Netflix’s Virgin River has won over millions with its cozy small-town setting, slow-burning romance, and unforgettable characters. While fans can’t get enough of the twists and turns in Mel and Jack’s on-screen relationship, many are equally curious about what’s going on in the love lives of the Virgin River cast off-screen.
Turns out, their real-life relationships are just as heartfelt — and in some cases, even more unexpected — than the drama we see in Virgin River. From longtime marriages and serendipitous meet-cutes to surprising celebrity pairings, here’s a look at the actual partners of your favorite Virgin River stars.
Martin Henderson (Jack Sheridan) keeps his love life private — and for good reason
While Jack may be deeply committed to Mel, actor Martin Henderson is far more private about his off-screen romances. Though he’s been linked to several women over the years, including model Aisha Mendez, Henderson prefers to keep his personal life under wraps. After a highly publicized relationship with Demi Moore, he admitted in an interview with The Daily Telegraph that the attention made him value privacy even more. Today, he is rumored to be dating a fellow New Zealander, though he has never confirmed it.
Alexandra Breckenridge (Mel Monroe) found love with a rock guitarist
Alexandra Breckenridge met her husband, Casey Hooper — Katy Perry’s former lead guitarist — at a Grammy after-party. The two married in 2015 and now have two children. Much like her Virgin River character, Breckenridge left Los Angeles for a quieter, rural life — in her case, on a farm in Georgia. While she often films far from home in Vancouver, she says her husband is a hands-on dad and her biggest cheerleader.
Colin Lawrence (Preacher) and Lucia Walters (Julia) are married in real life
In a fun twist, Virgin River viewers saw Colin Lawrence’s Preacher spark a romance with Julia — played by none other than his real-life wife, actress Lucia Walters. The couple met in acting school and have been married since 1999. Walters says working together on-screen feels like a date, especially since they’re normally busy parenting their daughters. From commercials to film roles, they’ve often played characters very different from themselves — including an emotionally distant couple in The 4400.
Ben Hollingsworth (Dan Brady) had a real-life rom-com moment
Brady’s love life might be complicated on Virgin River, but Ben Hollingsworth’s real story sounds like a scene from a movie. He met his wife Nila in a Los Angeles restaurant after a stranger encouraged him to talk to the “blonde in red.” Skeptical at first, Hollingsworth now calls it fate. Nila, who holds a Master’s degree in Criminology, is not in the entertainment industry. The couple now has three children — sons Hemingway and Gatsby, and daughter Juniper.
Zibby Allen (Brie) didn’t believe in marriage — until she met the right person
Before meeting her husband, Northern Irish visual artist Adam James Blair, Zibby Allen had serious doubts about marriage. But Blair changed her perspective, and they tied the knot in 2018. Allen has since described marriage as a “practice” — a daily commitment, like meditation or sobriety — rather than a rigid, traditional expectation. The couple remains strong and creative, supporting each other through their evolving careers.
Annette O’Toole (Hope) and Michael McKean’s love story spanned decades
Hope McCrea’s portrayer Annette O’Toole met fellow actor Michael McKean in the 1970s, but their romantic story didn’t begin until the late ’90s. After reconnecting on the set of a Lifetime film, they bonded over shared interests and began dating. Their first official date — which included a visit to a shoe store and a concert featuring Bob Dylan — marked the beginning of a new chapter. They married in 1999 and are still going strong.
Tim Matheson (Doc Mullins) married a behind-the-scenes TV pro
Tim Matheson has been married to script supervisor Elizabeth Marighetto since 2018. The couple shares a love of travel and frequently visits Italy, where Marighetto has family. They also own a home in Vancouver, where Virgin River is filmed. Matheson says the city feels like a second home, and the couple enjoys skiing and exploring the surrounding islands when he’s not on set.
Love blooms both on and off the set
While Virgin River delivers heartfelt relationships and second chances in fiction, the real-life romances of its cast prove that love often thrives behind the scenes too. Whether it’s a marriage decades in the making or a meet-cute worthy of a romantic comedy, the stars of Virgin River show that happily-ever-afters aren’t just for TV.
