Famous Co-Star Rivals: ‘There Was Too Much Drama’ Behind These On-Screen Friendships
See which co-stars couldn’t stand each other on set
On-screen, these co-stars seemed to be thick as thieves, but from Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker to Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, these sweet fictional relationships weren’t all they seemed to be in real life. Check out which co-stars didn’t get along behind the scenes and see which of them have since mended fences.
1. Shannen Doherty and Alyssa Milano
TV Show: Charmed (1998-2006)
Explanation: Rumors of a rift between Shannen Doherty and her Charmed castmate Alyssa Milano began going around after Doherty’s character was killed off after three seasons. It’s been said that Milano was responsible for Doherty’s leaving, but the actress denied that claim. It was never clear as to what exactly went down between Doherty and Milano, but the two have spoken about the rift over the years.
After leaving the series, Doherty explained, “There was too much drama on the set and not enough passion for the work. You know, I’m 30 years old and I don’t have time for drama in my life anymore.”
In 2021, Milano addressed the rumors, saying, “You know, I could take responsibility for a lot of our tension that we had. I think a lot of our struggle came from feeling that I was in competition rather than it being that sisterhood that the show was so much about. And I have some guilt about my part in that.”
Doherty sadly passed in July after a years-long battle with breast cancer. It seemed that she and Milano hadn’t made up, although Milano did share kind words for her former co-star when she died.
2. Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker
TV Show: Sex and the City (1998-2004)
Explanation: Although they were best friends on-screen, Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker weren’t the best of friends behind the scenes. Rumors of a financially-fueled rift began going around following the series wrap. Cattrall commented on the rumors, noting, “Are we the best of friends? No. We’re professional actresses. We have our own separate lives.”
Over the years, rumors continued to swirl about the feud, although the two starred together in the Sex and the City films in 2008 and 2010. However, Cattrall opted out of returning for the reboot series, which premiered in 2021. She did end up making a brief appearance in the season 2 finale, but it’s unclear where the two actresses stand.
3. Will Smith and Janet Hubert
TV Show: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996)
Explanation: Will Smith and Janet Hubert, who portrayed Will and Aunt Vivian on the 1990 series, did not get along behind the scenes. Hubert left the series after the third season when she was pregnant but publicly blamed Smith for her departure for years.
Hubert explained she was offered a bad deal for season 4 and decided to leave the show rather than take it. Smith, who was 21 at the time, allegedly made things very difficult for Hubert, who was going through a difficult time at home.
“You took all that away from me, with your words,” Hubert explained to Smith. “You know, words can kill. I lost everything. Reputation. Everything, everything.” Smith and Hubert made up during the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion special, in 2020, talking through all of their issues.
4. Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams
Movie: The Notebook (2004)
Explanation: It’s a tale as old as time — enemies to lovers is one of the best romance tropes out there, and that’s exactly what occurred for Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. The actors co-starred in the Nicholas Sparks’ movie The Notebook as longtime loves, but that’s not what it was like behind the scenes.
Director Nick Cassavetes explained that Gosling and McAdams were not close when filming first started. In fact, they really disliked each other. He explained that Gosling said to him, “‘Would you take her out of here and bring in another actress to read off camera with me?’ I said, ‘What?’ He says, ‘I can’t do it with her. I’m just not getting anything from this.’…[later] we went into a room with a producer; they started screaming and yelling at each other.”
Turns out, that argument might have cleared the air because the film was “smoother sailing” afterward, according to Cassavetes. Gosling and McAdams even went on to date from 2005 to 2007 after the film’s premiere.
5. Ashley Tisdale and Lucas Grabeel
Movie: High School Musical (2006)
Explanation: In 2006, Ashley Tisdale and Lucas Grabeel were cast to play the twins Sharpay and Ryan on High School Musical. On-screen, the sibling rivalry was obvious, as Sharpay often fought for the spotlight over her brother. But, as it turns out, that rivalry extended off-camera, too. Tisdale and Grabeel spilled the behind-the-scenes secret that there was an intense mutual dislike when they first met.
“We were not close. We were not good friends…we hated each other…” Tisdale shared. “I think we just didn’t know each other, and I think I was definitely a lot like Sharpay.” Grabeel added that they definitely “didn’t get off on the best foot.”
Although they didn’t start out great, after the filming of the first movie, they learned to get along. Today, Tisdale and Grabeel are close friends.
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