Our Valentine’s D8
Valentine’s Day is so prominent in the public imagination that it required Julia Roberts, Ashton Kutcher, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, McDreamy, and McSteamy to capture all of its faces, themes, narratives, and melodramas in filmic form. Inspired by the holiday’s impending arrival–along with the performances of in-real-life short-lived couple Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner–we picked our own cast of dream dates. Check out our scrapbook-style Valentines to eight young heartthrobs–see what they’re doing in the next year, and if your stars align.
NAME: Lucas Till
BIRTHDAY: August 10, 1990
WHY WE LOVE HIM: He’s a little bit country. A native Texan, Till’s big break came in 2005’s Walk the Line, in which he played Johnny Cash’s older brother, Jack. After that, he helped Miley Cyrus’s Hannah Montana back in the saddle in Hannah Montana: The Movie and starred alongside Taylor Swift in the video for her twangy hit, “You Belong with Me.” Nothing better than a little down home charm!
UPCOMING PROJECTS: Sci-fi adventures Vacation 8 and Battle: Los Angeles
ROMANTIC TIES: Till might have a thing for co-stars, having been linked to both Miley and Taylor.
WHAT’S HIS SIGN? Leo, which means he’s enthusiastic, energetic, and passionate about everything in his life–including romantic interests.
NAME: Alex Meraz
BIRTHDAY: January 10, 1985
WHY WE LOVE HIM: He’s multi-faceted. In addition to playing volatile werewolf Paul in The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Meraz is also an avid painter and contemporary dancer.
UPCOMING PROJECTS: The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and Savage Innocent, a new project from Kids director Larry Clark.
ROMANTIC TIES: Sorry Twilighters. He’s taken by wife Kim, with whom he has a son named Somak.
WHAT’S HIS SIGN? As a Capricorn, Meraz is likely reserved, respectful of traditions, and steadily devoted to family members, so it’s no wonder he’s already married.
NAME: Dianna Agron
BIRTHDAY: April 30, 1986
WHY WE LOVE HER: She’s Glee‘s queen bee. Quinn Fabray, her character on Fox’s musical comedy, has to make it work as she juggles cheerleading, mean girl-ing, and her responsibilities as the (pregnant) president of Celibacy Club–all while singing!
UPCOMING PROJECTS: The Romantics, an indie flick starring Anna Paquin, Katie Holmes, and Candice Bergen; and Burlesque, a musical headlined by Cher and Christina Aguilera.
ROMANTIC TIES: She’s been seen spending time with actor Adam Brody.
WHAT’S HER SIGN? She’s a Taurus, a practical, stable sign. She may go for another Taurus, or a similarly even-keeled Virgo.
NAME: Dave Franco
BIRTHDAY: June 12, 1985
WHY WE LOVE HIM: While lesser men might be intimidated by the prospect of competing with brother James, he’s no sibling rival. In fact, he regularly stars alongside the elder Franco in his very funny web series.
UPCOMING PROJECTS: Noah Baumbach’s new film, Greenberg.
ROMANTIC TIES: He claims that his phone is currently filled with photos of his two cats, Harry and Arturo–maybe he can make some room for you?
WHAT’S HIS SIGN? Geminis are intelligent and versatile, but they also like their freedom. He might prioritize his friends–and cats!–over a serious relationship.
NAME: Portia Doubleday
AGE: 21
WHY WE LOVE HER: Those eyes!
UPCOMING PROJECTS: Philip G. Flores’s Touchback
ROMANTIC TIES: Co-star Zach Galifianakis reportedly flashed her boyfriend on the set of Youth in Revolt. Whether he stuck around after that, we don’t know.
WHAT’S HER SIGN? Leo women like Portia can have high standards and are often a little hard to please. Interested parties should be ready to go the extra mile when it comes to appearance, gifts, and special plans.
NAME: Aaron Johnson
BIRTHDAY: June 13, 1990
WHY WE LOVE HIM: He’s modest. Of his turn in Gurinder Chadha’s 2008 comedy Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, he said, “I had to spend many hours in makeup to look like a handsome school kid.”
UPCOMING PROJECTS: He stars as the title character in Matthew Vaughn’s film about wannabe
superheroes, Kick-Ass.
ROMANTIC TIES: In October 2009, Johnson got engaged to Sam Taylor-Wood, the 42-year-old artist and filmmaker who directed him in John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy.
WHAT’S HIS SIGN? Geminis can be fickle, but when they know, they know–especially when they have an intellectual connection to their partner.
NAME: Brie Larson
BIRTHDAY: October 1, 1989
WHY WE LOVE HER: She stays up late: her first roles were in parody commercials for The Tonight Show.
UPCOMING PROJECTS: Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Noah Baumbach’s Greenberg
ROMANTIC TIES: Single (as far as we know).
WHAT’S HER SIGN? Libra women like Brie are often beautiful and magnetic, and they love being in love. If you’re a co-star, though, stay away–Libras get competitive when their partners are in the same field.
NAME: Jake Abel
BIRTHDAY: November 18, 1987
WHY WE LOVE HIM: He thinks outside the box. Of losing the main role in the Twilight franchise to Robert Pattinson, he said, “I don’t want to say I sabotaged myself, but I have a tendency to go against the grain.”
UPCOMING PROJECTS: Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief hits theatres this weekend.
ROMANTIC TIES: Single (as far as we know).
WHAT’S HIS SIGN? He’s a Scorpio, which often means piercing good looks–check!–and a tenacious personality. He’ll do best with someone supportive, like a Cancer, or someone who can match him, like a Capricorn.