There’s thrill in finding new love later in life. Here are studies that explain why.
I’m not the type who follows the rise and fall (or the rise and fall again, as in Bennifer) of showbiz couples. Every so often, however, a certain pairing piques my interest, and in these instances I get incurably hooked. I must admit I had a Jelena (Selena Gomez-Justin Bieber) phase and was, for a time, a close follower of Taylor Swift’s love life.
These days I find myself helplessly invested again in a rumored couple, a pairing many are already calling Hollywood’s new Brangelina: Meryl Streep and Martin Short. Who would have thought that an industry so obsessed with youth would find itself fascinated with the possibility of these two septuagenarian A-listers being romantically involved. Nobody saw it coming and I sure ain’t complaining!
I have to admit I’m already way too deep into this rabbit hole, not only because I’m a huge admirer of both stars, but I’m also a self-professed biggest fan of Only Murders in the Building, the series where they co-star since the third season, and which apparently, saw them fall in love. Streep first appeared in season 3, with her Loretta and Short’s Oliver slowly finding themselves falling for each other. Trust me, their chemistry is off the charts!
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The award-winning actors have sent the online world abuzz with several sightings of them looking cozy with each other. They first sparked dating rumors when they appeared loved up at the 2024 Golden Globes in January. A rep for Short, however, quickly confirmed with People that they “are just very good friends, nothing more.” In the same month, Short dismissed the rumors on Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast saying: “We’re not a couple. We are just very close friends.”
Despite denials from both camps, M&M (Why don’t they have a nickname yet?) have been spotted attending Broadway shows together and even holding hands at the season-four premiere of OMITB.
On Feb. 21, the two were photographed walking into Hollywood favorite Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica, The Cut reported. Short was seen ushering Streep into the restaurant with his hand on her lower back. I hope it’s not a portent of a doomed relationship (be it platonic or romantic), as it’s the same Italian restaurant where Bennifer celebrated their first wedding anniversary. We all know how that one crashed and burned. Anyway, Streep and Short then drove off in the legendary actress’ white sedan, with the Canadian comedian looking all comfy in the passenger seat.
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More recently on Oct. 18, Streep and Short’s OMITB co-star Steve Martin seemed to allude to the relationship between the two with a cryptic post with no caption on Instagram. It was a picture of the three of them, and over Steve Martin’s face there was a big red circle with a line through it. Ugh, my M&M heart is racing (I hope I’m not being delulu here!).
Short and Streep were caught by paparazzi as they left the LA celebrity hangout Giorgio Baldi together on Feb. 21. The two left on Streep’s car with the iconic actress on the wheel. Photo from The Hollywood Curtain
An Instagram user shared a photo of Streep and Short sitting together at the show, and chatting happily. The user tagged the location as Hudson Theatre. Photo from @RACHBAILEY1029 on Instagram
And just a few days ago on Oct 25, Decider ran an article mentioning how OMITB co-creator John Hoffman thinks Streep and Short falling in love while filming is “one of the most unexpected turns.” He added how he hopes the world falls in love with the “couple” the way the OMITB cast and crew did. “And that is so due to the magic that they create together,” he enthused.
All these come after Streep, 75, revealed a few months ago that she and her husband of 45 years, the sculptor Don Gummer, have already been separated for six years. Short, 74, meanwhile, was married to Nancy Dolman for three decades until she succumbed to ovarian cancer in 2010. We can, therefore, conclude that both actors are very much single and ready to mingle (well, already mingling).
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The wonders of finding love as an older adult
While most people are excited about this pairing, there were some raised eyebrows as well (Boo!) This comes as no surprise because of the stigma that surrounds romance involving older people.
An article on the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing says that from the perspective of evolutionary psychology, younger people are “biologically programmed” to fall in love and form romantic relationships “to propagate the species.” With this, they are more likely than older adults to engage in “mate selection behavior.” As a person ages, the desire for mate selection and productive fitness, which is the biological driver, decreases.
In the same article, however, Dr. Yanan Zhang, an Oxford Programme research fellow, argued that—despite our biological and evolutionary makeup—it is not just the young who fall in love, older adults desire love and engage in romantic relationships as well. They are just as physically and psychologically capable of falling in love, and they still have the need to both love and to be loved.
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Citing other studies (Schulz, 1982 and Charles and Carstensen, 2010), Dr. Zhang further argued that mental, emotional, and social abilities are not bounded by age, and the capacity to fall in love is not weakened by aging.
Among the advantages she mentioned in finding love at an older age is finding social support through intimate relationships, which she described as “irreplaceable.” The need to be appreciated and to experience affection and love also increases when people have difficulties with their biological and physical functions.
While there are several benefits to seeking love as an older adult and after significant life changes like divorce or widowhood, there are a few downsides as well. Most of the cons, however, are more on society’s perceptions on later-life romantic relationships.
Research published by Forbes, for instance, stated how older adults may feel shame or guilt about their sexual desires due to societal stigma—which should not be the case. On a more relational level, changes in sexual dynamics can lead to misunderstandings or unmet expectations.
A study by the University of Colorado, meanwhile, mentioned how the challenges of navigating grief after the death of a partner can complicate new relationships. It added that older adults may have heightened anxieties about entering new romantic commitments due to previous experiences.
While there are unique challenges associated with finding love later in life, the potential benefits—both emotional and physical—are much more significant and enriching. After all, numerous studies have already shown that our closest, most intimate relationships, at whatever stage in our life, confer several health benefits. These loving bonds help us live longer (see exhibits a and b), by making our heart literally healthier and our immune system stronger (here’s exhibit c).
Going back to the “couple” of the hour, whether Streep and Short are romantically involved or are just great friends, we can root for them nonetheless and be happy that at this moment in their lives they found happiness in each other.
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