The Real-Life Partners Of The Rookie's Leading Ladies

Nathan Fillion, known for shows like "Firefly" and "Castle," stars in "The Rookie" as the oldest newcomer to join the LAPD, with his late-stage career pivot leading to some notable professional growing pains. Despite being headlined by a fan-favorite leading man and firmly set in a male-dominated field, the police procedural features a notable cast of female characters, too. From Melissa O'Neil appearing as fellow rookie Lucy Chen, to Alyssa Diaz playing hardworking officer-turned-detective Angela Lopez, the women of the show really shine as they confront violence and resolve cases.

The talented actors behind these characters have their own set of interesting personal lives, including a handful of romances. Some of "The Rookie" leading ladies rank as total goals with their committed connections, dodging the list of Hollywood relationships with major red flags, while others are seemingly enjoying the benefits of a single life. Either way, we love seeing these stars thrive on and off our TV screens.

While Angela Lopez is linked to Wesley Evers in "The Rookie," Alyssa Diaz is engaged to musician Gustavo Galindo in her real-life. The details of their early relationship timeline are unknown, but the two first connected when Diaz was working on a notable project. "We actually met on Bumble when I was down in Mexico City filming 'Narcos,'" Diaz told Hola Hollywood by Dulce Osuna during a red carpet interview. The star appeared in 10 episodes of "Narcos: Mexico" back in 2018.

From there, Diaz and Galindo became engaged sometime in 2019. "We did it in Hawaii," she told "On The Red Carpet" about her engagement the following January. "We got like a Hawaiian Priestess to do it. It was this whole ceremony." Galindo commemorated the milestone on Facebook, sharing a snapshot of the two decked out in colorful flowers. "Thank you @alydiaz for making me [the] happiest and most honored man," the Grammy-nominated artist wrote. "You are my everything, my light, my heart, my Queen."

Diaz and Galindo have also started a family together, welcoming two children during their relationship while Galindo also has a daughter from a previous connection. The two keep details about their children private, but long-time fans of "The Rookie" might know that Diaz's first pregnancy was incorporated into her character's storyline during Season 3 of the show. Though the cute couple hasn't officially tied the knot, they have the potential to land among the celebrity marriages we think will stand the test of time.

Because Chenford (the relationship between Lucy Chen and Tim Bradford) is one of the most popular relationships on "The Rookie," fans might be curious about Melissa O'Neil's real-life romances. While Eric Winter, the actor behind Tim, is happily married to Roselyn Sánchez, O'Neil is confidently demonstrating how to own being single among couples with her current status. Though she revealed on "A Patrick Keleher Podcast" that she went through a notable heartbreak during the pandemic, she has been otherwise private about her romantic life.

Instead, O'Neil's social media is filled with everything from friends and family to travels and spirituality. The actor even joked about her single status on TikTok, miming along to a lighthearted soundbite about dating. "I forgot how to flirt. I definitely don't let nobody in, and I damn sure don't trust nobody," the video says. Even so, "The Rookie" star let her faith in love shine through in another TikTok video, capturing seemingly random skywriting of a heart. "How it feels to spot little reminders of love in this world," she wrote.

When Mekia Cox isn't playing tough cop Nyla Harper on "The Rookie," she's enjoying family life with her husband Britt Leach and their two children. While the Virgin Islands-native has also appeared on projects like "Once Upon a Time" and "Undercovers," Leach works as a basketball analyst. Though few details are known about the beginning of their relationship, the two exchanged vows in April 2018, with Cox opening up to The Knot about their special day.

The ceremony was held in Miami, Florida with a guest count of 130. She looked beautiful in a high-necked gown from Julie Vino, which was inspired by her role as Princess Tiana in ABC's "Once Upon a Time." Cox also named "Caribbean chic" as her wedding aesthetic. "Being from the Islands is a large part of who I am and I wanted to be able to incorporate that into my wedding," she said, referring to her Cruzan and Bajan roots.

Cox and Leach also have two kids together, welcoming their little ones in 2018 and 2022. Similar to co-star Alyssa Diaz, the celeb's second pregnancy was written into "The Rookie," a fact that she highlights on Instagram. "Much love to @alexihawley and the rest of #TheRookie writing team for writing my pregnancy into the show," she wrote. "Happy to be on a show where pregnancy is acknowledged and celebrated."

While Jenna Dewan's character Bailey Nune is romantically entangled with "The Rookie" protagonist John Nolan, the Connecticut native is committed to fellow actor Steve Kazee in her personal life. While Kazee has worked on TV projects like "Shameless" and "Working Class," he's also a Tony-winning Broadway actor, winning the title of Best Actor in a Musical for his role in "Once." The 2012 show actually plays a significant role in the duo's relationship, as it marks their first meeting years before they started dating.

In an interview with The Knot, Dewan revealed that she and her mom were blown away after seeing Kazee in the Broadway production, deciding to wait for him at the stage door to express their admiration. "Steve and I just had one of those eye-catching moments," she said. "It was very quick, but it struck us both. It was a moment." It wasn't until several years later that the duo reconnected, confirming their relationship to People in 2018. "I was single again, he was single. He messaged me," the celeb continued. "And it was just kind of fate — it was totally meant to be."

Dewan and Kazee went on to become engaged in 2020, showing off a sweet, ring-featuring snapshot on Instagram. "A lifetime to love and grow with you... you have my heart," read the post. The Hollywood couple also has two kids together, while Dewan has another child from a previous relationship, so fans can catch glimpses of endearing family moments on social media. The leading ladies of "The Rookie" sure have some swoon-worthy romances, both on and off our screens.