC
Jennifer Garner and Michael Vartan's off-screen romance began while playing love interests on the spy drama Alias. Though their relationship only lasted about a year, they continued to work closely together on the show for two more years. They've since settled into a lasting friendship, with Vartan noting that some relationships are simply better off not being rekindled. | © ABC
Zendaya and Jacob Elordi never confirmed the widespread rumors of a relationship, which were fueled by paparazzi photos of them together in 2019 and 2020. Their romance appeared to quietly fizzle out, but their professional partnership on the hit show Euphoria continued. Elordi even publicly congratulated her on her Emmy win, proving they've maintained a supportive, if no longer romantic, connection. | © Splash News
Joey King and Jacob Elordi's real-life romance ended before they finished filming the Kissing Booth sequels. King was candid about the difficulty of acting alongside her ex, knowing audiences would scrutinize their every on-screen interaction. She powered through for the sake of her character, acknowledging that while it wasn't easy, completing the story was her main priority. | © Netflix
Rumors of their marital troubles emerged right in the middle of filming Kiss of the Spider Woman, a project produced by Ben Affleck's company. Lopez later admitted it was a challenge, but she credited Affleck for being essential to getting the movie made. Just months after their divorce was finalized, they demonstrated a united professional front, with Affleck even making a surprise appearance at the film's premiere to support her. | © AP
Olivia Rodrigo and Joshua Bassett never publicly confirmed a relationship, but fan speculation went into overdrive when they both released songs hinting at a painful split in 2021. Despite the rumors of potential on-set tension, they still had to continue working together on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. They ultimately presented a united front, smiling together on the red carpet for the show's next season. | © Disney Channel
Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper first met and fell in love while making the original Mamma Mia! film. Their romance had already run its course by the time the sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, went into production. This meant their cheerful on-screen reunion was actually a professional encounter between exes. | © Universal Studios
Bradley Cooper and Zoe Saldana have proven that a breakup doesn't have to end a great working relationship. They've continued to provide the voices for Rocket and Gamora across all three Guardians of the Galaxy films. Their professional collaboration even extended to the Avengers movies, all long after their romance had concluded. | © CBS Films
Courteney Cox and David Arquette first met and fell in love while filming the original Scream. Even after their divorce, their connection to the franchise remained, leading them to reunite for the 2022 sequel. They returned to the set as exes, continuing their iconic roles long after their marriage had ended. | © Dimension Films
Florence Pugh and Zach Braff's relationship spanned years and included collaborating on films like A Good Person. They had already broken up by the time the movie was ready for release. This meant facing a joint press tour to promote their project just as they were navigating life as exes. | © MGM
Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake had already broken up for years when they decided to work together. They signed on to co-star in the 2011 comedy Bad Teacher long after their 2006 split. It was a professional reunion that put their post-relationship friendship to the test on set. | © Sony Pictures Releasing
Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse began dating after meeting on the set of Riverdale. When their real-life relationship ended, their on-screen partnership as Betty and Jughead was far from over. They continued to film the show together, navigating a professional dynamic long after their personal one had changed. | © The CW
After their real-life romance ended, Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder still had to return to the set of The Vampire Diaries. They continued playing on-screen lovers for several more seasons despite their off-screen breakup. It made for a uniquely challenging professional situation long after their personal chapter closed. | © Warner Bros. Television
Breaking up is hard enough without also sharing an office. For these celebrities, their professional lives didn't end when their relationships did, forcing them to find a way to work alongside their former flames. From awkward on-set reunions to powerful business partnerships, here are the ex-couples who had to keep it professional.
