Checking In With All of Taylor Swift’s Past Music Video Boyfriends

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Taylor Swift might be changing her pattern of losing touch with exes now that she’s engaged to Travis Kelce, who seems to have captured her heart.

But we’re not above eating out of the trash, so to speak, when it comes to her onscreen boyfriends.  

Taylor Swift’s new music video for “Opalite,” from her October album The Life of a Showgirl, continues her tradition of featuring actors as potential love interests. This time, it’s Miles Teller, joining Scott Eastwood and Zach Gilford in a lineup of stars who’ve played that role in her work.

With “Opalite,” a sequel to her October release “The Fate of Ophelia,” she achieved another goal on her creative to-do list.

While promoting her new album on Graham Norton’s talk show, the artist came up with the idea to feature Domhnall Gleeson, Greta Lee, Lewis Capaldi, Jodie Turner-Smith, Cillian Murphy, and Norton himself in a six-minute video styled like 1990s infomercials. The video was released on Apple Music and Spotify on February 6th.

On February 6th, Taylor Swift shared that she felt incredibly fortunate to be working with the people she was assigned to, explaining that she’d long admired their work.

When Gleeson announced his attempt to be in a Taylor Swift music video, everything suddenly felt magical and dreamlike.

So, during our chat on the broadcast, Domhnall playfully mentioned wanting to be in one of my music videos. It was all in good fun – he’s Irish, and that’s just his sense of humor! He was totally joking, and it was a sweet moment.

But she certainly wasn’t. 

In just two weeks, Gleeson received a detailed script proposal, which included Swift’s plan to reunite the original cast.

I thought it would be amazing if everyone who was on the Graham Norton show with me that night – including Graham himself – could be in the music video,” Swift explained. “It felt like a fun, optional group project for adults. I was so happy that everyone from the show was willing to travel back to the 90s and participate in the video with us.

The result, noted Swift, was “more fun than I ever imagined.” 

Taylor Swift definitely put a lot of effort into the song inspired by her relationship with Kelce, and as her fans know, she always pays close attention to every single detail in her music videos.

Once you’ve had a chance to enjoy Taylor Swift’s new album, take a look back at all the people who have inspired her songs over the years.

Fans enjoyed the romantic scenes between Laith Ashley and Taylor Swift in the “Lavender Haze” music video. Laith, a trans activist, was shocked when his manager told him about the opportunity.

“He said Taylor Swift’s team contacted him directly, asking for me to be in the video,” Laith explained to Logo in 2023, a year after the video came out. “I didn’t believe it at first! I thought he was joking or pranking me. It seemed so random. When he insisted he was serious and that they wanted me in her upcoming music video, I was stunned.”

Since then, Laith has continued to work as a model and actor, appearing in films like Absolute Dominion, The Long Game, and My Divorce Party, as well as TV shows including Unconventional and Wicked City.

As a huge Taylor Swift fan, I was so excited when she announced the ‘All Too Well’ short film! And honestly, seeing Dylan O’Brien alongside Sadie Sink was perfect casting. Taylor actually told Bustle that Dylan was her first choice – she loved his range as an actor and wanted to work with someone passionate and enthusiastic, just like her. Apparently, she sent him a long text asking if he’d do it, and he immediately said yes! She knew he’d bring so much depth to the role through improvisation, and she was right – she said he absolutely blew her away. It’s so sweet to hear they even became friends through the process! Dylan himself has talked about how shocked and thrilled he was when she personally reached out – he couldn’t believe she even knew who he was! Since then, he’s been in a bunch of other cool projects like The Outfit, Maximum Truth, Ponyboi, Caddo Lake, and Twinless, but I’ll always remember him as the guy who brought that character to life in Taylor’s vision.

I bet you think about this music video.

In the 2021 music video, directed by Blake Lively, Miles Teller played a groom preoccupied with his ex, Taylor. Interestingly, Miles’ wife, Keleigh Teller, played the bride in the video.

This casting choice makes sense considering the Tellers are friends with Taylor, who even tweeted in November 2021 how grateful she was for Miles being a great dance partner and friend, and praised Keleigh as ‘the coolest human on earth,’ noting the bride was willing to take a risk for the project.

Since appearing in the video—which is rumored to be about Jake Gyllenhaal, hinted at by the red scarf—Miles Teller has been busy with roles in TV series like The Offer and films including Top Gun: Maverick, Spiderhead, The Gorge, and Eternals.

Taeok Lee is sharing the story of how he first connected with Taylor Swift, long before appearing in her 2020 music video. He revealed on Instagram that his very first professional job came at the 2012 American Music Awards with Taylor, and his second was on her Red Tour. While he doesn’t often discuss those early experiences now, as he’s moved into different work, he still thinks about them fondly – the people he met, the places he traveled, and the shows they performed. He’s also incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with her on her evermore project. He expressed his thanks to Taylor, saying she brought things full circle, as she introduced him to his best friend and led to an incredible adventure when he was 19. He feels lucky to reconnect with her at 27 and be reminded of her talent and intelligence.

