The ultimate '90s power couples you've probably forgotten about, but that were absolutely iconic
The '90s is a decade that has cemented itself so deeply in our culture that we still try to mimic it today. Perhaps it was the fashion - the chokers, the ‘mom’ jeans, the biker shorts and the jelly sandals, that make this decade so iconic. Or perhaps it’s because it was the last decade before the internet truly took over, where physical maps were still used on road trips and pictures of yourself were limited to those you took on your 35mm film camera.
Whatever it was, the '90s holds an air of magic that is still revered today. It felt like a particularly exciting time in Hollywood, as we started to become fixated on A-List relationships. Everyone was obsessed with Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston when they began dating in 1998 (and equally as devastated when they split in 2005).
Kate Moss and Johnny Depp were another iconic couple from the era, their images memorialised by Tumblr teens of the 2010s who saw them as the ultimate ‘it couple’. Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake were, of course, the most notable couple from the '90s - and the most mimicked on Halloween (double denim is our favourite go-to couple costume). Or how about Hugh Grant and Elizabeth Hurley? This pair kept the tabloids busy throughout the '90s, with Hugh’s raucous choices and Liz’s era-defining red carpet looks.
There’s the couples we forgot were couples too, like Minnie Driver and Matt Damon, Liv Tyler and Joaquin Phoenix, and Matthew McConaughey and Sandra Bullock. Then there are the couples who have stood the test of time, and defied all of Hollywood’s expectations (we’re looking at you, Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick who are celebrating their 30th anniversary together this year).
Whatever their relationship status now, we’ve decided to celebrate the 25 most iconic power couples of the '90s below, so get ready for some heavy nostalgia.
Getty ImagesJennifer Lopez and Sean Combs
Yep that’s right, J. Lo and Diddy began dating in 1999, and he’s the one that accompanied her to the 2001 Grammy Awards where she wore her iconic Versace dress with her plunging neckline. Alas, their romance wasn’t meant to be and they split in February 2001.
Getty ImagesAshton Kutcher and January Jones
These fresh-faced actors were together for three years, between 1998 to 2001. However, in 2009 January told GQ that her first boyfriend in LA (later identified as Ashton) was not supportive of her acting. Eeek.
Getty ImagesMatthew McConaughey and Sandra Bullock
These young Hollywood stars fell for each other when they were filming the 1996 film, A Time to Kill. The pair dated for two years before breaking up in 1998 but Sandra told Cosmopolitan in 2003 that they remained friends after their split.
Getty ImagesWill Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith
These long-term love birds have been together since 1994 and were married in December 1997. They met on the set of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air and have two kids together, Jaden and Willow Smith.
Getty ImagesReese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe
After meeting at Reese’s 21st birthday party back in 1997, she and Ryan married in 1999 a few months after welcoming their daughter Ava Phillippe. The pair also had a son, Deacon in 2003 before they separated in 2006.
Getty ImagesGisele Bundchen and Leonardo Di Caprio
One of the prettiest couples to ever grace a red carpet, supermodel Gisele Bundchen dated Leonardo Di Caprio on and off for six years between 1999 and 2005. Gisele said of the relationship years later: “Everyone who crosses our path is a teacher, they come into our lives to show us something about ourselves. And I think that’s what he was.”
Getty ImagesMinnie Driver and Matt Damon
After meeting on the set of Good Will Hunting in 1996, Minnie said years later that she was “completely in love with Matt” by the time the film had finished, citing it as an “occupational hazard”. But Minnie found out that the relationship was over when Matt went on Oprah in 1998 and said he was single. Ouch.
Getty ImagesLiv Tyler and Joaquin Phoenix
"I fell in love with Joaquin the second I saw him," Liv said in 1997 after the pair started dating. They parted ways after three years together but Liv later said of the relationship: “We were so young when we were together, like 18 to 21. He was my first love. So he’s a huge part of even my sense of humour."
Getty ImagesDavid and Victoria Beckham
One of the only iconic 90s couples to still be together, David and Victoria’s paths first crossed in 1997 when he was a Manchester United player and she was a Spice Girl. Nearly 25 years later and they have four kids together and have called themselves a “strong family unit” in the past.
Getty ImagesGwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale
The iconic 90s singer met her former husband Gavin in 1995 during an epic two-year No Doubt tour. The pair got married in 2002 and had three kids together before announcing their split after 20 years together in 2015.
