Inside Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard’s Fun-Filled and Sexy Romance

Credit: Todd Williamson/Getty Images

Inside Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard’s Fun-Filled and Sexy Romance

Something just like this! Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard have shown Us what true love is all about since they started dating in 2007. The A-listers — who share daughters Lincoln and Delta — got engaged in 2009 and tied the knot in 2013. They’ve been open with fans about their lighthearted, loving relationship and have spoken out about making their marriage work despite the challenges they may face. Shepard made headlines in December 2018 after Julie Andrews’ granddaughter Kayti Edwards claimed that she had an affair with him in late 2009 while he was dating Bell. However, the Parenthood alum denied the rumors on Instagram shortly after. The following year, the pair celebrated their five-year wedding anniversary in October 2019 and continued to show their strength as a couple. “To get to wake up next to someone who has put hard work, respectful fights, patience, understanding and gratitude into your relationship is the definition of love,” the Good Place alum wrote via Instagram in honor of the marriage milestone. “I will never remember the date of our anniversary @daxshepard, and I know you won’t either. And that’s just one more thing I love about us.” [jwplayer N0oGJIjA-zhNYySv2] The duo faced another hardship 11 months later when Shepard revealed that he had relapsed after 16 years of being sober. The Bless This Mess actor shared in October 2020 that he had fallen off the wagon a month prior after taking pain killers following a motorcycle accident. A source exclusively told Us at the time that Bell has been “nothing but supportive” amid Shepard’s sobriety journey. “There’s no blame or anger on her side — just love, care and determination to get through this together,” the insider said following the September 2020 relapse. “She’s beyond proud of him for turning his life around whilst openly addressing his demons head-on.” Despite the setback, the couple have remained committed to each other and getting Shepard back on track. “He was like, ‘I don’t want to risk this family, and I did, so let’s put new things in place to make sure it doesn’t happen again,’” the Frozen actress told Ellen DeGeneres in October 2020. “We’re going back to therapy. … And I will continue to stand by him because he’s very, very worth it.” Scroll down to see Shepard and Bell's ups and downs over the years:

Credit: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Rollercoaster Romance

The actors rode the California Screamin' roller coaster at Disney's California Adventure Theme Park in Anaheim, California. "He's so funny that it's overwhelming," Bell told Us in April 2008 of Shepard.

Credit: NATIONAL PHOTO GROUP

Together Forever

The lovey-dovey duo walked hand-in-hand during a morning stroll in L.A. "We're very frugal," Bell told Flaunt in September 2008. "We're hillbillies at heart, and I'm not f-cking ashamed of that."

Credit: Flynet

Always Together

The Good Place actress and Shepard joined Bell's pal and Couples Retreat costar Jason Bateman for a yacht tour around Sydney Harbour in Australia in September 2009. Bell told Vegas at the time they can spend "every waking moment together" and do "not get sick of each other. We are the couple who can do that."

Credit: MAP/Splash News

Summer Love

Bell and her then-boyfriend splashed around in the Pacific Ocean during a Hawaiian vacation. "We nauseate ourselves with how mushy we are," she told Women's Health in June 2009.

Credit: Myles Aronowitz/©Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

On and Off Screen

Shepard played one of Bell's many suitors in the rom-com When in Rome. "We were trying to one-up each other," Bell told Women's Health of their costarring roles in January 2010. "That's what we do at home, too. It's like, 'Wait -- watch me do this funny bit.' 'No, watch me do this funny bit!'"

Credit: NATIONAL PHOTO GROUP

Perfect Partnership

Bell sat in Shepard's lap as they caught up with mutual pal Justin Long at Starbucks in Studio City, California. "Your partner should hear your most embarrassing insecurities," Bell told Women's Health in October 2010, "because once you say them out loud, you've created a safe zone."

Credit: Lester Cohen/WireImage

The Next Step

The engaged actors looked lovingly at one another while walking the red carpet at The Hangover: Part II premiere in Hollywood. "I feel sexiest when he looks at me, when he makes eyes at me," Bell told Us in May 2011 of Shepard. "Just because I feel desired."

