Actors Who Really Enjoyed Their Live TV Kiss
Some actors have really enjoyed their live TV kisses. And when it comes to celebrities locking lips, we love nothing more than a surprise smooch that gets caught in real time during a live telecast. As it turns out, plenty of actors have made the bold move to kiss their co-stars during award shows and talk show appearances, and we're here for all of it. Of course, we all remember the surprise kiss between Halle Berry and Adrien Brody at the 2003 Oscars. And maybe you gasped along with the rest of the world when Nicole Kidman planted one on her co-star, Alexander Skarskgard, at the 2017 Emmy Awards? And what about that infamous and steamy kiss between Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards?
There's no doubt about it — there's something pretty exciting about seeing our favorite celebs kiss unexpectedly on live TV! And apparently, some of them really enjoyed these surprise smooches. And we mean, a lot. So without further ado, here are some of the actors who have kissed on live TV — and seriously enjoyed it!
Kate Winslet and Allison Janney smooched at the 2017 Hollywood Film Awards
One of our favorite surprise celeb kisses caught on live TV has to be the amazing kiss between Kate Winslet and Allison Janney at the 2017 Hollywood Film Awards (via Time). It all started when Winslet joked in her speech, "Allison Janney is in this room. Allison, I know I don't really know you, but I just want to be you." She added, "Or just stroke you or something, I mean, we could always kiss, maybe?"
It's clear that Winslet was kidding, but soon, Janney leapt to her feet and dashed to the stage, much to the delight of the audience. Winslet exclaimed happily, "Oh, it's going to happen!" The pair then gleefully, but quickly kissed. What a way to meet Allison Janney!
Afterwards, Winslet said, grinning, "Thank you very much. Now I'm a little bit breathless." It's obvious that Winslet is a total Janney fan girl — and this special, unexpected kiss was clearly an absolute dream come true for her!
Adrien Brody surprised Halle Berry with this kiss at the 2003 Oscars
This infamous live TV kiss is one that everyone probably remembers. At the 2003 Academy Awards, actress Halle Berry was presenting the award for best actor. Fellow actor Adrien Brody won for his role in The Pianist, and when he made it to the stage, he swept Berry up in his arms for an old-school Hollywood style smooch.
After the kiss, Brody looked overjoyed — he'd just won an Oscar, after all — while Berry looked completely taken by surprise.
Both actors have since opened up about the experience. On Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Berry explained that the kiss wasn't planned. She added that at the time, she was shocked. "I was like, 'What the f*** is happening right now?" she revealed. "That is what was going through my mind." However, Berry explained that because she'd won the same award the year before, she understood the "feeling of being out of your body," so she decided to just go with it. As for Brody, he explained to Vanity Fair, the kiss "was one of the most memorable moments ever. You could say time slowed down."
Jennifer Lawrence and Natalie Dormer accidentally smooched at the premiere of Mockingjay Part 2
One of the best live TV kisses ever was actually an accident. It started on the red carpet at the premiere of Mockingjay Part 2, when Jennifer Lawrence went for a cheek kiss with co-star Natalie Dormer (via Entertainment Tonight). Luckily for us — and maybe for them, too — she missed!
Dormer was being interviewed when Lawrence snuck up behind her and tried to kiss her on the cheek. Dormer turns around just in time for Lawrence's kiss to land right on the lips. Both women were then visibly shocked. "Oh my god!" Lawrence exclaimed. "We just kissed on camera," she laughed, "and I liked it."
After the kiss, Dormer jokingly wiped Lawrence's lipstick off her mouth, saying, "I'll get Jennifer Lawrence off my face." And even though this quick kiss was clearly an accident, it's a hilarious moment — and as Lawrence admitted, she kind of liked it!
James Corden and Nick Grimshaw shared a smooch at the 2013 BRITs
At the 2013 BRIT Awards, James Corden and Nick Grimshaw surprised everyone with an unexpected smooch during the telecast. Corden, who was hosting the show, approached Grimshaw at his table midway through the evening; Grimshaw then tapped his lap for Corden to sit on. "You don't want me on there," Cordon joked, before taking a seat. Corden then asked him what the highlight of his evening had been, to which he replied seductively, "I think this is my highlight." Naturally, Corden then leaned in for a kiss, much to the delight of the audience.
After the smooch, Corden grinned and turned to the camera, stuttering out, "Time now for a break." Clearly, the actor was a little flustered! Corden then asked Grimshaw if he was "ready" to watch the next act. He then joked, "You certainly feel ready. I just worry about standing up." Wow, talk about a steamy moment for these two! And on live TV!
Helen Mirren and Stephen Colbert locked lips on The Late Show in 2016
In 2016, the iconic British actress Helen Mirren surprised talk show host Stephen Colbert with a live kiss on his TV show, Late Night with Stephen Colbert. As she entered the studio, she gazed lovingly into his eyes and, with surprising tenderness, kissed the host right on the lips. Colbert was left completely speechless by the gesture, with his hand on his heart, clearly trying to register what had just happened. When Mirren sat down, she explained, "I've been dreaming of doing that for about 15 years so I just grabbed my chance, I'm sorry." Colbert replied, smiling, "I suddenly can't remember any questions."
