Shailene Woodley has offered a rare glimpse into her enduring friendship with fellow actor Ansel Elgort, describing a bond that extends far beyond typical Hollywood relationships. In an interview with Variety published on Thursday, May 21, the 34-year-old actress spoke candidly about a connection forged more than a decade ago on a film set.
"Ansel Elgort is to this day one of my best friends," Woodley stated in the interview. "I feel like he transcends the label of best friend. He is like family to me. I love him so, so deeply."
The friendship between Woodley and Elgort, 32, originated on the set of the first Divergent film, which premiered in 2014. Cast as siblings Tris and Caleb in the dystopian franchise, the two actors developed an immediate rapport that would prove both professionally fruitful and personally meaningful.
"When we were doing the first divergent movie, we really connected, and we became sort of instant siblings," Woodley recalled. "The dynamic between us is always very sweet, and it was very supportive, and he would come over to my house, and we would cook and just talk for hours after work."
That sibling dynamic faced an unexpected test when both actors were cast in The Fault in Our Stars, the 2014 adaptation of John Green's best-selling novel. This time, however, they would portray romantic leads Hazel and Gus rather than brother and sister.
"When I heard he was auditioning for Fault in Our Stars. I was like 'Oh that's sweet, but like obviously it's never gonna happen because he's my brother in Divergent, like there's no world where [that happens] … And then he was cast," Woodley said. "You know, he's kind of the only person on Earth who could've played Gus."
The actress suggested that their genuine affection for one another ultimately enhanced their on-screen chemistry in the emotionally charged film. Rather than hindering their performances, their real-world connection provided an authentic foundation for the characters' relationship.
"I think actually what made our relationship in that movie as tender as it was and as truly like unconditionally loving as it was [because] Ansel and I do genuinely love one another," Woodley explained. "It's so rare that you get to see love explored without intimacy, and although there is intimacy between Hazel and Gus, the core of it is just unconditional love. It's two people walking each other home. It's two people who have a desire to only be supportive to one another, and make the other person feel a little less lonely in a chaotic world."
Despite the emotional depth they brought to their characters, Woodley acknowledged that filming intimate scenes with someone she considered family presented its own challenges. The Big Little Lies actress admitted the experience was awkward at times, though the pair managed to maintain their sense of humor throughout the process.
"Of course it was awkward when we had to do intimacy scenes together, cause I remember [us] laughing in between takes a little bit together," she said. "I know everything about you, that is so weird that we have to take our shirts off."
Woodley and Elgort continued their professional collaboration through 2016, when they completed work on the final installment of the Divergent series. Their friendship has persisted beyond their shared projects, with the pair taking a trip to Italy together in 2022, demonstrating the lasting nature of a bond that began as a professional relationship and evolved into something far more significant.
The actress's reflections offer insight into the rare Hollywood friendships that endure beyond the demands of publicity tours and franchise obligations, highlighting how genuine connections can form even within the often transactional nature of the entertainment industry.
