Celebrity best friends

Ant and Dec

The secret behind Ant and Dec's onscreen partnership is the fact that they are best friends - and have been since they were just 14.

In the past 20 years, they have lived in the same flat or next door to each other - even now they live in the same road.

The golden boys of British TV have been riding high for 25 years, and show no signs of slowing down.

"I've never wanted to work alone since we started together," Dec has said of their partnership. "All the ideas we have are for the pair of us."
 

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon

When it comes to best male buddies, no one beats Ben Affleck and Matt Damon.

The two leading men grew up together in Boston and attended the same schools before co-starring in, and writing, the Oscar-winning film Good Will Hunting in their early twenties.

Side-by-side, they took Hollywood by storm, and to this day remain incredibly close. As well as teaming up and supporting each other in their professional lives, the two pals live down the same street with their wives and families.

Brad Pitt and George Clooney

They played partners in crime in the Ocean's Eleven series, started a Darfur charity together - and neither one has to be jealous of the other's good looks.

Brad Pitt and Geore Clooney have been great friends for many years now, and George hasn't held back when it comes to praising his pal.

"Not only do I enjoy him as a person and respect his talent, but I also love what he does in the world," he told The Advocate in 2012. "I can't speak highly enough about how hard he works at making the world better. I'm very proud to call him my friend."

Bradley Cooper and Leonardo DiCaprio

Gerard isn't Bradley's only celebrity pal. He has been friends with Leonardo DiCaprio for years.

They first met in their twenties when Bradley worked as a doorman at a New York hotel, and he helped Leo to his room.

At the time, Leo was riding high on the success of Titanic, while Bradley was still enrolled at the Actors Studio.

Cheryl Cole and Kimberley Walsh

Cheryl Cole and Kimberley Walsh have been firm friends since 2002, when they won a place in Girls Aloud through ITV talent show Popstars: The Rivals.

They have stuck together through thick and thin – from their days at the top of the charts together, to the group's split in 2012, and Cheryl’s high-profile divorce from Ashley Cole.

The latter was a subject Kimberly touched upon in her autobiography – with Cheryl’s blessing.

"All I could do was be there for her, physically, 24 hours a day," she told HELLO!.

"We're friends for life and often joke about how we'll be reminiscing to our kids and grandkids in years to come about how we were in a band and climbed a mountain together."

Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox

Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox first met in 1994 on the set of Friends, and are still incredibly close two decades on.

Courteney has previously said the secret behind their friendship is trust.

"I guess the reason why I love Jennifer so much is that I feel very safe with her - always."
 

David Beckham and Gordon Ramsay

David Beckham and Gordon Ramsay had been friends for years, but they came even closer after both men relocated to LA with their families.

Gordon became a permanent fixture at David's LA Galaxy games, while David has also been keen to support his friend's professional endeavours.

Their families are famously close too; Victoria is often seen in the company of Tana Ramsay, and the Beckham Ramsay children are already great friends.
 

Jennifer Lawrence and Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift and Jennifer Lawrence are two of the hottest young starlets – who also happen to be great friends.

Their very real bond was perfectly encapsulated by a brilliant photobomb incident at the Golden Globes, and the down-to-earth girls have been effusive in their praise of one another.

Jennifer, 23, revealed she had sent a heartfelt text of support to her friend at the CMAs that was "six inches long".

Taylor, meanwhile, said of Jennifer's recent Academy Award nod, "Good luck! I hope you win. I hope you win everything all the time!"
 

Nicole Kidman and Naomi Watts

Australian beauties Nicole Kidman and Naomi Watts have been firm friends since before either of them found fame, and remain close to this day.

"Nicole was always there with her door open, her arms open, her ears open - just what you need," Naomi said of her friend in 2002.
 

Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller

Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson's friendship goes back to the start of their careers and Ben saw Owen as an unknown in a short film.

"I wrote to him to say how much I enjoyed it. He wrote back a letter that was really badly written and full of typos.

"It said, 'Dear Ben Stiller, thank you for your note, your interest has been duly noted. All the best, Owen C Wilson.' And it ended 'Dictated but not read'," Ben told the Mail.

"I just thought it was so funny because obviously he was making out that he couldn't care less that I was into him. I still have the letter.

 

Pixie Geldof and Alexa Chung

British fashion favourites Alexa Chung and Pixie Geldof are always pictured together, whether on the London party scene or in the front row. The pair get on so well, they even go on holiday together.
 

Rihanna and Katy Perry

Rihanna and Katy Perry became close after bonding over a bag. Katy explained how she first met the Umbrella star, who not only threw hew a bacholerette party before she married Russell Brand, but also consoled her after their split.

"(Rihanna) had this cool studded Valentino bag that had sparkly stuff on it," Katy told Elle. "When Katy complemented her on the purse, Rihanna offered to send her the same one as gift.

Katy was a little skeptical, but sure enough the Valentino bag arrived in the post. "I thought, 'Wow, this is a woman of her word,'" Katy said.

Rihanna, meanwhile, said of her friend, "I'll tell you, you do not find people like her in this industry. She's gorgeous, charming and so unedited it's scary.

"That's what intrigued me most when I first met her: she said it like she saw it. I trust people like that."

Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds have been friends for more than 15 years now. The pair teamed up together on-screen in The Proposal, which Ryan described as like "working with family".

In the wake of Sandra's divorce from Jesse James, the handsome Canadian star was often seen by her side. And Sandra turned up at the premiere of Ryan's movie The Change-Up to show her support.
 

Kate Moss and Sadie Frost

There was a time when Kate Moss and best friend Sadie Frost were the queens of the Primrose Hill set.

Nowadays, the two ladies are more likely to be found playing with their children than partying in London – Kate is godmother to Sadie's daughter Iris, and Sadie is godmother to Kate's daughter Lila. That doesn't mean they don't still have fun together.

"Kate's one of the funniest girls I've ever known," Sadie told the Mirror.

"We've always supported each other through thick and thin and she just never takes anything in life too seriously. She’s just out to have fun in life."
 

Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz

Whether it's their shared language or their shared occupation, Penelope Cruz and Salma Hayek are incredibly close.

Penelope recalled the time they were filming Bandidas together, and a plane almost crashed into their set.

"We almost died," she said. "At that very moment, a thought came across my mind that if I were to die at that moment at least I'd die with my best friend."
 

Harry Styles and Zach Braff

One bromance that until recently had slipped under the radar was that between Harry Styles and Scrubs star Zach Braff.

Posting a picture on his Instagram page, Zach wrote, "Romantic candlelit dinner with my BFF @Harry_Styles at Mermaid Oyster Bar in NYC."

Harry then flew all the way to Utah to support Zach at the Sundance Film Festival, where Zach presented Wish I Was Here, a film he starred in, wrote and directed.
 

Bradley Cooper and Gerard Butler

The first we really knew of Bradley Cooper and Gerard Butler's friendship was when they were seen hanging out together in the stands at Wimbledon.

The pair are clearly close; they were pictured hugging, laughing together and even posing for selfies in colour-coordinated blue suits.