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Meryl Streep and Martin Short are giving fans something to talk about, and it’s not just their on-screen chemistry in the upcoming season of Only Murders in the Building. After being spotted holding hands at the show’s premiere on August 22nd, fans and photographers alike started buzzing with speculation that these two Hollywood legends might be more than just co-stars. But are they really a couple? Let’s dive into the rumours that have been swirling over the past few months…
Are Meryl Streep and Martin Short dating?
Sorry to burst any romantic bubbles, but the short answer is no, Meryl Streep and Martin Short are not dating. Despite the hand-holding and their undeniable on-screen chemistry, there’s nothing romantic going on between these two. They’re just really, really good friends.
In fact, these dating rumours have been floating around for a while. Earlier this year, the pair was seen sitting next to each other at the Golden Globes, sparking a wave of speculation. However, Martin’s rep quickly shut down the gossip, telling People that the two are “just very good friends, nothing more.” Martin himself addressed the rumours during an appearance on the Club Random with Bill Maher podcast, where he laughed off the idea of them being a “power couple” and clarified, “We’re not a couple; we are just very close friends.”
In August 2024, Martin reflected on what it’s been like working with his longtime friend, telling Extra “It’s been a friendship that always grows…if you work with someone and love that person.”
“Meryl is a friend to all of us,” Steve Martin added. “If I don’t see her for two years, you get back together and you’re already laughing and talking.”
How did their friendship begin?
It turns out, their friendship is as strong as their comedic timing. Meryl Streep, who plays Loretta Durkin in the new season of Only Murders in the Building, actually reached out to Martin herself to be on the show. As Martin explained, “The story with Meryl is she phoned me and said, ‘I want to be on it,’” he told People.
“They already planned that I would have a theatrical experience and there would be a love interest. So that was coincidental, but she just wanted to be on the show. She didn’t know about [the love story].”
What about their past relationships?
Both Meryl and Martin have had their fair share of love and loss. Meryl was married to sculptor Don Gummer for an incredible 40 years before they quietly separated in 2017, a fact only announced in 2023. Martin, on the other hand, was married to his late wife, actress Nancy Dolman, for 30 years until she passed away in 2010. While they’ve both experienced profound love, it’s clear that their relationship with each other is built on years of friendship and mutual respect rather than romance.
So, are they just friends?
Absolutely. They may play lovers on-screen, but off-screen, Meryl Streep and Martin Short are simply two longtime friends who enjoy each other’s company—whether they’re walking the red carpet or navigating the wild world of Only Murders in the Building. And with the fourth season of the hit Hulu series set to premiere on August 27th, fans will get to see more of their delightful dynamic, albeit in a fictional, murder-mystery-filled world.
So, while they might be the couple you’re rooting for on TV, in real life, Meryl and Martin are just giving us all major friendship goals.
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