Mirren later spoke to Woman's Day about the infamous moment. She confessed, "I've been deeply in love with Stephen Colbert for a long time... for real! So as I was walking out, I looked at him and I thought, 'You know what, if I don't take my opportunity now, I'll never have it again!'" (via the Daily Mail). Sounds like she was really into that kiss. And wow, that is not a couple we would have pictured — but we totally love it.
Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson kissed at the 2011 MTV Movie and TV Awards
It's tradition for the winners of the MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss to try to recreate their winning kiss on stage when accepting the award. In 2011, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson won for their steamy kiss in Eclipse. However, instead of satisfying their fans by locking lips on stage, something else happened.
When the actors reached the stage, Pattinson said, "I feel bad, 'cause I don't feel like kissing you." He then said, "There's someone else in the audience who I just think will appreciate it a little more." The actor then ran into the audience and found his co-star and on-screen rival Taylor Lautner in the crowd, and the pair kissed as the audience screamed in delight.
After the shocking live TV kiss, their Twilight co-stars all had something to say. Jackson Rathbone told MTV News, "I think we've all been waiting for Rob and Taylor to kiss." Peter Facinelli and Kellan Lutz, who also starred in the films, said, "They asked us to show them in practice," (via Marie Claire). Sounds like this hilarious live kiss may have been planned!
Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling kissed passionately at the 2005 MTV Movie and TV Awards
Arguably one of the most famous live TV kisses ever was between Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards when they were awarded the Best Kiss Award for The Notebook. This kiss is undeniably super steamy. When the pair reached the stage, they took their places on either side of it. They then walked towards each other, Gosling lifted McAdams into his arms, and a seriously romantic kiss ensued. The cameras even cut to Lindsay Lohan, who was literally gasping in the audience — we can hardly blame her! "It was my pleasure," was all Gosling said when accepting the award.
It turns out, it was no great surprise that this kiss was so steamy. The two actors were actually in a relationship at the time! And, as Gosling once said of McAdams' kissing, "You have to be born with a magic mouth. Some have said about Rachel that she's kind of like what Jimi Hendrix was to the guitar," (via Stylist). Wow, high praise indeed — no wonder their live TV kiss was so steamy!
Paul Rudd and Helen Mirren smooched on The Graham Norton Show in 2013
It seems that Helen Mirren just loves to kiss people on talk shows! In addition to her smooch with Stephen Colbert, the actress also locked lips with none other than Paul Rudd in 2013 on The Graham Norton Show.
It's pretty clear that the moment was unplanned — in fact, it came about when Rudd was describing his odd on screen kisses with Jack Nicholson for the film How Do You Know. As Rudd explained, the two actors played "a very loving father and son" who kissed on the lips. Apparently, on their first meeting, Nicholson planted a kiss right on Rudd's lips. When Mirren heard the story, she quickly said, "Do it to me!" So, Rudd demonstrated the kiss on Mirren!
After the live TV kiss, Mirren laughed and wiped her lipstick of Rudd's smiling face. She even said, "Thank you!" It's obvious she was pretty pleased about getting a kiss from Rudd — even if it was part of a very strange re-enactment!
In 2019, Jennifer Anniston and Ellen DeGeneres locked lips on The Ellen DeGeneres Show
In 2019, Jennifer Aniston appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. She and the host Ellen DeGeneres got to talking about DeGeneres' recent kiss on the show with Howard Stern. Aniston noted that it was odd to see DeGeneres kiss a man, to which the host replied, "I kiss guys on the lips. When's the last time you kissed a girl on the lips?" Aniston thought for a moment and said, "I don't kiss girls on the lips." Sure enough, DeGeneres leaned in for peck, and Aniston of course obliged as the audience cheered.
After the live TV kiss, DeGeneres joked, "That's what they wanted to see. They've been wanting that for years." Aniston exclaimed, "You have such soft lips!" and DeGeneres returned the compliment, adding, "That's why I do what I do." DeGeneres, after all, tends to prefer kissing girls! We totally loved seeing these two icons lock lips!
Dawn French and Bear Grylls recreated a famous kiss on The Graham Norton Show in 2014
We all remember the iconic upside kiss between Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst in the 2002 Spider-Man. Well, in 2014, actress Dawn French got to recreate the famous kiss with Bear Grylls on The Graham Norton Show. Dunst was also on the show that evening, and she explained to Norton that the kiss was actually pretty hard to film. Then Norton revealed that Grylls and French would be re-enacting the famous scene. French was overjoyed, screeching, "I'm very excited about this!"
