The Lives of Taylor Swift’s Music Video Boyfriends

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Taylor Swift’s new music video for her single “The Fate of Ophelia” is finally here! Released just days after her 12th studio album, *The Life of a Showgirl*, dropped on October 3rd, the video premiered in theaters alongside behind-the-scenes content and insights into the album’s creation. While the video doesn’t feature a romantic interest for Swift – who sports various brunette looks and her showgirl costumes – fans have spotted several nods to her fiancé, Travis Kelce, including a moment where she catches a football. The song, clearly influenced by her relationship with the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, is one of twelve tracks on the album, which Swift wrote while on the European leg of her Eras Tour, working with frequent collaborators Max Martin and Shellback. (Click here for a deep dive into the lyrics and hidden meanings!)

The album really captures a period of immense joy and excitement in my life,” the Grammy-winning artist explained on the New Heights podcast, co-hosted by her fiancé and his brother, Jason Kelce. “That energy and happiness definitely shine through in the music.”

After delivering a string of hit songs, Taylor explained, ‘This album is a dream come true – it’s exactly the kind of music I’ve always wanted to create.’

The music video reflects the album’s central idea: the hidden struggles behind the artist’s public image. As Taylor explained in a recent interview, the album isn’t about her performances, but rather the personal challenges she faced privately. She described it as ‘everything that was going on behind the curtain.’

After watching Taylor Swift’s new music video over and over, you might find yourself revisiting her other videos and spotting all the famous faces. The video features actors like Miles Teller, Dylan O’Brien, and Scott Eastwood playing her love interests. While Taylor is now engaged to Travis Kelce, and set to marry him, it’s fun to look back at all the actors who’ve played her boyfriends in the past!

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 her 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 couldn’t believe it! I thought he was joking or pranking me. It seemed so random. I didn’t understand why they’d want *me*. But he insisted he was serious – Taylor Swift’s team really wanted me in her next music video.”

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 fans know, Dylan O’Brien starred alongside Sadie Sink in the 2021 short film widely believed to be inspired by Taylor Swift’s relationship with Jake Gyllenhaal.

Taylor explained to Bustle in 2022 that Dylan was her first choice for the film because of his range as an actor. She’d been impressed with his work and had heard great things about him as a person, prioritizing collaborators who are passionate and enthusiastic.

After reaching out with a lengthy text message, Taylor secured Dylan for the role. She felt he would excel at improvisation and add depth to the character, significantly enhancing the story. She was incredibly impressed with his performance and happy to have gained a friend through the project.

Dylan still remembers getting the offer vividly. He told Extra at the premiere that he immediately said yes, and was surprised and amused that Taylor even knew who he was.

Since then, Dylan has continued to build his filmography with roles in movies like The Outfit, Maximum Truth, Ponyboi, Caddo Lake, and Twinless.

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-girlfriend, Taylor. Interestingly, Miles’ wife, Keleigh Teller, played the bride in the video.

This casting made sense considering the Tellers are friends with Taylor, who even tweeted in November 2021 about how grateful she was for Miles as a dance partner and friend, and praised Keleigh as “the coolest living human.” She also mentioned the bride was willing to take a risk for the video.

Since appearing in “I Bet You Think About Me”—which many believe is about Jake Gyllenhaal, hinted at by the red scarf in the video—Miles Teller has been in several projects, including the TV series *The Offer*, and the films *Top Gun: Maverick*, *Spiderhead*, *The Gorge*, and *Eternals*.

Please, let me tell you the story of how Taeok Lee and Taylor Swift first met, well before he appeared in her 2020 music video.

The dancer shared on Instagram that his first professional job was performing with Taylor Swift at the 2012 American Music Awards. Shortly after, he joined her Red Tour. While he doesn’t often discuss these experiences now—it feels like a long time ago, and his career has shifted—he still thinks about them frequently, remembering the people he met, the places he traveled, and the shows they performed. He’s especially grateful for her recent album, *evermore*. He expressed his thanks to Taylor, saying she brought his career full circle. He met his best friend through her and had an incredible adventure at 19. Returning to work with her at 27, he was reminded of her incredible talent, drive, and intelligence.

For her sweetly romantic music video, “Lover,” Taylor Swift chose dancer Christian Owens, who had previously performed with her on both the *Reputation* and *1989* tours. Owens is a highly accomplished dancer, also having appeared in Beyoncé’s iconic *Homecoming* performance 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 breakout star. Seriously, it was a big deal!

Scott Eastwood starred in Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams” music video, a 1950s-style production inspired by classic Hollywood films. The video features Eastwood as an actor who falls in love with Swift’s character while filming a movie in Africa. Interestingly, his agents were initially reluctant for him to take the role, questioning why he would play a romantic interest in a pop star’s video. He decided to do it anyway. Following this role, Eastwood appeared 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 for the video, noting he possessed the qualities she’d described in her lyrics and that his personal style aligned with what she had in mind.

At the time, Sherwood was dating Sarah Hyland, but they broke up in 2017. He later dated Decker Sadowski, though they have since separated.

Sherwood’s other acting credits include roles in films like *Don’t Sleep* and *Haunted Wedding*, as well as television series such as *Shadowhunters*, *Penny Dreadful: City of Angels*, and *Partner Track*.

Before model Sean O’Pry could share that he was in Taylor Swift’s 2014 music video, he had to keep it a secret. He told TopMob News he wasn’t allowed to talk about it with anyone except his manager and his dog.

Sean, who got the part over Antoni Porowski from *Queer Eye*, still remembers a surprising moment on set. He revealed to *Vanity Fair* that Taylor Swift playfully bit his lip, making him blush and try to hide his reaction—it was how they first interacted! He also praised her performance in the video, saying she looked incredible.