Credit: LIMELIGHTPICS.US

So Cute

The pedaling pair shared a sweet kiss while riding their bikes in L.A. "I can barely walk in a straight line, let alone move in one when I'm on a vehicle that has wheels. Dax grew up as a dirt biker. He's always doing tricks that terrify me," she told Self in October 2011. "Even so, we ride to brunch or dinner or ice cream all the time."

Credit: GSI Media

Under the Sun

Animal lover Bell and her fiance watched over their two rescue dogs at a Hollywood park. "When the dog sleeps in the bed he thinks it's too crowded," Bell told Us in January 2012, "but we don't exactly bump heads about it."

Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Out and About

The Hit and Run costars dressed to the nines at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala in New York City. Engaged since January 2010, the couple has no immediate plans to tie the knot. "The ring is on my finger," Bell told Us in May 2012. "That's all I care about."

Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

PDA Moment

When cameras stopped rolling, Shepard gave Bell a quick peck before she resumed co-hosting the CMT Music Awards. "When people have patience with me, I feel so loved," she told Self in June 2012. "Dax is extremely patient with me."

Credit: Christopher Polk/NBC/NBC via Getty Images

Making Time

The duo make sure to put their relationship first. “We have a family calendar and it’s how everybody runs. In truth, there’s no trick to balancing it. If you look at the calendar and you’ve seen you’ve gone 10 days without a date night, you know you need to prioritize more,” Bell exclusively told Us in March 2015. “That’s how we work! We’re very mathematical about our relationship.”

Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

In It Until the End

During her appearance on Conan in October 2016, the Veronica Mars alum addressed her hubby’s joke about them being swingers and noted that he’s a “free spirit.” 

Credit: Kevin Mazur/VF14/WireImage

Fun and Flirty

The Parenthood alum helped his wife meet her crush! “I saw [Riz Ahmed] first and I thought she might be too shy to go up to him, so I’m going to break the ice,” he told Ellen DeGeneres in January 2017. “I said to [Ahmed], ‘Hey, my wife has a huge crush on you. I would love to introduce you to her.’”

Credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for The People's Choice Awards

Working It Out

“We went to therapy early on to learn what our pattern of arguing was and where we needed to stop that,” Shepard said on Good Morning America in January 2017 of working through marriage problems. “It’s great too, because you go to the therapist and he listens to you talk for 30 seconds and then he’s, like, ‘I got it.’”

Credit: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Keeping It Light

“On a daily basis, he just makes me laugh all the time,” Bell gushed to Us of her man in August 2017. “He’s obsessed with attention, so he’s constantly making jokes to try to get me to give him more attention or to get me to giggle. And, you know, he was a stand-up comedian, so I’m living with a comedian.”

Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage

Parenting Pros

The couple are pros at switching off parenting duties. “I think what’s on my plate is mathematics and science. I think Kristen has got being a good person handled and singing and all that stuff. My job is more mathematics and history and science,” he told Us in September 2017. “But I do want them both to ride motorcycles because my greatest fear in life is that they will be attracted to someone like their dad and date a young dude with a motorcycle … But, I know if they ride themselves, they’ll never be passengers. This is my antidote.”

Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Hot and Heavy

In November 2017, Shepard appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and revealed that his daughters once walked in on him and Bell in action! “OK, they didn’t walk in while I was, like, pounding mom,” he clarified. “We put on the TV in the living room — we’re bad parents — and then we stole away for a minute, afternoon delight, but we were just under the sheets when they walked in. It was more just explaining why we were taking, like, a nap in the afternoon while they were loose.”

Credit: Todd Williamson/Getty Images

Match Made in Heaven

Shepard spoke candidly about his marriage in December 2017. “We don’t believe in The One. We don’t believe in the fairytale. We don’t believe that you can meet someone and you have perfectly matching personalities,” he told Us. “We are opposites and it has taken a tremendous amount of work and therapy for us to coexist. My only fear is that people see us and think, ‘Oh, I just need to find my Kristen Bell.’  That’s not true. You’ll find your Kristen Bell, but guess what? Now the work starts. Relationships are labor intensive. If you want them to last, they are labor intensive.”

Credit: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Baby2Baby

Through Good Times and Bad

No regrets! “When we first started dating, I had more money than her and I owned the house that I lived in. And she said to me at one point, ‘Would you like a prenup?’ I said, ‘No, I don’t want a prenup,’ but I really wanted a prenup, really bad,” Shepard admitted on Conan in April 2018. “The joke is on her now because she’s become much more successful than me and has much more money than me!”

Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Turner

So Proud

Bell is proud of Shepard for getting sober before they met. “We celebrate his sobriety birthday much, much, much bigger than his birthday,” she told Us in September 2018. “I’m happy he was born, but I’m incredibly excited about the fact that he’s alive. … He did 99.999 percent of the work himself, but I tried to fill in that little hole of what he needed.”

Credit: John Parra/Getty Images

Showing Love

“We make an effort to cuddle and remain physical with each other," Bell told Us in September 2018 of saying close to her guy. “You find you’re often cuddling with your girls, but then you realize you haven’t touched your partner on the back of the neck or put your arm around him in a week. It’s just paying attention to things like that that I think will keep you connected.”

Credit: bauergriffin.com

Fun In the Sun

The couple kicked off the new year by hitching a ride on a golf cart in Miami. "He constantly keeps me laughing: when I'm sad, mad, frustrated, annoyed," Bell told Us in December 2018 of her then-beau. "Regardless of what it is he can lighten the mood. He'll do anything that the mood requires."

Credit: Getty Images

A Solid Pair

The couple proved their relationship is stronger than ever in December 2018 after Edwards claimed that she slept with Shepard in 2009, two years after he began dating his now-wife. The Parenthood alum slammed the claim, explaining that the photos of him and Edwards kissing were actually taken before he started dating the Good Place star. A source later told Us Weekly that Bell "believes Dax" and added, “Dax denied the allegations publicly because he wanted the world to know that Kristen is his one and only. They’re solid. There is absolutely no strain — their marriage is strong.”

Credit: Courtesy of Dax Shepard/Instagram

Love Comes First

In March 2019, the Bless This Mess star revealed that he almost passed on the role of Crosby Braverman on Parenthood in order to make things work with his now-wife. “I chose her, which blew my mind,” the actor said on his podcast “Armchair Expert” at the time. “I got offered Parenthood — I hadn’t acted in a long time, no one was offering me anything — and they said, ‘This show shoots in Philadelphia,’ and I said, ‘There’s no way I can be in this relationship and move to Philadelphia.” The show eventually decided to change its filming location to Los Angeles, so Shepard’s sacrifice for love was rewarded!

Credit: Courtesy of Kristen Bell/Instagram

Birthday Buddies

The actor knows how to bring the laughs and love with his birthday tributes to his wife year after year. “Happy Birthday Buddy!!! I've been with you on a third of your ride, and I hope I'm lucky enough to burp/throw-up/suffer/thrive with you for all the rest,” he captioned a hilarious video that showed the pair suffering from eating something spicy together on July 18, 2019. “Best Mom, best wife, best friend, longest story teller. You're everything to me and more."

Credit: Courtesy of Kristen Bell/Instagram

Five Years Strong

The lovebirds celebrated their five-year wedding anniversary in October 2019, but according to Bell they didn’t even remember it until their family and friends pointed it out. “In truth, neither of us remember which day,” the Veronica Mars star revealed via Instagram on October 21. “That’s because we have been living the celebration of our commitment every moment since.”

She added: “To get to wake up next to someone who has put hard work, respectful fights, patience, understanding and gratitude into your relationship is the definition of love. I will never remember the date of our anniversary @daxshepard, and i know you wont either. And thats just one more thing i love about us.”

Credit: Courtesy of Dax Shepard/Instagram

Not Exactly Love at First Sight

The Frozen 2 star reflected on the first time she met her husband during an interview on Sunday Today With Willie Geist in November 2019, and her recollection is priceless. “The only thing I remember is that he talks so much,” Bell said at the time. “I was like, ‘This guy can talk!’ I didn’t know who he was … There were no sparks whatsoever.” Two weeks after they met at a dinner for a mutual friend, Bell’s opinion about her now-husband began to change. Now she describes her husband as “bold,” adding, “he knows what he’s doing and that was my kind of person. Starting it off with a really good joke that makes me feel butterflies.”

