It’s the classic question that has inspired countless romance novels and late-night Google searches: how do you make a relationship work, especially when both people are incredibly busy? In this column, we’re chatting with some of our favorite celebrity couples about how they collaborate, motivate each other, and handle love under the spotlight.
It’s been a huge summer for Owen Thiele, who’s arguably the breakout star of the recently released second season of FX’s Adults. But Thiele’s partner, Jared Ellner, is just as busy—he’s a stylist known for dressing everyone from Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo to Emma Chamberlain.
Thiele and Ellner have been together since college, about 11 years now. (“I dropped out two weeks after I got there, but in those two weeks, I met Jared Ellner, so it was worth the tuition,” Thiele jokes.) They live together in Los Angeles and share more than just a romance—Ellner is also Thiele’s stylist. So it’s safe to say they’ve picked up plenty of wisdom over the years about balancing work and love.
This week, Vogue caught up with the couple—who had just arrived at the Venice Film Festival, where Thiele was attending as a guest of Armani Beauty—to learn more about their connection.
Vogue: What has life looked like for you two lately?
Jared Ellner: Everything’s been good! Owen’s been in a total whirlwind with the premiere of Adults, so we’re running around and exhausted, but we’re grateful.
What are your astrological signs? Does your partner’s sign feel true to their personality?
Ellner: I’m a Gemini, and Owen is a Scorpio.
Thiele: Honestly, I think both signs feel pretty accurate for us. I don’t know much about astrology, to be honest, but I do hear that Geminis are two-faced and Scorpios are awful to be around. So if that’s the case, I think we’re a match made in heaven. [Laughs.]
What was the moment, for each of you, when you realized the relationship had gotten serious?
Ellner: This is a very sincere answer, but I was dealing with some personal family stuff, and Owen and I were just good friends at the time. He was so compassionate and thoughtful in ways that people I’d known for 20 years weren’t, and I realized this was probably much deeper than I thought.
Thiele: I think my answer is the first time we had sex. I got really attached.
What do you two argue about the most?
Thiele: I feel like we’re a normal couple and bicker about the usual stuff, like unmade beds and clothes everywhere. But also, because we work together, there’s a level of trust we have in each other career-wise. Sometimes we’ll ask for each other’s advice, and we don’t like the honest answer, so we might argue about that. It’s like when you hope your therapist will tell you you’re right… and then they don’t!
Thiele: Exactly. Please never be honest with me. Jared is very honest and very wise, so I’m forced to listen to him, even though it’s probably not a good idea, and sometimes I get upset about it.
What’s one thing you’ve learned from each other?
Ellner: I’ve learned that Owen has incredible patience. No matter how exhausted he is, he still finds a way to talk to every person in the room and make them feel like the most loved people ever. It’s an amazing lesson I’ve taken from him.
Thiele: Actually, I’ve learned a different kind of patience from Jared. He’s very calm, grounded, and patient even when he doesn’t have to be. It’s not about making everyone feel like the most important person in the room—which, by the way, can be a bit much because I’ll stay out way too long—but it’s more about making people feel truly understood and heard, even through a brief conversation.
What’s your favorite way to spend time together when life gets chaotic?
Thiele: Well, Jared styles me, and I still pay him to style me, be—Because he’s a stylist, even though I’m his boyfriend… I’m giving him the death stare. I know this sounds cheesy, but being on a trip like this—here in Venice with Armani Beauty—I’m so lucky to be here, and so lucky to have a plus-one, and my plus-one happens to be my stylist, who also happens to be my boyfriend… you know? It’s a dream. I feel like very few people can work well together while also being in a relationship, and I think we’ve managed to pull that off. There are amazing moments we wouldn’t have if we weren’t working together too.
This conversation has been edited and condensed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the article Consciously Coupled Owen Thiele and Jared Ellner on Working Side by Side and Being a GeminiScorpio Match
General Background
1 Who are Owen Thiele and Jared Ellner
Owen Thiele is an actor and comedian and Jared Ellner is a creative director and photographer Together they are a reallife couple who often collaborate on creative projects
2 What does Consciously Coupled mean in this context
It means they are intentionally approaching their relationship Instead of just letting things happen they actively communicate set boundaries and make deliberate choices to support each other both personally and professionally
3 What is the main focus of the article
The article explores how Owen and Jared navigate being in a romantic relationship while also working together side by side on creative ventures It specifically looks at how their personalities play into their dynamic
4 Are Owen and Jared actually a Gemini and a Scorpio
Yes The article highlights that Owen is a Gemini and Jared is a Scorpio and they discuss how those astrological traits show up in their relationship and work styles
The Couple Career
5 What kind of work do they do together
They collaborate on creative projects which often involves Jared directing or photographing Owen They also support each others individual careers in entertainment and fashion
6 How do they avoid getting on each others nerves when they work together
They emphasize clear communication and respect for each others professional expertise They separate their work talk from their relationship talk and make sure to maintain their individual identities
7 What is the biggest challenge of working with your partner according to them
The article suggests that the biggest challenge is switching off work mode They have to be intentional about carving out time to just be a couple without discussing deadlines or projects
8 What is the biggest benefit of working side by side
They both agree that its having a builtin support system They understand each others schedules stresses and wins better than anyone else because they are in the trenches together
Astrology Personalities
9 How does being a Gemini affect his work style
Geminis are often seen as adaptable