Rachel Bilson recently confessed that going through a breakup during the pandemic was one of the toughest moments of her life.
The O.C. star made a rare public comment about her past relationship with Bill Hader during a couple of recent podcast appearances. On Tuesday’s episode of her show Broad Ideas, Bilson mentioned in the middle of her interview with Aubrey Plaza that she and Hader were formally an item “two years ago.” The revelation prompted Plaza to ask in shock, “Are you serious? I don’t know shit. I don’t know anything.” Bilson confirmed, “We dated, I went to the fucking Golden Globes [with him.]” Rumors the pair were an item first began back in December 2019 when they were spotted grabbing coffee together. And in January 2020, they confirmed they were dating by walking the Golden Globes red carpet together, although they would eventually break up in July of that same year.
During last week’s episode of Broad Ideas, Bilson also spoke about the particular challenges of breaking up with someone during quarantine. While she didn’t mention her ex by name, the actress told her guest Mandy Moore that she “went through a really hard breakup and it was during the pandemic.” She added, “I could not leave my house, you know what I mean? I had nothing else to do but sit in it, and deal with it and feel it. It was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done, harder than childbirth.” Bilson went on to say that the end of that relationship, “hurt like a motherfucker,” but also made her realize that “If you actually face it, you can come out of it and be like, ‘OK, I did that and I’m ready for the next thing.’”
The actress was previously engaged to Hayden Christensen, whom she dated from 2008 to 2017. They also share a 7-year-old daughter, Briar Rose. Bilson is currently dating artist Zac LaRoc, but she previously opened up to former Bachelor star Nick Viall on a July 2019 episode of his podcast that she’s found dating as a single mom to be particularly difficult. “[Briar] has not met anyone [I’ve dated] as of yet, and it would have to be someone I know I’m going to be with,” she told Viall. “It would have to be a very serious relationship.”
It seems that Hader has also since moved on as he is reportedly dating actress Anna Kendrick, although they have kept their relationship completely off the radar. Both starred in the Disney+ Christmas movie Noelle in 2019, although things apparently didn’t turn romantic between them until much later. Hader was also previously married to director Maggie Carey from 2006 to 2018 with whom he shares three daughters, 12-year-old Hannah Kathryn, 9-year-old Harper, and 7-year-old Hayley Clementine.