Mandy Moore talks about her divorce from Ryan Adams for the first time ever
Mandy Moore was, without a doubt, one of our fave early aughts icons. She was a part of so many iconic movies from that era, playing the *perfect* mean girl enemy to Anne Hathaway’s Princess Mia in The Princess Diaries and starring opposite Shane West in the heart-shattering A Walk to Remember. Mandy sort of disappeared from our lives for a while there (aside from her Tangled voice role), but she’s back in a big way with a much-hyped new show this Fall. And now, Mandy is opening up about her divorce from fellow musician Ryan Adams, and her perspective on the split is so inspiring.
Mandy has never been one to overshare about her personal life. She quietly dated Wilmer Valderrama from 2000 to 2002, and though the breakup aftermath wasn’t exactly smooth, the two have since been on really good terms, even hanging together platonically about a week ago at the Paramount parking lot (serious #ExGoals, am I right?).
It seems that Mandy is taking a similar stance regarding the end of her relationship with former hubby Ryan. She’s 100% not dishing about what led to their January 2015 split after nearly six years of marriage (“a respectful, amicable parting of ways”), but she’s keeping her chin up, looking to the future, and clearly intent on remaining friendly.
In a panel about Mandy’s new show This Is Us (AKA, the show with the AMAZING trailer that basically broke the damn internet) during the Television Critics Association press tour, Mandy commented on her divorce (which was finalized just last month) and said she’s doing well — “fantastic,” even.
“It’s tough. Life is not easy,” Mandy admitted. “I think it’s been great to be able to take all of the chapters in my life and be able to pour it into a job like this because it all helps. It’s all fuel.”
This is such a refreshingly honest and upbeat response. We love that Mandy is channeling the emotions she’s feeling over her split into her role on the new NBC dramedy, which looks like it will be incredible and co-stars Milo Ventimiglia (aka, my favorite Rory Gilmore boyfriend) as Mandy’s on-screen husband.
Mandy further said that she believes “everything happens for a reason” and that she’s taking the time post-marriage to focus on herself and her career — something that was pushed to the background when she was absorbed with working on her relationship.
“I think I spent a good portion of the last years of my life really pouring all of my energy into my life and relationship, and now that that’s sort of not part of my life any more. It’s just not a coincidence to me that things sort of opened back up, and I’m able to focus back on myself again.”
What a rock star. I’m so here for the amazing performances and music that are sure to come from Mandy as a result of this difficult time! Particularly her role in This Is Us, which is set to premiere on NBC on September 20th.
