Got a long list of ex-lovers...at least in her music videos.
Taylor Swift's seventh album Lover has already gifted us with four music videos, continuing the superstar's long tradition of delivering four-minute stories about love and heartbreak inspired by her relationships over the years.
Since her very first music video back in 2007, Taylor has been actively involved in every step of the process, including casting her onscreen love interests. And sometimes, she just happened to be a fan of the guy she was casting, like when she recruited Laguna Beach star Stephen Colletti after watching the MTV reality hit. Plus, she proved herself to be a One Tree Hill fan by picking two if its stars to play her fictional paramours.
Taylor clearly has an eye for talent as she's hand-picked plenty of unknown actors who have gone on to find success after starring opposite "The Archer" singer, including Scott Eastwood and Dominic Sherwood.
The most recent love interest to join the elite club is Christian Owen, who starred opposite Taylor in the Lover video, released the same day as the album, and it turns out he actually has a long history with the 29-year-old.
"Words cannot express how grateful I am for this woman @taylorswift giving me a chance to express my talent in such a different way!" Owens wrote on Instagram of starring opposite Taylor. "Time and time again you show how caring and giving you are."
But who are the other men that have filled in to play some of the inspo behind Taylor's biggest hits, like Harry Styles, Taylor Lautner, John Mayer and her first serious crush Drew Hardwick from her high school days?
And what are they all up to now? Find out...
Laith Ashley From "Lavender Haze"
Fans got a glimpse into the steamy romance of Laith Ashley and Taylor Swift's characters in the "Lavender Haze" music video. And the trans activist felt like he was in a haze after his manager informed him of the role.
"He told me that her team had reached out directly asking for me to be in the video," Laith told Logo in 2023, a year after the video's release. "I was just like, 'Who? Taylor Swift asked for me? You're kidding.' I was just like, 'You're absolutely lying. You're pranking me.' To me, it was the most random thing. I didn't understand. And he was like, 'No, I'm serious. They want you to be in her upcoming music video.'"
Since then, he's continued modeling and acting, appearing in movies like Absolute Dominion, The Long Game and My Divorce Party as well as in TV series such as Unconventional and Wicked City.
Dylan O'Brien From "All Too Well"
As fans know all too well, Dylan O'Brien starred opposite Sadie Sink for the 2021 short film long rumored to be about Taylor's relationship with ex Jake Gyllenhaal.
"Dylan was my first choice for the 'All Too Well' short film because he has that versatility I was looking for," the singer wrote in an email to Bustle in 2022. "I’d seen his work and heard nothing but wonderful things about him as a person. Ultimately I want to work with people who love what they do and come at it with enthusiasm, because that’s how I approach creating things too.”
After Taylor sent a long text asking Dylan to take the part, he agreed.
“I had a feeling he would be great at ad libbing and adding nuance to his character, which enriched the story tenfold,” she added. “He absolutely blew me away and I feel really lucky that I gained such a great friend from the experience too.”
The Maze Runner actor can still picture it after all these days.
"It was an immediate yes," he told Extra at the premiere. “I couldn’t believe that she called me for this. I couldn’t believe she knew who I was. It was hilarious. We were cracking up about that."
Since then, Dylan has appeared in several more films, including The Outfit, Maximum Truth, Ponyboi, Caddo Lake and Twinless.
Miles Teller From "I Bet You Think About Me"
I bet you think about this music video.
In the 2021 release—directed by Blake Lively—Miles Teller played a groom on his wedding day who can’t get his ex (Taylor) out of his mind. In fact, the Whiplash star’s real life wife Keleigh Teller played the bride.
Although, the Tellers' casting may not come as a huge surprise given their friendship with Taylor.
“So grateful for @Miles_Teller for being the greatest dance partner and friend to me,” the Red artist tweeted in November 2021. "And @keleighteller, who is the coolest living human on planet earth. The bride was willing to risk it all.”
Since appearing in “I Bet You Think About Me”—also speculated to be about Jake (peep the red scarf in the video)—Miles has starred in TV series such as The Offer as well as in movies, including Top Gun: Maverick, Spiderhead, The Gorge and Eternity.