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

Reeve Carney, known for playing Spider-Man on Broadway in *Turn Off the Dark*, took a break from the show in 2012 to appear in a music video. He later told *The Observer* that the experience significantly boosted his Twitter following. He praised the artist, describing her as incredibly talented and kind, and said he enjoyed being part of the video.

Reeve is known for his roles as Dorian Gray in *Penny Dreadful*, Riff-Raff in *The Rocky Horror Picture Show*, and Tom Ford in *House of Gucci*. He also played Orpheus on Broadway in *Hadestown*, alongside his fiancée Eva Noblezada, and currently stars as Emcee in London’s production of *Cabaret*.

We’ll always remember Taylor Swift’s music video featuring Noah Mills as her ex-boyfriend! Mills described the 2012 shoot to *People* magazine as “super goofy,” saying it felt like being at Disneyland – very cheerful and upbeat. Since then, Noah Mills has had a successful acting career, appearing in shows like *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 a breakup, on a Wednesday. Since then, Perrin has acted in several other projects, including the films *My King* and *The Advent Calendar*, as well as the TV show *Résistance*.

Remember the motto “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 charming and heartfelt quality to his roles. She’s always been impressed by his on-screen presence and the emotion he conveys.

Zach was equally happy to work with her, praising Taylor as a kind and talented artist. He said it was an easy decision to join the project.

Since then, Zach has been in several other projects, including *The Purge: Anarchy*, *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, but they separated in 2025.

Latvian model Guntars Asmanis was chosen to play Taylor Swift’s love interest in her 2011 music video, a video inspired by her past relationship with actor Taylor Lautner. Director Yoann Lemoine explained to MTV News that he was looking for someone delicate and attractive, not a typical ‘heartthrob.’ He and Swift both agreed that Guntars was the perfect fit, bringing the right vulnerability to the video. As of late, Guntars appears to have stepped away from public life, and fans are curious about how he’s doing.

Taylor Swift chose British actor Toby Hemingway for her 2010 music video, where he played her waiter and eventual dream husband, after being impressed by his performance in the film *Feast of Love*. She told MTV News she “just loved that movie and thought Toby was so great that I thought it would be perfect to put him in the video.” Hemingway later starred in films like *The Covenant*, *Black Swan*, *In Time*, *The Silent Thief*, and *Battlecreek*.

This song’s music video was unusual for Taylor early in her career, as it depicted an unhappy ending and took place at college, not high school. The song itself was inspired by a cringe-worthy run-in she had with an ex at the 2010 CMT Music Awards – many believe it was John Mayer. Interestingly, while the song remains popular, Caleb Campbell, who starred in the 2011 video, has largely disappeared from public view.

 

Taylor Swift chose Stephen Colletti to play her love interest in her 2009 music video, admitting she’d been a fan of his work on shows like *Laguna Beach* and *One Tree Hill* – just like many other teenagers at the time.

In a behind-the-scenes look, Swift explained, “I thought he was great on *One Tree Hill*, and I used to watch *Laguna Beach* and thought he was so cute!” She wanted someone who seemed genuinely sweet and innocent, and Colletti fit the bill perfectly.

Though Colletti didn’t sweep Swift off her feet in real life, he did marry Alex Weaver in 2025. He’s continued acting, appearing in the show *Everyone is Doing Great* with his former *One Tree Hill* co-star James Lafferty from 2021 to 2023. He’s also staying busy with reality TV, with plans to be on season four of *The Traitors* and participate in a *Laguna Beach* reunion in 2026.

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. He later appeared as her crush and neighbor in the 2009 music video for “You Belong With Me.” Taylor praised his performance, saying he was perfect for the role and a joy to work with. Lucas admitted he had a crush on her, possibly since he was sixteen.

Though they briefly dated, the relationship didn’t last. Lucas explained that they were simply too friendly and lacked the passionate conflict that often drives relationships. He valued her as a friend, and that’s ultimately why things didn’t work out.

Since then, Lucas Till has found success in television and film, including roles in the X-Men universe, the *MacGyver* reboot (2016-2021), and the upcoming Netflix series *The Abandons*, where he’ll star alongside Lena Headey and Gillian Anderson.

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

After the video’s release, Hartley, then 20, gained attention for his relationship with Miley Cyrus, who was 16 at the time. The couple dated for less than a year before splitting up, shortly before Cyrus began filming *The Last Song* – where she would later meet her ex-husband, Liam Hemsworth.

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

As an actor, Justin appeared in 22 episodes of *Days of Our Lives* in 2014. He’s also been in *God’s Country Song*, *Santa Bootcamp*, and *The Unauthorized Full House Story*, where he played John Stamos.

Taylor Swift chose former football player Justin Sandy to portray her cheating ex-boyfriend in her 2008 music video, playfully calling him a “real-life Ken” doll. After an injury ended his NFL career, Justin became an entrepreneur. His social media profile describes him as a retired player who now focuses on helping others with nutrition, publishing books, and connecting with forward-thinking individuals. Justin fondly remembers his time as Taylor’s on-screen boyfriend and once shared a throwback photo signed by her, stating, “I love Justin and I would never burn 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 both fans of each other’s work—he admired her song “Tim McGraw” and she watched him on the 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 next music video because she was afraid he’d say no. They became close friends, and he 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 shared on Instagram how happy he was to see her and her family, reminiscing about the “Teardrops” video they filmed together.

Though Taylor and Tyler didn’t become a couple, Tyler did find love with Megan Park. They met on the set of the movie *Charlie Bartlett* in 2007, married eight years later, and now have two children.

Recently, Tyler has been busy touring with Kate Voegele and starring in Christmas movies, *The Christmas Contract* and *A Christmas Wish*, alongside his former *One Tree Hill* co-star, Hilarie Burton.

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2025-10-06 17:50