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10 BITS OF LOVE ADVICE FROM FAMOUS HOLLYWOOD COUPLES
Lianne Choo
From finding love to keeping love to handling breakups, see how these stars have fared, and take the chance to learn from their experiences.
Hollywood is probably the worst place that you should head to for advice on love, but there’s no denying that the plethora of hookups, breakups and everything in between make for a great case study.
Just like us regular people, celebrities aren’t immune to heartbreak and romantic drama. From marriages that last for decades to tumultuous and abusive relationships, Hollywood’s inhabitants have seen it all, and as every move made is publicized, it means we’ve seen it all too. The world just can’t seem to get enough of trashy gossip magazines that report-slash-exaggerate the latest hookups and breakups.
Love lessons from different Hollywood couples
After years of gleefully devouring everything that these magazines and websites have to offer, I’ve come up with an interesting list of 10 celebrity couples worth learning from. Whether they can teach us a thing or two about finding love, keeping love or dealing with a failed relationship, here are 10 tips worth keeping in mind.
#1 Keep things fresh.
Learn from: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson
Quote: “Turn your relationship into a honeymoon again.”
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have been married for almost 27 years, and they seem to be just as in love as they were when they first got together. His advice of turning your relationship into a honeymoon again will reignite that passion that was once so strong. By keeping things fresh and exciting, you invite ease and fun into your relationship, ensuring that you will be just as happy as the Hanks’ three decades down the road.
If you can’t take time off for a romantic escapade, indulge in date night on a regular basis. There’s no reason why you can’t relive the good old days and remind one another why you fell in love in the first place.
#2 Communicate often.
Learn from: Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker
Quote: “Keep talking, I guess. I know how cliché that is. Too much silence is definitely not a good idea.”
Sarah’s Sex and the City character may have had some ups and downs in the love department, but the actress’ real life love life is certainly going very well. Her husband, whom she has been married to for 17 years, was quoted saying that talking is very important in a relationship.
Be sure to always share an open dialogue and communicate with your partner. Being with someone day in and day out means that you should be able to share everything. From the weirdest hopes and dreams to the down and dirty everyday stuff, communicate often, and do it well.
#3 Respect one another.
Learn from: Giuliana and Bill Rancic
Quote: “You’ve got to be good to each other… It really comes back to respect.”
Giuliana may not be a Hollywood A-lister, but her job as a television personality for E Entertainment has certainly sealed her a place in Hollywood’s spotlight. She undoubtedly knows a thing or two about keeping a relationship alive, as she has been married to her husband for 8 years, and cites respect as a priority.
Preserving what you have and being good to each other should be rated highly in your books. The same way you want your partner to respect you, you need to project the same thing back at them. Always show appreciation and let them know on a daily basis how much their opinion and trust means to you.
#4 Maintain the friendship.
Learn from: Will and Jada Pinkett Smith
Quote: “Your partner has to be your best, best friend. And he’s my best friend.”
In a recent interview with Extra, Jada touched on how important friendship is in a partnership. Being married to someone for 18 years is no joke, and the Smiths can proudly say that they’ve done it and are still going strong.
If your partner isn’t your best friend, then who else can play the role? Best friends are supposed to be sitting next to you on life’s roller coaster ride, and if you have a partner who’s up for the challenge, count yourself very lucky and be grateful, won’t you? Just like the Smiths, be sure that your partner is your best friend, and you will be able to weather any storm.
#5 Always make the effort.
Learn from: David and Victoria Beckham
Quote: “If you love someone, you want to treat them, surprise them, remind them how you feel, whether that means a weekend away somewhere, or a bowl of fruit in the morning laid out in the shape of a heart. I know Victoria thinks I’m romantic like that.”
If 15 years of marriage and 4 kids have taught the Beckhams anything, it is to always make the effort for one another. Letting your partner know that they are loved is very important, as it reminds them why they’re with you. It’s a tit for tat scenario, because if you’re good to your partner, they’ll be good to you too.
We’re all human, and we expect to be treated and loved in the most obvious ways. Surprising them with a love note and treating your partner to breakfast in bed are simple things that you can do on a regular basis.
Another tip is to make the effort to look good for each other. From exercising regularly to eating right, feeling great inside and out and living a long and healthy life is one of the biggest and best efforts that you can make for your partner. The Beckhams certainly know this, as they both look delectable.
#6 Make time for yourself.