Taeok Lee From "Willow"
I'm begging for you to take my hand and hear how Taeok Lee first connected with Taylor long before starring in her 2020 music video.
"The 2012 AMAs with Tay was the first job I ever booked at an audition," the dancer once wrote on Instagram, per PopSugar."The next job I booked was Taylor's Red Tour. I don't talk about it much now because it seems like a lifetime ago and I am working in different areas now. But I think about it a lot. The people I met, the places we went, the shows we did."
And he is grateful forevermore.
"Thanks for bringing everything full circle for me Tay," Taeok continued. "I met my best friend because of you and had the most insane adventure ever at 19. So it's wild to get to come back at 27 and see the wild tenacity and talent you hold again and be reminded of the insanely talented and intelligent woman you are."
Christian Owens From "Lover"
Taylor recruited dancer Christian Owens from her Reputation and 1989 stadium tours as her music video love interest for her achingly romantic single "Lover." (Christian was also a dancer in Beyonce's Homecoming performance at Coachella and in Normani's "Motivation" music video, NBD!)
When Taylor premiered the music video in 2019, she described the choreographer, who later joined her on the Eras Tour, as an "amazing actor" and "incredible dancer" on the brink of becoming "your new favorite artist." Again: NBD!
Scott Eastwood From "Wildest Dreams"
For this '50s-set video inspired by old Hollywood films, Scott Eastwood played an actor who forms a passionate relationship with Taylor's actress-character while they're filming a movie in Africa.
And while landing a role in one of the pop star's music videos would be beyond many fans' wildest dreams, he said his team initially had some hesitations.
"None of my agents wanted me to do it, actually," Clint Eastwood's son told People in 2016 a year after the video's release. "They said, 'Oh, we don't want you to do that! Why would you be Taylor Swift's boy toy?' and I said, 'Why the hell not?'"
Following his headline-making turn in "Wildest Dreams," Scott starred opposite Britt Robertson in the romantic drama The Longest Ride and joined major franchise movies with appearances in Suicide Squad and The Fate of the Furious. Other credits include Tin Soldier with Jamie Foxx and Robert De Niro as well as Stolen Girl with Kate Beckinsale.
Dominic Sherwood From "Style"
Dominic Sherwood sported that long hair, slicked back, white t-shirt for the 2015 music video long rumored to be about Harry Styles.
"Taylor said I kind of fit the person they'd like in the video," the Vampire Academy alum told Huffington Post at the time. "I think I had a lot of the attributes that she wanted and that she described in her lyrics. And when we met and when we've hung out, a lot of the stuff I was wearing, that's how I dress."
While Dominic was dating Sarah Hyland at the time, they broke up in 2017. He went on to date Decker Sadowski. However, it appears they've since split.
As for the actor's other roles, he's appeared in movies like Don't Sleep and Haunted Wedding as well as on TV shows, including Shadowhunters, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels and Partner Track.
Sean O'Pry From "Blank Space"
Before Sean O'Pry could reveal his involvement in the 2014 music video, he had to leave a blank space as to what he'd been up to.
"I couldn't say anything," the model recalled to E! News. "I could only talk to my manager and my dog."
And Sean—who won the role over Queer Eye's Antoni Porowski—will never forget the onset moment that made him blush.
"She bit my lip," he told Vanity Fair. "And I just remember I was really blushing, and I was trying to hide it. But that was the first thing—that was how I met Taylor...She did incredibly in the video. She’s gorgeous already, but she looks incredible in the video."
These days, Sean, also born in 1989, is continuing his highly successful career as a model.
Reeve Carney From "I Knew You Were Trouble"
Reeve Carney took a few days off his run as the titular superhero in Broadway's Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark to star in this 2012 music video.
"I think I definitely got a lot more Twitter followers because of it," he told The Observer in 2016. "She was so kind to me. I mean, she’s just one of the most skillful artists out there in the popular music world. It was just a pleasure to be a part of that video."
