Hollywood is filled with drama, but behind the scenes, we see solid friendships that have stood the test of time. Hollywood romances have a reputation for being short, and friendships between A-listers have become even rarer. It could be the busy schedules they keep, but typically we don’t see many of our favorite stars hanging out outside of A-lister events.
There are exceptions, and we are talking about Hollywood BFFs who remind us that beyond the glitz and glam, they are just regular folks. Here is a list of some of the dynamic duos in Tinseltown who have proven to us that everyone needs a friend for keeps.
Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox
Throughout the ’90s and a better part of the early ’00s, Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox entertained us as part of the cast of Friends. The two were on-screen BFFs as Rachel Green and Monica Gellar. It turns out that their friendship extended in real life too, and we understand after working together for a decade on the show that they became close.
They have lived by the annoyingly catchy lyrics to the sitcom’s theme song, “I’ll be there for you.” Cox was the last guest to leave when Aniston walked down the aisle the second time to marry her now ex-husband, Justin Theroux.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Toby Maguire
You wouldn’t think that going after the same role would make two stars great friends, but that’s what happened with Leonardo DiCaprio and Toby Maguire. That was in the ’90s when Maguire was 12 years old, and their friendship has managed to stand the test of time.
In 2013, Maguire and DiCaprio shared screen time as co-stars in The Great Gatsby. The two have also been seen together at basketball games, parties, and snorkeling during vacations.
Sofia Vergara and Reese Witherspoon
Hot Pursuit is the 2015 action-comedy that brought together Sofia Vergara and Reese Witherspoon. Vergara and Witherspoon hit it off on set, and their friendship has been going strong.
They grew so close that Reese extended an offer to throw Vergara a bachelorette party when she was getting ready to tie the knot with Joe Manganiello. Whitherspoon told People that she was just returning the favor because Vergara had been an instrumental part of introducing her to Latin dance and Cuban coffee.
Brad Pitt and George Clooney
When they say that George Clooney and Brad Pitt are as thick as thieves, the statement is almost literal because of how they met. They played the roles of two thieving friends in the 2001 heist film Ocean’s Eleven, and that’s where their friendship brewed.
They are known to prank each other with Pitt telling everyone on set to stay clear of Clooney. Pitt has also received his dose right back on the occasions that Clooney has attached offensive bumper stickers on Pitt’s car.
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler
Amy Poehler opened up about her friendship with Tina Fey in her autobiography Yes Please. Poehler explained that they are always labeled a comedic team. From her point of view, it’s a compliment being connected to the most talented and fiercest comedic voices in the world.
Poehler also showered Fey with praise, saying that Fey is hilarious and sharp even though she may be a bit shy. Fey feels the same way about Pohler, telling People that Poehler is fearless.
Naomi Watts and Nicole Kidman
Naomi Watts has fond memories of the 1991 film Flirting because it helped her kick start her career and also meet her BFF Nicole Kidman. Watts told People that they knew each other before that, but their friendship truly blossomed during filming.
They also have kids who are around the same age giving them a reason to keep tabs on each other over the years in the guise of playdates. Watts also explained that they’ve been through so much together, and it’s only strengthened their bond.
Rihanna and Cara Delavigne
They met at a fashion event where Delavigne apparently smacked Rihanna on the derrière, and so their friendship began! Delavigne even accompanied Rihana on part of her Diamonds World Tour.
Rihanna said that it might look like they are just party buddies, but their friendship runs deeper than that. She knows that she can always turn to Delavigne when she needs to offload, no matter the distance between them imposed by their busy schedules. Rihanna also said that she values their closeness.
Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid
These two fierce BFFs are currently some of the most sought-after runway models. They are also the best of friends and do just about everything together. They are always spotted at parties, dinners, and fitness classes together.
Gigi shared with E! News that she feels like her friendship with Kendall is pretty solid. She explained that they are at equal stages in their careers despite heading on different paths, but it gives them a better understanding of each other’s goals.
Chelsea Handler and Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston surely epitomizes the word friend. Some friendships just happen when A-listers meet up and hit it off. That describes the friendship between Jen and TV personality Chelsea Handler. It doesn’t hurt that they are practically neighbors and see each other frequently.
Handler is the kind of BFF everyone needs because she never holds back when defending Aniston publicly. The only downside Handler has experienced being friends with someone as famous as Jen, is that people are always asking her about the Friends star everywhere she goes.
