Partners in business—and now in life, too! During an appearance on Katie Couric's self-titled talk show earlier this week, Blue Bloods alum Jennifer Esposito shared that she recently got engaged to boyfriend Louis Dowler, with whom she runs a gluten-free bakery in New York City.
The Samantha Who? actress, 41, was on the show to promote her new book, Jennifer's Way, which details her lifelong struggle with celiac disease. As part of the episode, she was asked to showcase some of the gluten-free food she and former model Dowler serve at their bakery (also called Jennifer's Way).
"Oh, P.S., announcement—Jennifer just got engaged," Couric revealed on Thursday, May 1. Producers then showed a photo of the star and her fiance on the screen behind the stage.
"He's lovely," Esposito gushed shyly. Added Couric: "And so cute!"
The actress then explained how she convinced her beau to join her in the bakery business. "He wanted no part of it in the beginning," she recalled. "He said, 'I don't know anything about a bakery.' And I said, 'I don't either! But we're gonna do this. I'm gonna do this. And if you want to see me, that's where I'm gonna be, on 10th Street.'"
She continued: "He actually lent me the rest of the money—because this was all my money that I made this bakery on—and he lent it to me. Otherwise it wouldn't be there. So I'm very grateful."
This will be Esposito's second marriage. She was previously wed to Bradley Cooper for a few months in 2006 and 2007; she also was engaged to Australian tennis player Mark Philippoussis, but they split in 2010. Dowler, meanwhile, dated Kate Winslet for several months in 2010 after her split from Sam Mendes.
