Shailene Woodley Shares Rare Insights on Ansel Elgort Friendship

Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort: A Lasting Friendship Beyond the Silver Screen

Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort first captured the hearts of audiences in 2014 with their starring roles in The Fault in Our Stars, a beloved adaptation of John Green’s popular young adult novel. Their chemistry on screen was undeniable, and it quickly became clear that their connection extended beyond the film set.

The two actors also appeared together in the Divergent film series, which spanned three years starting in 2014. This means the trilogy ended ten years ago, highlighting how quickly time has passed since their early careers took off.

Since then, both actors have taken different paths in their professional lives. Shailene has remained consistently active in the entertainment industry throughout the 2020s, appearing in a variety of films and television projects. Her career has shown steady growth and evolution.

Ansel, on the other hand, has maintained a lower public profile since his role in West Side Story in 2021. This film came a year after he faced allegations of sexual assault against a 17-year-old woman in 2014. Although he issued a denial at the time, the incident has had a lasting impact on his career. Since then, he has appeared in the under-the-radar TV show Tokyo Vice, but that has been about the extent of his recent work.

Despite his reduced presence in Hollywood, Ansel has still made appearances in public events. For example, he was recently spotted with Shailene at the premiere of Quadrophenia: A Rock Ballet, showing that their friendship remains strong.

Shailene is known for keeping her personal life private, often avoiding discussions about it in interviews. However, in a recent conversation with Variety, she opened up about her long-standing and deeply meaningful friendship with Ansel.

“Ansel Elgort is to this day one of my best friends,” Shailene said. “I feel like he transcends the label of best friend. He is like family to me. I love him so, so deeply.”

She described their bond as something special, noting that they developed a close relationship while working on the first Divergent movie. “We really connected, and we became sort of instant siblings. The dynamic between us is always very sweet, and it was very supportive. He would come over to my house, and we would cook and just talk for hours after work.”

Shailene also shared an amusing anecdote about how she initially thought Ansel wouldn’t be cast in The Fault in Our Stars. “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. You know, he’s kind of the only person on Earth who could’ve played Gus.”

Reflecting on their on-screen relationship, Shailene emphasized the emotional depth of their characters. “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. 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.”

For those interested in learning more about Shailene’s interview with Variety, the full conversation is available online.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, support is available through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE. This number connects callers to their nearest sexual assault service provider. Additional resources can be found online.

Additional Reading

People Can’t Stop Talking About The “Appalling” Amount Of Fake Tan Used On Models At The Victoria’s Secret Show, And These Before And After Pics Show Why
These 30 Celebs Look Unrecognizable In Photos Taken Before They Were Icons — How Many Can You Identify?
17 Famous Faces From 2025 That Are So “Aesthetically Enhanced” I Had To Do A Triple Take Just To Figure Out Who They Were