For her sweet and romantic “Lover” music video, Taylor Swift chose dancer Christian Owens, who had previously performed with her on both the Reputation and 1989 tours. He’s a seasoned performer too, having danced in Beyoncé’s iconic Homecoming show at Coachella and Normani’s “Motivation” video!

When Taylor released the music video in 2019, she raved about the choreographer – calling them a fantastic actor and dancer, and predicting they’d soon become a popular artist. It was a big moment, but Taylor played it cool!

Scott Eastwood starred in Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams” music video, a 1950s-style production inspired by classic Hollywood films. The video featured a passionate romance between his character and Taylor Swift’s while filming a movie in Africa. Interestingly, his agents initially discouraged him from taking the role, questioning why he would want to be known as “Taylor Swift’s boy toy.” He decided to do it anyway. The video helped launch him into more prominent roles, including appearances in films like “The Longest Ride,” “Suicide Squad,” “The Fate of the Furious,” “Tin Soldier” (with Jamie Foxx and Robert De Niro), and “Stolen Girl” (with Kate Beckinsale).

Dominic Sherwood famously had long, slicked-back hair and wore a white t-shirt in a 2015 music video that many believed was about Harry Styles. He explained to the Huffington Post that Taylor Swift felt he resembled the person she envisioned in the video, noting he possessed the qualities she described in her lyrics and that his personal style aligned with her vision.

At the time, Sherwood was dating Sarah Hyland, but they ended their relationship in 2017. He later dated Decker Sadowski, though they have since gone their separate ways.

Sherwood has also acted in several projects, including the films Don’t Sleep and Haunted Wedding, and the TV series Shadowhunters, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, and Partner Track.

Before model Sean O’Pry appeared in Taylor Swift’s 2014 music video, he had to keep his involvement a secret. He told TopMob News he wasn’t even able to discuss it with anyone except his manager and his dog.

O’Pry, who landed the role over Antoni Porowski from Queer Eye, vividly remembers a moment on set that made him blush. He shared with Vanity Fair that Swift playfully bit his lip, causing him to turn bright red and try to hide his reaction. He said that was how he first met her, and he was impressed by her performance in the video, calling her “gorgeous” and “incredible.”

Born in 1989, Sean continues to thrive as a successful model.

Oh my gosh, remember when Reeve Carney, my absolute favorite, took a break from being Spider-Man on Broadway to be in a music video back in 2012? It was amazing! He even said he gained a ton of Twitter followers because of it! He was so sweet talking about the artist—he called her incredibly talented and said it was a real pleasure to be part of the video. And that was just the beginning! He’s gone on to play so many incredible roles – Dorian Gray, Riff-Raff, even Tom Ford! But honestly, seeing him as Orpheus on Broadway with Eva Noblezada (who’s now his wife, can you believe it?!) was magical. And now he’s the Emcee in London’s Cabaret? He just keeps getting better and better! I’m obsessed, seriously!

We are never, ever, ever forgetting this music video, in which Noah Mills played Taylor’s ex-boyfriend. 

“It was super goofy,” the Canadian actor told People of the 2012 shoot. “I remember feeling like I was in Disneyland. Everything was super upbeat.”

And this time, I’m telling you, I’m telling you Noah has stayed busy since then, landing roles on NCIS: Hawai’i, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, The Enemy Within and The Brave. 

In Taylor Swift’s 2012 music video filmed in Paris, French actor Vladimir Perrin played the role of the man Taylor meets in a cafe after going through a breakup. Since then, Perrin has appeared in several films and TV series, including My King, The Advent Calendar, and Résistance.

Remember the iconic phrase, “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose”? That’s from Friday Night Lights, and Zach Gilford, one of the show’s stars, appeared in Taylor Swift’s 2011 music video for “Ours” as her boyfriend, a war veteran.

Taylor explained she chose Zach because he consistently brings a genuine warmth and emotional depth to his roles. She’s always been impressed by his performances and felt he perfectly embodied the character she envisioned.

Zach was equally pleased to work with Taylor, praising her kindness and respect as an artist. He happily accepted her invitation to be in the video.

Since then, Zach has continued to build a successful career, appearing in films like The Purge: Anarchy and television shows including L.A.’s Finest, Good Girls, Midnight Mass, Criminal Minds, and The Fall of the House of Usher. He married his Purge co-star, Kiele Sanchez, in 2012, and they have two children together, though they separated in 2025.

I’ll never forget seeing Guntars Asmanis in Taylor Swift’s “Mean” music video! He was the perfect choice to play the ex she sings about – so delicate and beautiful. The director, Yoann Lemoine, specifically wanted someone who wasn’t the typical heartthrob, someone who would really capture the vulnerability of the song, and both Taylor and he instantly loved Guntars. It’s funny, the lyrics ask “How’s life? Tell me how’s your family,” but it seems like Guntars has stepped away from the public eye since then. I always wondered what happened to him!

