Navigating On-Screen Romance After a Real-Life Breakup: "Melrose Place" Stars Andrew Shue and Courtney Thorne-Smith Share Their Experience

In a recent interview, "Melrose Place" co-stars Andrew Shue and Courtney Thorne-Smith opened up about how they navigated their on-screen kissing scenes after their real-life breakup. Despite their romantic history, the two actors managed to maintain a professional and respectful dynamic on set.

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Navigating On-Screen Romance After a Real-Life Breakup: "Melrose Place" Stars Andrew Shue and Courtney Thorne-Smith Share Their Experience

In a Monday appearance on the "Still The Place" podcast, Andrew Shue and Courtney Thorne-Smith shared their insights on how they continued to portray a romantic couple on "Melrose Place" even after their real-life relationship had ended. Surprisingly, both actors agreed that the transition was relatively smooth.

"It was shockingly not weird," said Thorne-Smith. "We handled it well."

Navigating On-Screen Romance After a Real-Life Breakup: "Melrose Place" Stars Andrew Shue and Courtney Thorne-Smith Share Their Experience

Shue echoed her sentiments, acknowledging that there was initially a brief period of adjustment. "I remember there was a little bit — a little bit of time where it was tough."

Once they parted ways off-screen, Thorne-Smith approached Shue to establish boundaries for their characters' love scenes. "Do you remember me having to talk with you because the characters were still dating and you and I weren't dating?" she inquired. "So we'd been broken up for two months and then we had to kiss. You remember me saying, 'OK, now we're professionals, no tongue, you know?'"

Navigating On-Screen Romance After a Real-Life Breakup: "Melrose Place" Stars Andrew Shue and Courtney Thorne-Smith Share Their Experience

Thorne-Smith explained that their prior relationship before and after filming created a unique dynamic. "Because we were dating before we were dating on the show, then we were dating on the show after we broke up in real life," she said. "But you and I segued into friendship really well. I don't remember a lot of tension."

Shue agreed, emphasizing that their friendship provided mutual support during a time of intense fame. "Yeah, our relationship, we helped carry each other through a very intense time," Shue said. "The show got a lot of attention... we were dealing with a lot of, we'll call it Fox celebrity craziness."

Navigating On-Screen Romance After a Real-Life Breakup: "Melrose Place" Stars Andrew Shue and Courtney Thorne-Smith Share Their Experience

"And I remember just feeling safe knowing we were together guiding each other through it," added Shue.

Despite their personal journey, Shue and Thorne-Smith remained committed to the success of "Melrose Place." "It was a great show," said Shue. "We were all really close, and we had a lot of fun making it."

After "Melrose Place," both Shue and Thorne-Smith continued their acting careers and went on to star in numerous other projects. They have also experienced changes in their personal lives, with Shue entering into and subsequently leaving a marriage with "Good Morning America" co-anchor Amy Robach.

As for Thorne-Smith, she married geneticist Andrew Conrad in 2000 but divorced a year later. In 2007, she tied the knot with author Roger Fishman, with whom she shares a 16-year-old son.

Despite the complexities of their real-life relationships, Shue and Thorne-Smith demonstrated the importance of professionalism and respect in the entertainment industry, even when navigating the challenges of an on-screen romance after a personal breakup. Their experiences serve as a testament to the delicate balance between art and life in the world of show business.