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People still search for Ryan Reynolds and "girlfriend" like it’s 2005. Honestly, it’s a bit of a head-scratcher. You’ve probably seen the headlines. Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are basically the gold standard for Hollywood couples who actually seem to like each other. They’ve been married since 2012. That is a lifetime in "fame years."
But the internet has a long memory. Or maybe a short one?
Before the red carpets and the relentless (but loving) Instagram trolling of his wife, Ryan had a pretty wild dating history. He wasn't always the Wrexham-owning, Aviation Gin-selling family man. He was the guy from Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place who seemed to have a "thing" for high-profile, intense romances.
What People Get Wrong About the Early Days
It wasn't just a straight line to Blake. Not even close.
Did you know he was engaged to Alanis Morissette? For five years. They met at Drew Barrymore’s birthday party in 2002 and were the ultimate Canadian power couple. When they split in 2007, she literally wrote an entire album, Flavors of Entanglement, about the heartbreak. It was heavy stuff.
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Then came the Scarlett Johansson era. This is the one everyone forgets. They were married for two years, from 2008 to 2010. They kept it incredibly private—no joint red carpets, no social media banter. It was the polar opposite of his life now. When that ended, the rumor mill went into overdrive. He was linked to Charlize Theron. There was talk about Sandra Bullock after The Proposal.
But then Green Lantern happened.
The Green Lantern Shift
Most people think they started dating on set. They didn't. When they filmed Green Lantern in 2010, Blake was still with her Gossip Girl co-star Penn Badgley. Ryan was still married to Scarlett.
They were just "buddies."
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The real spark happened a year later on a double date. The kicker? They were with other people. Ryan was on a date with another girl, and Blake was on a date with another guy. He describes it as the most awkward date for their respective partners because the "fireworks" between him and Blake were just that obvious.
The Reality of Being "Ryan Reynolds' Girlfriend" Today
There isn't one. Because she's his wife. And a mother to their four kids: James, Inez, Betty, and Olin.
However, the "perfect" image has taken some hits recently. As of January 2026, the couple is navigating some seriously messy legal waters. If you haven't been following the It Ends With Us drama, it’s getting complicated. Blake is currently in a legal battle with her co-star Justin Baldoni, and Ryan is right in the middle of it.
Baldoni’s team is pushing to have Ryan’s involvement in the film made public. They claim he wasn't just a supportive husband but was actually on set, rewriting scenes and clashing with the director. There are even unverified rumors—reported by outlets like Reality Tea—that Ryan felt "uncomfortable" with the chemistry between Blake and Justin during early production meetings.
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It’s a rare moment where the "joking" persona is being stripped away. We’re seeing the business-minded, protective side of Ryan.
Why the "Girlfriend" Search Still Happens
It’s likely due to his "Nice Guy" evolution. Ryan has perfected the art of being the "Internet’s Boyfriend." People search for his dating history because they want to see the "before" and "after."
They want to know how a guy goes from a failed engagement and a quiet divorce to a decade-long marriage that survives the Hollywood meat grinder.
Insights for Fans and Followers
If you’re looking for the "secret sauce" to their longevity, it’s not just the jokes.
- The "No Work at the Same Time" Rule: They famously made a pact early on to never work on film projects at the exact same time. This ensures one parent is always home with the kids.
- Friendship First: Both have stated in interviews (Marie Claire, Vogue) that their relationship started as a genuine friendship without the pressure of dating.
- Business as a Team: Whether it's the Mint Mobile ads or the Wrexham documentary, they often cross-promote each other’s ventures, making their personal and professional lives a unified front.
The drama with the Baldoni lawsuit is the first real test of their public image in years. It shows that even the most "perfect" couples have to deal with industry politics and litigation.
If you want to keep up with the latest, watch the court filings in the It Ends With Us case. That’s where the real, unpolished story of their partnership is currently being told. Forget the Instagram roasts for a second; the legal documents are showing just how much Ryan and Blake operate as a single, powerful unit in Hollywood.