Rich and Famous Icebreakers That Led to Marriage and Kids
You might think stars don’t need pickup lines, but they use awkward openers just like the rest of us.
Here are our picks for notable lines dropped by showbiz royalty.
John Krasinski + Emily Blunt
It was love at first sight when actor-filmmaker John Krasinski first encountered actress Emily Blunt in a chance meeting at a Los Angeles restaurant in 2008. He nervously approached her, shook her hand and blurted, “I like you.”
He won her over by making her laugh, she’s revealed. A couple of years later, the duo was married, and now they’re raising two kids.
Rule: A lame opener isn’t a failure if it gets you talking.
Nick Jonas + Priyanka Chopra
Singer-songwriter Nick Jonas displayed his confidence when he sent actress Priyanka Chopra an unassuming introductory text: “I think we should connect.” She agreed.
They married seven months later in 2018 and are currently raising a daughter. Despite his basic and straightforward introduction, Chopra has talked glowingly about how romantic and caring he is.
Rule: An opener can be the first step on a journey to forever. Cheesy but true.
Henry Golding + Liv Lo
Crazy Rich Asians actor Henry Golding was at a 2011 New Year’s party when yoga teacher Liv Lo came with the zest and smooth moves.
“She steps in my way, and she’s like, ‘Why haven’t you said hello to me yet? I’m leaving tomorrow, and you’re never going to see me again. What are you going to do about it?’”
He divulged this story on Live With Kelly and Ryan. They’re raising two kids.
Rule: Fortune favors the brave.
Jason Sudeikis + Olivia Wilde
Actor-comedian Jason Sudeikis approached Olivia Wilde at aSaturday Night Live party and said, “Whatever you’re looking for, you don’t need it.”
Then he mysteriously walked away without another word. Although he later got her number, he waited a month to reach out.
So Wilde began asking friends, “Did Jason Sudeikis die? Because I don’t have any texts.”
Eventually they dated, never married but had two kids—then she left him for Harry Styles, leading to one of Hollywood’s messiest breakups.
Rule: Date at your own speed.
Ice-T + Coco
Rapper-actor Ice-T warmed up model-actress Coco Austin on a 2001 music video set by saying, “Would you ever consider dating a gangsta rapper?”
She replied she might if he was nice.
“Well, baby, you take the ‘n’ off nice, you get Ice!” he cleverly responded.
They married months later.
Rule: Be respectfully playful.
Adam Rippon + Jussi-Pekka Kajaala
Adam Rippon, an a Olympic medalist and the winner of Dancing With the Stars Season 26 met husband Jussi-Pekka Kajaala, a design entrepreneur and project manager, thanks to a courageous opener.
Rippon was in Finland for a figure-skating competition, and Kajaala messaged him on the dating app Tinder: “Are you here (in Finland) for business, or are you here just to meet me?”
They married three years later in 2021.
Rule: Confidence is sexy.
While not all flirtatious interactions lead to marriage and children, some stars just enjoy the thrill of the chase. Below are some noble efforts that didn’t necessarily cinch the deal, but they sure made for some entertaining banter.
Margot Robbie’s Got Game
Margot Robbie told Extra she was leaving a restaurant when she cold approached a hot waiter and asked,
“Are you gonna call me?”
“Call you? I don’t have your number.”
So she grabbed a pen and wrote it on his arm.
Rule: If you see someone, say something.
How Adam Carolla Approached Strippers
In 2014, podcasting comedian Adam Carolla told me to ask this question when a stripper giving you a dance: “What time do you get out of here?”
“It’s a reasonable question. It’s not going to offend anybody,” he added.
According to Carolla, if she says she can take off whenever she wants, she’s signaling to you to whisk her away.
“If they do the ‘My boyfriend picks me up after MMA practice,’ then you’ve got somebody that’s not into you.”
Rule: Pay attention to how people signal intentions.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Party Trick
Spy magazine collected pickup lines of stars in the 1990s and ordered interns to test them on people.
The most successful approach was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s come-on: “Kiss me, it’s my birthday!”
Rule: Don’t read the room—be the room.
Bruce Willis: Kidding, Not Kidding
Bruce Willis told Access Hollywood that his best approach when he was younger to meet women was,
“Hey … what are you doing for sex later?”
That sounds bad, but his history includes actresses Demi Moore and Baywatch’s Brooke Burns; actress-model and December 1998 Playmate of the Year, Karen McDougal; and his wife since 2009, Emma Heming Willis.
Rule: The vibe you put out will attract people who want that vibe.
Macking on Mick Fleetwood
My best friend, Tiffany Graves, met Fleetwood Mac founder, Mick Fleetwood, at a Costco and put herself out there by asked if he was single.
“He said, ‘Oh sweetie, I am married, but oh to be young and single with you—what a dream!’” she told me, recalling the encounter like it was yesterday.
Rule: If it doesn’t work, you at least have a fun story to tell your friends.