Okay, so you HAVE to know how I found out about Toby Hemingway! It’s the BEST story. Taylor – Taylor! – saw him in Feast of Love and was instantly obsessed, just like me! She actually told MTV she ‘just loved that movie and thought Toby was so great’ that she had to have him in her ‘Mine’ music video as, like, her dream guy! Seriously, she hand-picked him! It was destiny! And after that, he went on to be in so many amazing things – Black Swan, In Time, The Silent Thief, even Battlecreek! I’ve seen them all, of course. Everything he’s in is instantly a masterpiece because, well, Taylor picked him! It’s just… perfect.

This song’s music video was unusual for Taylor early in her career because it didn’t have a happy ending and took place at college instead of high school. It was inspired by a cringe-worthy run-in she had with an ex-boyfriend at the 2010 CMT Music Awards—many believe it was John Mayer. Unlike the subject of the song, Caleb Campbell, who starred in the 2011 video, hasn’t remained in the public spotlight.

 

Taylor Swift chose Stephen Colletti to play her love interest in her 2009 music video, admitting she was a big fan of his work on shows like Laguna Beach and One Tree Hill – just like many teenagers at the time. In a behind-the-scenes video, Swift explained that Colletti was her first choice because he came across as genuinely sweet and innocent, which was exactly what the role called for.

Interestingly, Colletti didn’t end up being swept off his feet by Swift, but he did marry Alex Weaver in 2025 and they announced they were expecting a child in early 2026.

Colletti has continued acting, appearing in the show Everyone is Doing Great with his One Tree Hill co-star James Lafferty from 2021-2023. He’s also stayed active in reality television, currently appearing on season four of The Traitors and will be part of the upcoming Laguna Beach reunion.

Taylor Swift and Lucas Till first met on the set of Hannah Montana: The Movie, where she made a cameo and he played Miley Cyrus’s love interest. They later worked together again in Taylor’s 2009 music video for “You Belong With Me,” where Lucas played her crush. Taylor praised his performance, saying he was perfect for the role and a lot of fun to be around. Lucas admitted he had a crush on her, possibly since he was sixteen.

They briefly dated, but the relationship didn’t last. Lucas explained that they were simply too nice to each other. While most couples experience conflict and passionate reconciliation, their connection remained purely friendly, which ultimately led to the split.

Since then, Lucas Till has had a successful acting career, joining the X-Men universe as Havok and starring as the lead in the MacGyver reboot (2016-2021). He also appeared with Lena Headey and Gillian Anderson in the Netflix series The Abandons.

Taylor Swift chose reality TV contestant Justin Hartley to appear in her 2008 music video, seeing him as the ideal fit for the role.

Following the video, Hartley gained attention for his relationship with Miley Cyrus, which ended after less than a year, just before Cyrus began filming The Last Song – where she met her future ex-husband, Liam Hemsworth.

Hartley married Melissa Ordway in 2012, and they later adopted a daughter, Olivia, in 2016. Their second daughter, Sophie, was born in 2017.

As an actor, Hartley had a role on Days of Our Lives in 2014, appearing in 22 episodes. He has also been in God’s Country Song, Santa Bootcamp, and The Unauthorized Full House Story, where he played John Stamos.

Taylor Swift cast former football player Justin Sandy as her cheating ex-boyfriend in her 2008 music video, playfully calling him a “real-life Ken” doll. After his football career ended due to an injury, Justin became a businessman. He now focuses on helping people with nutrition, writing books, and connecting with forward-thinking individuals, as stated in his social media bio. Justin fondly remembers his time as Taylor’s on-screen boyfriend and once shared a photo signed by her, declaring her affection for him and promising she’d never destroy his picture.

Tyler Hilton first connected with Taylor Swift in 2007 when he played her high school crush in one of her early music videos. They were already fans of each other’s work—he admired her song “Tim McGraw,” and she watched him on the TV show One Tree Hill. Taylor then invited him onstage to perform with her.

According to Tyler, Taylor told him she waited to ask him to be in her music video until they were onstage, worried he might refuse. They became good friends, and Tyler even stayed with the Swift family on their houseboat when he moved to Nashville. Years later, in 2018, they reunited backstage at Taylor’s Reputation tour.

Tyler, known for his role in Walk the Line, shared a post about the reunion, praising Taylor’s performance and reminiscing about their first collaboration. While Taylor and Tyler didn’t become a couple, Tyler did find love with Megan Park, whom he met on the set of Charlie Bartlett in 2007. They married eight years later and had two children, but announced their separation in January 2026.

More recently, Tyler has been pursuing his music career, touring with Kate Voegele, and acting in holiday films like The Christmas Contract and A Christmas Wish alongside his former One Tree Hill co-star, Hilarie Burton.

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2026-02-06 20:21