Getty ImagesSarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick
Another couple who have stood the test of time, Sarah Jessica and Matthew met in 1991 through New York’s theatre scene and have been together ever since - getting married in 1997 - which means they’ve been together for 30 years this year!
Getty ImagesRichard Gere and Cindy Crawford
One of the best-looking couples of the 90s, Richard and Cindy met in 1988 when Cindy was 22 and Richard was 39. The pair spontaneously wed in Las Vegas in 1991 but divorced four years later in 1995. Cindy later told Oprah that the age gap and lack of a friendship foundation was the cause of the breakup.
Getty ImagesBrad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston
Brad and Jen swiftly became household names in the 90s, and their relationship and subsequent marriage is still one of the most iconic to ever grace Hollywood. The pair’s first date was in 1998 - set up by their agents - they were married in 2000 and famously split in 2005.
Getty ImagesGwyneth Paltrow and Brad Pitt
Before Jen, there was Gwen. The actors met on the set of Seven in 1995 and were engaged by December 1996. However, they broke up just six months later in 1997 and Gwen said later that her father was “devastated” when they broke up.
Getty ImagesBritney Spears and Justin Timberlake
Despite being the golden, double-denim wearing couple of the 90s, it’s easy to forget that Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake were just 17 when they began dating in 1998. They split up three years later in 2001, and Justin has recently apologised for how he spoke about Britney after the split.
Getty ImagesDemi Moore and Bruce Willis
Two of the 90s biggest stars (Bruce was mid way through his Die Hard franchise and Demi had just released Ghost), the pair met in 1987 and were married until 1998. They had three daughters during their time together and Demi famously went on to meet and marry Ashton Kutcher in 2003 (which also later ended in a divorce).
Getty ImagesIman and David Bowie
After meeting at a dinner party in 1990, the supermodel and the singer got married in 1992 and welcomed their daughter, Alexandria Zahra Jones in 2000. The pair were inseparable until David’s death in 2016.
Getty ImagesTom Cruise and Nicole Kidman
Married for an impressive 11 years (almost a lifetime by Hollywood standards), Tom and Nicole met on the set of 1990 film Days of Thunder and were married by the end of that year. They adopted two children, Isabella and Connor, filmed the movieEyes Wide Shut together in 1999 and famously split in 2001.
Getty ImagesHugh Grant and Elizabeth Hurley
A couple who stayed together throughout the 90s, Hugh and Elizabeth dated for 13 years from 1987 to 2000 and absolutely slayed the red carpet during this time. While the pair split amicably, they did face some hurdles during their decade-long romance, namely Hugh being arrested in 1995 for picking up a sex worker.
Getty ImagesEthan Hawke and Uma Thurman
As with most Hollywood romances, Ethan and Uma’s love story started on a movie set. The pair fell in love while filming the 1997 film Gattaca, got married in 1998 and welcomed their daughter Maya (who you may recognise from Stranger Things) that same year. Their son Levon Roan was born four years later before they split in 2003.
Getty ImagesDrew Barrymore and Luke Wilson
After meeting Luke while filming Best Men together in 1997, Drew told People: "From the moment I saw him, I realised he was the most incredible person I'd ever been so fortunate to meet." The pair split in 1999 but still filmed the Charlie's Angels movies together.
Getty ImagesKurt Cobain and Courtney Love
Truly a tale of star-crossed lovers, Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love started dating in 1991 and fell pregnant after just four months together. They married in 1992 before Kurt’s untimely death in 1994.
Getty ImagesEllen DeGeneres and Anne Heche
Anne and Ellen were together from 1997 to 2000 and, at the time, they were said to be Hollywood's only publicly acknowledged lesbian couple.
Getty ImagesWinona Ryder and Johnny Depp
The epitome of 90s relationships, Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder got together in 1989, became engaged after five months of dating and split in 1993. During this time the pair made the iconic Tim Burton film, Edward Scissorhands together and Johnny famously had ‘Winona Forever’ tattooed onto his bicep.
Getty ImagesKate Moss and Johnny Depp
After splitting with Winona, Johnny met Kate Moss, then 20, in 1994. Kate and Johnny, who was 31 at the time reportedly had a ‘deeply passionate’ relationship and called it quits in 1997.