Credit: Shutterstock

Paying the Price

The "Armchair Expert" podcast host told Us in July 2020 that Bell gets turned on when he tips their server at a restaurant.  “I'll tell you exactly how I do [keep the romance alive], and it's my wife's favorite joke,” Shepard said. “Whenever I'm about to tip somebody — a waiter at a restaurant — she always says, 'Make me horny.' My wife loves when I overtip people, so that's pretty much my strategy. So it's costly, but I think it's worth it.”

Credit: Courtesy of Kristen Bell/Instagram

Touching Tribute

Bell honored her husband’s 16th year sober in September 2020, writing via Instagram: "Thank you for dedicating your life to the hard and wonderful work of sobriety, so that we could share it with you."

Credit: Michael Rozman/Warner Bros.

Standing By Her Man

The actress vowed to support her husband in October 2020 following his relapse a month prior. During an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Bell revealed that Shepard was “doing really great” after falling off the wagon and taking pain killers in September following a motorcycle accident.

“The thing I love most about Dax is that he was able to tell me and tell us and say, ‘We need a different plan,’” the actress explained to Ellen DeGeneres. “Like, we have a plan. If he has to take medication for any reason, I have to administer it. But he was like, ‘So, we need a stronger plan. I was faltering, and I have to do some sort of emotional work to figure out why I wanted to use again.’”

She explained that after he realized he’d gone too far, he rededicated himself to a sober life and to his family. “He was like, ‘I don’t want to risk this family, and I did, so let’s put new things in place to make sure it doesn’t happen again,’” the Frozen 2 actress said. “We’re going back to therapy. … And I will continue to stand by him because he’s very, very worth it.”

Credit: Courtesy of Kristen Bell/Instagram

Love Bugs

“Well, it's that time of year again. The anniversary of the day each year when we say to each other ‘wasn't our anniversary last week at some point?’” Bell joked in October 2020, on the couple’s seventh wedding anniversary. “I love you, @daxshepard, and I always will.”

Credit: Courtesy of Dax Shepard/Instagram

Spooky Season

The "Armchair Expert" podcast host showed off his and Bell's Halloween costumes via Instagram on November 1, posing for a mirror selfie in goth glam. The same day, the Veronica Mars alum shared a festive snapshot with Shepard and their daughters. "Barely passable family picture," she teased in the Instagram caption.

Credit: Jim Smeal/Shutterstock

Supportive Spouses

The Michigan native opened up about his relapse into pill addiction in December 2020, three months after falling off the wagon, crediting Bell as his saving grace. “I can’t imagine having to admit that to other people and feeling as safe as I did that you guys wouldn’t hate me. I hated me at that point and so, to be able to tell you guys and feel unconditionally loved and that I would be accepted was really special,” Shepard said during an episode of his “Armchair Expert” podcast, thanking Bell and his cohost, Monica Padman, for their support. “It saved my life.”

Bell echoed her husband’s gratitude for Padman, who helped Shepard through his emotional revelation in September. “I would like to thank all parties involved because I am so appreciative of being able to go through every flavor of emotion with Monica and also to have you, the father of my children, be so able to be honest, even at your most shameful moments,” she said. “Nobody saved you but you and your courage and boldness to say, ‘I feel like I’m slipping’ or ‘I did slip and I need to be honest before it gets worse,’ and I’m just grateful to all parties involved. I think we did a really good job, team.”

Credit: Courtesy Dax Shepard/Instagram

Christmas Elf Extraordinaire

“The Christmas Queen with her trusty Guard Hound,” Shepard wrote alongside a photo of his wife gearing up for the holidays in December 2020.

Credit: Courtesy of Kristen Bell/Instagram

Birthday Love

Bell paid tribute to her husband as he celebrated his 46th birthday in January 2021. "It's my favorite day of the year!" she captioned a selfie of the pair on Instagram. "When I get to celebrate the birth of my very favorite human on earth, and spoil him till he rots! The one who's commitment to growth is astounding, who's honesty is admirable, and who makes me laugh more than anyone. I love u so dearly, @daxshepard."

Credit: Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock

Clapping Back

After an internet troll commented that the couple "constantly fight," Bell politely shut them down. “We adore each other, we just try to always be honest about how marriage or companionship in any form is hard sometimes,” the When in Rome star replied in February 2021. “You can’t always be in control, or right, and it’s important to us that we lead with honesty of your ‘perfect match’ being a myth. You gotta work hard to love yourself, and love other humans. Xo.”