Reeve went on to portray Dorian Gray on Penny Dreadful, Riff-Raff in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Tom Ford in House of Gucci. He also played Orpheus in Broadway's Hadestown—starring alongside his now fiancée Eva Noblezada—and is Emcee in London's Cabaret.
Noah Mills From "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together"
We are never, ever, ever forgetting this music video, in which Noah Mills played Taylor's ex-boyfriend.
"It was super goofy," the Canadian actor told People of the 2012 shoot. "I remember feeling like I was in Disneyland. Everything was super upbeat."
And this time, I'm telling you, I'm telling you Noah has stayed busy since then, landing roles on NCIS: Hawai'i, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, The Enemy Within and The Brave.
Vladimir Perrin From "Begin Again"
For the 2012 music video set in Paris, French actor Vladimir Perrin was tapped to play the new man Taylor meets on a Wednesday in a cafe after a breakup.
Since then, he's gone on to appear in several films and TV shows, including My King, The Advent Calendar and Résistance.
Zach Gilford From "Ours"
Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose!
Friday Night Lights' Zach Gilford appeared in the 2011 music video as Taylor's army vet boyfriend.
"He was someone that I had in mind because he's really endearing in all the roles that he plays," Taylor said in a behind-the-scenes music video shared by Taste of Country, later adding, "I've seen in movies and in shows that he's been in, and I was just always really impressed by when he's onscreen. He always brings heart to it, and that's what I wanted in this character."
And Zach was honored to be cast. "Taylor's super sweet and nice and I have a lot of respect for her as an artist," he continued. "And so it cool that she wanted me to be involved in something. It wasn't too hard of a sell. It was a pretty easy acceptance."
After "Ours," Zach appeared in The Purge: Anarchy and TV series such as L.A.'s Finest, Good Girls, Midnight Mass, Criminal Minds and The Fall of the House of Usher. In 2012, he wed his Purge costar Kiele Sanchez—mother to their two children—but they split in 2025.
Guntars Asmanis From "Back to December"
Latvian model Guntars Asmanis was cast as the ex Taylor apologizes to and sings about missing in the 2011 music video, which was inspired by her former relationship with Twilight's Taylor Lautner.
"I wanted a boy that was fragile and beautiful," director Yoann Lemoine told MTV News at the time. "I didn’t want to go for a hunk or a perfect cheesy boy that would have killed the sincerity of the video. I just imagined a face that would enhance the fragility of the video. We did cast a couple of boys and both Taylor and I loved Guntars."
And while fans may be wondering, "How's life? Tell me how's your family," Guntars no longer appears to be in the public eye.
Toby Hemingway From "Mine"
Taylor hand-picked British actor Toby Hemingway to play her waiter-turned-dream husband in the 2010 music video after watching him in Feast of Love. As she put it to MTV News, she "just loved that movie and thought Toby was so great that I thought it would be perfect to put him in the video."
Afterwards, The Covenant star went on to appear in movies such as Black Swan, In Time, The Silent Thief and Battlecreek.
Caleb Campbell From "The Story Of Us"
One of Taylor's only early-career music videos to have an unhappy ending and to be set in college rather than high school, the song was inspired by an awkward encounter she had with an ex-boyfriend at the 2010 CMT Music Awards. (Cough-John Mayer-cough, cough!)
Unlike his inspiration, Caleb Campbell has faded from the public eye since starring in the 2011 music video.
Stephen Colletti From "White Horse"
Taylor picked Stephen Colletti to play her too-good-to-be-true boyfriend in the 2009 music video. Turns out, she was quite the fan of his work on Laguna Beach and One Tree Hill along with every other teen girl that grew up in the 00s.
"Stephen was my first choice because I thought he was great on One Tree Hill," the singer said in a behind-the-scenes video, "and I had watched Laguna Beach when it was on and I was like, 'He's so cute!' The reason why he's perfect for this role is because we were looking for someone who comes off very sweet and endearing. He just looks so sweet...you never expect that they would lie."
