NEWSShailene Woodley Says Ansel Elgort Remains One of Her 'Best Friends' 12 Years After 'The Fault in Our Stars' and 'Divergent'
Shailene Woodley reflected on her longtime friendship with Ansel Elgort.
Aug. 9 2026, Published 7:31 a.m. ET
In a recent interview with Variety, Shailene Woodley shared insights into her close friendship with Ansel Elgort, her former co-star in both Divergent and The Fault in Our Stars. She expressed, “Ansel Elgort is to this day one of my best friends,” emphasizing the depth of their relationship.
Shailene Woodley said Ansel Elgort became like family after filming ‘Divergent.’
Woodley, age 34, described Elgort, 32, as more than a friend, stating, “I feel like he transcends the label of best friend. He is like family to me. I love him so, so deeply.”
This strong bond originated on the set of Divergent, which premiered in 2014. Woodley and Elgort portrayed siblings Tris and Caleb Prior, respectively, and quickly formed a close friendship.
Reflecting on their initial connection, Woodley recalled, “When we were doing the first Divergent movie, we really connected, and we became sort of instant siblings.” Their camaraderie extended beyond filming, as they often spent time together outside of work, cooking and talking for hours.
The actress credited their friendship for their on-screen chemistry.
Their professional paths crossed again in 2014 with The Fault in Our Stars, where they played romantic leads Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters.
Woodley admitted that she initially did not think Elgort would be cast for the role of Gus, saying, “I was like ‘Oh that’s sweet, but like obviously it’s never gonna happen because he’s my brother in Divergent.” However, when he was ultimately cast, she recognized his unique ability to portray the character.
Woodley explained that their real-life friendship contributed to their on-screen chemistry. She mentioned, “What made our relationship in that movie as tender as it was and as truly like unconditionally loving as it was [because] Ansel and I do genuinely love one another.” Their relationship added depth to their characters' connection in the film.
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Shailene Woodley admitted filming intimate scenes together felt awkward in ‘The Fault in Our Stars.’
Despite their affection, Woodley noted that filming intimate scenes together was awkward. “Of course it was awkward when we had to do intimacy scenes together,” she stated, recalling the laughter that occurred between takes due to their familiarity with one another.
The pair remained close years after their last film together.
Since their last project together in 2016, the pair have maintained their bond, even traveling to Italy in 2022. Their enduring friendship raises questions about what lies ahead for them. Fans eagerly anticipate any new developments in their relationship.
