Look, we’re not naive enough to actually believe that all Hollywood romances are real-life fairy tales. But that doesn’t mean that famous couples don’t have some valuable relationship advice to offer us mere mortals. In honor of Valentine’s Day, keeping reading for 11 celebrity duos sharing some insightful yet totally achievable tips for a happy ever after.
11 Pieces of Relationship Advice from Celebrities That Are Actually Worth Following
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Published Feb 10, 2021
Let Yourself Be Vulnerable
Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard are basically the coolest couple on the planet (see exhibit A. And B. And C.) but that doesn’t mean it’s all fun and games for the married duo. On a Reddit thread back in 2017, Bell doled out some shrewd relationship advice. “Try hard. It’s uncomfortable but worth it,” Bell said. “Also BE VULNERABLE. No one does it right. So forgive. And then be vulnerable again,” she added.
Spend Quality Time Together… And Apart
The “All of Me” crooner and expert dancer John Legend told E! News that spending time with wife Chrissy Teigen is a top priority. “You just have to make time for each other, go on little trips like we did for her birthday, and go to dinner just the two of you sometimes,” he said. Funny lady Teigen added, “Yes, and travel away from each other a lot, that helps.” She wasn’t entirely joking. The model went on to explain that a little time apart helps you miss each other. So wise.
It’s The Little Things
Romantic getaways and dinner dates are great and all, but spending a few minutes connecting with each other on the daily is just as important, says Joanna Gaines. She and hubby Chip told People that they start each day by sharing a cup of coffee on the porch together before the kids wake up. “Marriage requires effort and time and talking and connecting,” she revealed. “You have to maintain it.”
Listen (but Really)
“In relationships, particularly love relationships, people are impatient. They don’t listen,” actress Goldie Hawn (who has been together with Kurt Russell since 1983) told People. “We don’t have a perfect relationship. Sometimes I get mad and sometimes Kurt gets mad. It’s normal. Continuing to listen and grow is important because we get into bad habits in relationships. We’re cognizant of these things in our relationships, being mindful and caring and listening.”
Quitters Never Win And Winners Never Quit
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Will Smith revealed that his marriage to Jada Pinkett Smith isn’t always a walk in the park. “You can't expect it to be easy,” he said. “It's like our marriage was the most difficult, grueling, excruciating thing that we have ever taken on in our lives. And you know we’re just not quitters.”
Know Your Values
Not only do Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake share a son together, but they also share the same morals. “We have similar values; we believe in loyalty, honesty. We like to have fun. We like a lot of the same things,” the actress told Marie Claire. “…If you can find that and someone who shares the same values as you, it's like: Score!” she adds. Simple.
Accept That People Change
Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon have been together for over 30 years, and you know what? They’re not the same people now as they were when they first started dating. “A big key is giving each other the room to grow and change the rules,” Sedgwick said in an interview with Good Housekeeping. “It's hard, but Kev was always like, ‘Whatever you need, honey,’ and I admire him for that.”
Figure Out How To Keep The Love Alive
Neil Patrick Harris revealed to Glamour how he keeps his relationship with hubby David Burtka interesting. “Honeymoon phases end. They just do. So here’s a challenge: How do you keep redefining your relationship? I think you have to find new elements that turn you on, and not only sexually,” he said. “Having kids was one of those great moments for me. Watching David become another level of person, mastering this other domain, made me look at him with a whole other set of appreciative eyes. That sort of made me re-fall in love with him.” Aww…
Don’t Hold Each Other Back
Emily Blunt and John Krasinski are total #couplegoals (and on-screen magic). The secret to their happy union? Lifting each other up, always. “If you are in a relationship, you have to talk to each other and you have to be forever generous… The best relationships that I have seen of my friends, and hopefully that I am in, is that you can’t clip each other’s wings. You have to really empower the other one to be everything they can be,” the actress told Vogue.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
It’s All About Compromise
Speaking to New Zealand Woman's Weekly, Oscar-winner Meryl Streep revealed that her relationship with her sculptor husband Don Gummer centers around honest communication. “You have to talk about all the issues that arise, even the smallest things,” she said. “You have to listen to your partner’s problems, suggestions and advice, and accept that you’re not always right. Conversation is the key to a successful marriage.”
The Couple That Laughs Together, Stays Together
Sterling K. Brown may be known for his tear-jerker role on This Is Us, but at home with his wife Ryan Michelle Bathe, he’s all about the laughter. “Number one, never stop talking,” the actor told Essence. “Problems arise when people stop talking to each other. Laugh a lot, we crack each other up constantly! I do the best I can and I feel like that's the way most people are. We do the best we can until we know how to do better.”