While Taylor wasn't the one Stephen swept off her feet or led up a stairwell, he did marry Alex Weaver in 2025. He's also continued to act—including in the show Everyone is Doing Great with OTH costar James Lafferty from 2021 to 2023— and star on reality TV, scheduled to appear on season four of The Traitors and the Laguna Beach reunion in 2026.
Lucas Till From "You Belong With Me"
After Taylor and Lucas Till met on the set of Hannah Montana: The Movie (in which she had a cameo and he played Miley Cyrus' love interest Travis Brody), he went on to play her nextdoor neighbor and crush in 2009's "You Belong With Me."
"[He] plays my love interest in the video, and he does such a great job," Taylor once said. "He's absolutely perfect for the part and really fun to be around, too."
And Lucas couldn't help but wonder if Taylor had ever thought just maybe they did belong together: "Maybe I do [have a crush on her]," he told MTV News in 2009. "Maybe I have since I was 16."
While they did have a real-life romance, it was short-lived.
"We dated for a little bit," the actor once told MTV, per Harper's Bazaar. "But there was no friction because we were too nice. We just really both liked each other…[but] most relationships work out 'cause you get along and then you don’t, and then you make up and it’s passionate, and with us, I really just liked her as a friend. That’s the only reason that didn’t work out."
Lucas went on to join the X-Men universe as Havok and landed the lead role in' MacGyver reboot, which ran from 2016 to 2021. He's also set to star alongside Lena Headey and Gillian Anderson in the Netflix series The Abandons.
Justin Gaston From "Love Story"
Serving as the Romeo to Taylor's Juliet, the Nashville Star contestant was hand-picked by the Grammy winner for her 2008 video.
"I looked at his pictures," she told the L.A. Times of the fashion model, "and thought, 'He is perfect for this video.'"
After starring in the video, Justin, then 20, made headlines due to his relationship with a then-16-year-old Miley Cyrus. The pair broke up after less than a year of dating, just as the Hannah Montana alum was about to start filming The Last Song (a.k.a. where she met her now-ex-husband Liam Hemsworth).
Justin wed Melissa Ordway in 2012, and they adopted daughter Olivia four years later. In 2017, Melissa gave birth to their second daughter Sophie.
Professionally, Justin joined Days of Our Lives for a 22-episode arc in 2014. Other credits include God's Country Song, Santa Bootcamp and The Unauthorized Full House Story, in which he portrayed John Stamos.
Justin Sandy From "Picture to Burn"
Describing him as a "real-life Ken" doll, Taylor picked former football player Justin Sandy to play her cheating ex in the 2008 music video.
After leaving the NFL due to an injury, Justin went on to become an entrepreneur.
"I'm a retired NFL player," his X bio reads, "who finds happiness in helping others with nutrition and publishing books + networking w/ innovative people."
Justin still has fond memories of his music video boyfriend days and once shared a throwback photo signed by Taylor that read, "I love Justin and I would never burn his picture."
Tyler Hilton From "Teardrops on My Guitar"
Tyler Hilton portrayed Taylor's high school crush Drew in one of her first music videos back in 2007.
As for how he got the gig, the actor noted the two were fans of each other—he loved her song "Tim McGraw" and she watched him on One Tree Hill—then invited him on stage to perform "Missing You."
"She's like, 'I wanted to wait until you were on stage to ask you because I didn't want you to say no,'" Tyler recalled on a March 2025 episode of the When They Popped Podcast, "'but will you be in my next music video?'"
The two became close, with him even staying on the Swift family's houseboat when he first moved to Nashville. Then in 2018, Taylor and Tyler reunited backstage at her Reputation tour.
"You killed it bud," the Walk the Line alum wrote on Instagram, "great seeing you and the fam, come a long way since Teardrops vid we did!!!"
While it didn't work out for Taylor and Drew, Tyler found love with Megan Park. The two met on the set of 2007's Charlie Bartlett, wed eight years later and now share two children.
Recently, Tyler, also a musician, has been touring with Kate Voegele and has starred in both The Christmas Contract and A Christmas Wish with fellow One Tree Hill alum Hilarie Burton.
Lover is out now.