Credit: Rob Latour/Shutterstock

Naked Yoga

For Mother's Day 2021, Shepard shared a photo of his love doing yoga in the nude (save for a pair of knee socks). “Mom’ing has changed since I was a kid … and I’m here for it," he wrote via Instagram. "Look at this specimen: kind, patient, nurturing, hilarious, Uber talented, generous, hard AND soft. My girls and I hit the MegaMom Lottery. We are so grateful and so in love with you @kristenanniebell."

Credit: Shutterstock (2)

Three's a Crowd

During a June 2021 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Shepard's podcast cohost, Monica Padman, joked that the couple are in a "three-way marriage" with her. When asked if the quip was meant in a sexual way, Shepard replied, “Unfortunately not. It’s all the responsibilities of two wives without the sex.”

Credit: Courtesy Kristen Bell/Instagram

Love in the Fast Lane

The couple headed to Austin, Texas, in October 2021 to watch the US Grand Prix. They got up close and personal with the race car drivers and hung out with some of the pit crew before the race. Bell later shared photos from the “absolutely incredible day” with her man via Instagram.

Credit: Courtesy of Kristen Bell/Instagram

Thankful

The twosome got cozy while celebrating Thanksgiving in November 2021.

Credit: Courtesy of Kristen Bell/Instagram

Desert Duds

Bell and Shepard dressed up for a pal’s birthday bash in the desert in December 2021. The Michigan native joked about the getaway, writing, “Recipe for humility: have only younger, nicer, more attractive friends.”

Credit: Courtesy of Kristen Bell/Instagram

Making Chores Look Good

The Good Place alum shared a handful of videos via her Instagram Stories in May 2022 of Shepard doing yardwork around the house. The chores, which included power washing outdoor furniture and staining a wooden table, were set to the background tune of “I Wanna Sex You Up” by Color Me Badd.

Credit: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock

Opposites Attract

“Dax and I are polar opposites and the solution is always in the middle. You have to have diverse points of view,” the World Needs More Purple People children’s book author said during a June 2022 appearance on CBS Mornings. “A recipe is not delicious with one ingredient.”

Credit: Courtesy of Dax Shephard/Instagram

Country Crew

Shepard toasted to a great trip in June 2022, captioning a group shot, “PERFECT weekend in Nashville. Amazing meals, reckless driving, tons of swimming.”

Credit: Courtesy of Dax Shephard/Instagram

Purple Power

The podcast host showed solidarity with his wife in July 2022, dying his hair purple to match hers. Shepard captioned the Instagram snap with a cheeky German quote that translated to, “I am very happy! I am sexually attracted to my partner.”

Credit: Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock

The Secret to Longevity

"Stay vulnerable," Bell told Entertainment Tonight in November 2022 when asked how she and Shepard have kept their romance strong over the years. "At least my secret. You've gotta be vulnerable — we have to be vulnerable when we don't want to be. That's what works for us."

Credit: Courtesy of Kristen Bell /Instagram

Friendsgiving

“Perfect thankful day,” the Central Park actress wrote via Instagram in November 2022. “Particularly thrilled with my secret turkey gift this year.”

Credit: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock

Challenging Each Other

In February 2023, Bell identified Shepard as a "game changer" in her life. "My husband keeps my mind and heart open and moving forward every single day, because he’s a challenger," she told Real Simple at the time. "We disagree about 99 percent of the things on earth, which is just fun and interesting."

She added that her husband helped her learn how to stop chasing perfection in her own life. "I had been taught to stay inside the lines," she explained. "When I realized I could break a mold and disagree with certain ways of doing things, I felt freer and more like me. I felt more comfortable with who I was, and then I realized, 'I don’t need to be better than anyone else. I just need to be better than the person I was yesterday.'"

Credit: Courtesy of Kristen Bell/Instagram

Hollywood Date Night

"Saw @shaniatwain at the @hollywoodbowl last night and sat next to some really nice randos!" Bell teased via Instagram in May 2023 after seeing the country superstar perform in Los Angeles — with Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson sitting directly behind her and Shepard. "Dad was crying by the first song and the randos kept photobombing us but other than that it was a perfect night!!!!"