Chrissy Teigen and Kim Kardashian
Chrissy Teigen dished on how it felt meeting Kim Kardashian for the first time during a double date they had in 2010, and she was nervous. She recalled Kardashian making her feel better about it all when she asked Teigen to help her zip her dress in the bathroom.
Teigen noticed that Kardashian had a pair of Spanx on, and she realized that Kardashian was just a regular person like everyone else. They’ve since shared more double dates, playdates for their kids, and Instagram-worthy selfies.
Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone
Woody Harrelson was castmates with Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games and with Emma Stone in Zombieland. He played matchmaker, and that’s how the friendship between Lawrence and Stone began.
Lawrence told Vanity Fair in 2016 that Stone had reached out to her and explained that Harrelson was the one who shared her number. Lawrence responded with an expletive, and that sealed their friendship to date. Stone explained that she supports Lawrence, and she feels like she receives the same support from her.
Salma Hayek and Penélope Cruz
Penélope Cruz and Salma Hayek have nicknames for each other, making their friendship pretty legit. They refer to one another as "huevos," which means eggs, and it’s an inside joke going back to when they first met.
They were both childless, and that gave them the excuse they needed to sleep more. Hence calling each other "huevos" as a way of meaning that they were lazy. With each of them having Academy Award wins and several more honors, we wouldn’t call them lazy!
Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore
Charlie’s Angels co-star Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz’s friendship goes back to their teenage years. Barrymore held a job as a barista when she was 16, and that was how she crossed paths with Diaz, who was 14 at the time.
Barrymore explained that she considers Diaz close as family during an interview with ET in 2018. She added that they’ve spent the majority of their lives side by side and been through several highs and lows together.
Busy Philipps and Michelle Williams
In the late ’90s and early ’00s, Dawson’s Creek was one of the most popular teen dramas. The show is where Michelle Williams and Busy Philipps met. They have since been red carpet companions during award seasons.
Busy said that Williams is the toughest person around, and she’s still hard at work, and she is the best at what she does. Busy shared the kind words about her friend during an interview with Vanity Fair.
Jennifer Lawrence and Aziz Ansari
In 2015, Jennifer Lawrence got together with a couple of her friends, including Chris Pratt, Amy Schumer, and Aziz Ansari, to create a series of funny Instagram videos. That was when it was noted that Ansari and Lawrence are pretty good friends.
Their friendly relations involve Lawrence offering Ansari a piggyback ride while wearing heels and vacationing together. In 2016 the pair jetted off with other friends to Italy, and they were spotted up and about sightseeing.
Emma Roberts and Lea Michelle
While these two actresses played characters who didn’t always see eye to eye in Scream Queens, they do get along just fine in real life. Emma Roberts and Lea Michelle make a glamorous duo when they doll up for dinners, red carpet events, or just to go for a workout together.
Roberts told Glamour magazine that they keep each other accountable when it comes to working out. They are Pilates buddies, and those sessions have helped keep the friends in great shape.
Jennifer Aniston and Selena Gomez
Aniston appears once again on the list. Most stars become acquainted with each other from their management team. That is how the friendship between Selena Gomez and Jennifer Aniston brewed, and despite their age difference of 24 years, they have become very good friends. They had met well before that in the bathroom, and Selena remembers that Aniston was very sweet.
In an interview with iHeartRadio, Selena said that she appreciates the fact that she gets tonnes of maternal advice from Aniston. They also have pizza parties together, and their friendship keeps blossoming.
Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake
You know you are good friends when you can interrupt your buddy’s wedding vows for an improv comedy session. That’s Jimmy Fallon, who saw his buddy Justin Timberlake fumbling for words on his big days and decided to help him make light of the situation.
The pair met at the 2002 MTV Video Awards when Fallon was still part of the Saturday Night Team, and Timberlake had just launched his solo career. A bromance started, and they became best buds.
Eva Longoria and Victoria Beckham
Harper, Victoria Beckham’s daughter, is a fortunate girl with famous parents and Eva Longoria as her godmother. Longoria was beside herself celebrating when Beckham sent her a photo of the little girl taking her first steps in 2012.
Beckham has also been there for her BFF through the happy times. Beckham served as a witness when Longoria and Jose “Pepe” Baston exchanged vows in 2015. Beckham also designed the silk crepe gown that Longoria donned for the big day.