Learn from: Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale
Quote: “It’s good to have those days when we both do our own things. I think that’s what keeps relationships going, when both people can be themselves and have their own individuality. That’s especially important for women. It’s hard to find time for yourself.”
After 3 kids and 12 years of marriage, Gwen touched on the importance of alone time in a recent interview. Carving time out for yourself is just as important as spending time together. Always remember that you’re an individual, not an extension of your spouse.
For example, don’t shun your friends when you’re in a relationship. I have a friend who is all about her lover. Despite being together for over two years, she always brings him along. From a just-girls catchup dinner to ladies’ martini night, he’s like a pesky little parasite who refuses to leave.
If you’re one of these women, listen to Gwen and always remember that it’s important to have time away from your lover. If your partner can’t function without you or doesn’t have friends, you know that you’re in a questionable relationship.
#7 Be grateful for you partner.
Learn from: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
Quote: “I am very lucky with Brad. He is a real gentleman, but he is also a real man’s man. He’s got the wonderful balance of being an extraordinary, great, loving father, a very, very intelligent man, and physically he’s a real man in all things that it means.”
In an interview with The Telegraph in 2011, Jolie talked about how grateful she is for her partner. Your sweetheart may not be Brad Pitt, but there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be thankful that you found someone willing to toughen it out with you.
Whether you’re thankful for your partner’s great health, kind heart, enigmatic mind, cooking skills, lovemaking talent or everything in between, be sure to let them know how much they mean to you. Once you start feeling grateful for your partner, you will realize that no matter what life throws at you, it will all work itself out, because you have each other to lean on.
#8 Don’t rush things.
Learn from: Diane Kruger and Joshua Jackson
Quote: “I believe in a commitment that you make in your heart. There’s no paper that will make you stay.”
After 9 years and counting, Diane and Joshua are still going strong with zero intention of tying the knot.
What you can learn from this couple is that sometimes, there’s no need to rush into anything. Not wanting to get married doesn’t mean that they don’t love each other. It simply means that their relationship is strong enough to survive the insecurities of not being legally tied down.
Like what Diane said, there’s no need for a piece of paper to measure your love. Marriages crumble every day, but that doesn’t make them any more filled with love than relationships without any legal say. Look what happened to Kim Kardashian’s ridiculous 72-day marriage to that basketball player.
Just remember that if things are going great, there’s really no need to rush into anything. This applies to every aspect of your partnership. From meeting the parents to moving in together to adopting a pet to getting married, consider this tip the next time you have a huge decision to make.
#9 Don’t give up.
Learn from: Joe Manganiello and Sofia Vergara
Quote: “The best love advice I’ve ever received is probably, ‘I’m not leaving the relationship; I’m just leaving the house.’”
Magic Mike hottie Joe Manganiello may not have been with Modern Family’s Sofia Vergara at the time he divulged that quote, but he’s probably keeping that tip in mind right now. The newly engaged couple is planning to wed this autumn, and there’s no doubt that not giving up is a high priority.
That’s the thing about being with someone. There will be great times and there will be hard times. The trick to keeping your love is to not walk away, but to stay and work at it. Although there are many reasons walking away is a good idea, particularly if infidelity and domestic abuse are involved, don’t leave over petty things.
Anything can be ironed out, if you put the effort into it. Your relationship with the one you love is priceless, so be sure to fix it and regularly maintain it if you want it to run smoothly.
#10 Don’t look back in anger.
Learn from: Sienna Miller and Jude Law
Quote: “A huge part of my life and his life and it ended in a way that was awful. When something ends in a way like that, it’s important if you can, in a way, go back and revisit it and either shut that door or create a new room. So it was a very healthy, cathartic experience.”
In an interview with Esquire UK, Sienna opened up about the heartache that she went through during her horrible breakup with Jude. He was unfaithful to her on multiple occasions, and even though she loved him, she had to call it quits. The beautiful thing about it all is that despite how much he hurt her, she handled the breakup well by rising above it and letting go of all the pain and anger.
If you have been through a terrible breakup, you know just what she’s talking about. Remember that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and one day, you too will look back on it all and say what a life changing lesson it was. Grow and learn from your experiences, not wallow in them.
Hopefully you will keep some, of not all, of these 10 pieces of love advice in mind, the next time you feel stuck in your relationship. From being grateful to never looking back in anger, there’s no denying that Hollywood has taught us a thing or two about real life love.