Soon, Grylls was dangling from a trapeze and French got her very own Spider-Man kiss — but not before a worm came out of Grylls' mouth! Not exactly the romantic kiss we remembered from the movie. But both were all smiles after the live TV kiss. French then joked, "I've just given Bear so many diseases." Even if it wasn't the best kiss of their lives, it's certainly not one that they'll be forgetting anything time soon.
Rebel Wilson and Adam DeVine made out at the 2018 MTV Awards
Who can forget that notorious and slightly uncomfortable make-out scene from Pitch Perfect 2 between Rebel Wilson and Adam DeVine? The live TV kiss was so over-the-top that it won Best Kiss of the year at the 2018 MTV Awards. As per tradition, the two actors recreated the ludicrous kiss scene live on stage. Let's just say, things got a little out of hand!
We have to admit, the pair planned their award acceptance perfectly. Wilson began, "We have absolutely no sexual chemistry." Devine then said, "No, I'm not turned on by her soft pillowy lips," and Wilson chimed in, "I'm not aroused by his little cabbage patch face and his tight little bubble butt." Soon, the pair locked lips in a seriously raunchy kiss, complete with rolling around on the floor and missing shoes. The steamy make out was super intense — and we are definitely impressed by their commitment to this re-enactment!
Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro smooched at the 2018 National Board of Review Gala
At the National Board of Review gala in 2018, two icons of the silver screen shared an incredibly surprising kiss on live TV (via Entertainment Tonight).The adorable smooch happened after Robert De Niro made a touching speech about Meryl Streep, who is an old friend. "Thank you," he said, "for being an actress who plays the most interesting characters with full commitment and without judgement." When he finished his speech, he concluded, "I love you so much." Streep then came up to the stage and gave her friend a kiss.
It turns out, this wasn't the pair's first kiss on screen. In 1984, the two actors locked lips for the first time in the film Falling in Love. And while their live kiss at the NBR awards wasn't quite as steamy as their movie kiss, it's clear that the pair have genuine affection for each other in real life.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Bryan Cranston locked lips at the 2014 Emmy Awards
In 2014, we saw one of the most surprising live TV kisses of all time. When Julia Louis-Dreyfus won an Emmy for Veep, actor Bryan Cranston leapt out of his seat to make out with Louis-Dreyfus – yes, it was as shocking as it sounds! In fact, host Jimmy Fallon had to literally pull him off of her. When Louis-Dreyfus finally reached the stage, she looked totally shocked and said, "Yes, he was on Seinfeld." (Cranston played a dentist on the show).
Louis-Dreyfus spoke to Elle backstage after the kiss. "He's pretty good, right?" she said. "He went for it, man. I appreciate that." As for Cranston, when asked why he kissed Louis-Dreyfus, he simply said, "It's not a question of why but more a question of why not."
It turns out, the moment wasn't actually as spontaneous as it looked. Louis-Dreyfus explained that as she and Cranston were presenting together, they thought the kiss could be "a nice part three of [a] joke." Earlier in the show, Louis-Dreyfus had pretended not to remember their characters' kiss on Seinfeld — it all makes a bit more sense now!
Nicole Kidman and Alexander Skarsgard kissed at the 2017 Emmy Awards
One of the most scandalous live TV kisses occurred at the 2017 Emmy Awards, when actress Nicole Kidman planted a smooch on her co-star Alexander Skarsgard's lips. Why was it so shocking? Well, both of their partners were also present (via Bravo)!
Kidman later spoke about the kiss on The Graham Norton Show. When Norton pulled up a photo of the kiss, Kidman exclaimed, "You are so provocative Graham! ... I kissed my husband, too!" She added, "I did kiss him because, you have to understand, I did everything with Alex." Sounds like for Kidman, a kiss was no big deal after some of the racy scenes they shared in Big Little Lies.
Kidman clarified that she loves her husband; she even said, "[Alex] is like a mannequin." Sounds like Kidman may have enjoyed the kiss — but there were certainly no feelings involved!
Sarah Michelle Gellar and Selma Blair shared a kiss at the MTV Movie Awards
In the 1999 film Cruel Intentions, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Selma Blair shared an infamous, intimate kiss. And it came as no surprise when they won the award for best kiss at the MTV Movie Awards. Their onstage smooch in 2000 was pretty memorable. Upon reaching the stage, Gellar joked, "Oh yeah, my mother's gonna be so proud right now." Blair chimed in seductively, "I guess first of all I should just thank Sarah for all those hours of practice." Gellar added, "I just wanna thank Selma for my most rewarding kiss on screen ever."
The pair then leaned in to kiss. Blair looked pretty delighted and giggled, while Gellar grinned at her co-star. This was definitely one legendary lip lock — and a fun moment for the two!
Their original kiss ended up becoming so iconic that in 2020 the two actresses recreated it yet again at the MTV Movie & TV Awards: Greatest of All Time, upon being awarded the Legendary Lip Lock honor (via People). We have to admit — we aren't surprised their kiss won the award.