Jennifer Lopez and Jenna Dewan
Jenna Dewan is amongst the few list of people who get to live out their dream of being good friends with their icon. Dewan told Country Music that she always looked up to Lopez, and she only joined World of Dance to brush shoulders with Lopez.
The duo hit it off, and they are now part of the list of celebrity BFFs. Dewan also explained that she is still trying to find out about Jennifer’s secret. She said that it just seems like Jennifer’s secret is that she’s naturally gifted and stellar at owning the stage.
Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart surprised most of us when they teamed up for a VH1 series. We are referring to Martha and Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party, but the two had been friends for over a decade before the show.
Snoop told People that their friendship is based on acceptance, with Stewart never trying to change him. They met in 2008 when Snoop made a guest appearance, and they cooked mashed potatoes together using a recipe from Martha’s mom.
Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift
Anyone who follows Selena Gomez or Taylor Swift (or both stars), knows that they are great friends. They always feature on each other’s Insta feed, and fans even know that they can check up on the other by asking either of the stars about the other.
Gomez has nothing but praise when talking about Swift, calling her a big sister. She also says that Swift is very smart. Gomez shared the sentiments with her fans during a live session in 2018 and finished off by saying that she tells Swift everything.
Kate Hudson and Liv Tyler
Liv Tyler and Kate Hudson became friends when they attended the Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences. They did share similarities, growing up with famous folks. Hudson is the daughter of Goldie Hawn, and Liv’s dad is the renowned Aerosmith rocker, Steven Tyler.
Three decades later, and their friendship is still solid. Their families are also close, and Hudson even refers to Steven as Papa Tyler. Hudson and Liv also share another girlfriend from back in the day – Stella Mccartney.
Reese Witherspoon and Mindy Kaling
A Wrinkle In Time brought together an ensemble cast of A-listers, including Mindy Kaling and Reese Witherspoon. The two forged a friendship, and they have been BFFs since then. Like the best of friendships, they have special nicknames for one another.
“Reeses Pieces” is the nickname Mindy calls Reese while she returns the favor and lovingly refers to Mindy as “Min Diesel.” Reese considers Mindy as tough as Vin Diesel, and that’s how she got her nickname.
Nina Dobrev and Julianne Hough
Julianne Hough and Nina Dobrev shared the same hairstylist who predicted that they would be great BFFs. They were both dealing with breakups when they met, but their friendship now runs even deeper. Hough says that they have been connected at the hip since then.
The two are always seen attending red carpet events, Lakers games, and Taylor Swift concerts together. Hough told Cosmopolitan that she is happy to have met someone who is an active buddy, and they are not the type to discuss makeup.
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s friendship goes back to their high school days. They attended both Latin School and the Cambridge Rindge school in Boston together. When they were on the verge of becoming big shots, they wrote and shared screen-time in the acclaimed film Good Will Hunting.
They still rally by each other’s side like the time Damon offered Affleck a shoulder to lean on when Affleck’s marriage to Jennifer Garner ended. Damon has also had Affleck’s support during the times he battled with addiction.
Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning
It seems like playing enemies in films translates to great friendships in real life. At least that’s what Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning can say about their experience working on the Twilight series of films.
Fanning even had the pleasure of handing Stewart an award at the 2016 ELLE’s Women in Hollywood event. Fanning took the time to gush over Stewart with a touching statement about saying that having Stewart in her life has been her most special bond.
Kris Jenner and Jennifer Lawrence
It turns out that Jennifer Lawrence has always been a huge fan of the Kar-Jenner family. However, she’s managed to form the strongest bond with Kris Jenner. Their bond isn’t the typical "having each other’s back" kind but a rather giving type of friendship.
Lawrence gifted Kris a Porsche for Christmas, the only catch was that it was a toy model, but it’s the thought that counts! There’s also the time they got drunk together and ended up raiding Kris’s closet.
Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton
In the early ’00s, Paris Hilton and her BFF Kim Kardashian were some of the hottest stars on the scene. They met in pre-school, and at some point, Kim served as Paris’s stylist/assistant. That meant the two spent a considerable amount of time together, and they also traveled a lot together.
By 2011, Kim admitted that their friendship had fallen through, but five years later, and they were back to speaking terms. In 2016, Paris even joined the Kardashians to celebrate Christmas.