Meet CUTE

HOW THE FAN FAVOURITES WENT FROM PARTY PALS TO HOLLYWOOD POWER COUPLE

- Jennie Noonan

When pouring rain cancelled a Mardi Gras parade Dave Franco was planning to be in while in New Orleans for work in 2011, the actor decided to meet friends for dinner instead, having been invited on the fly after bumping into them at the airport. Sitting across from actress Alison Brie, their mutual friend got to work playing Cupid.

“I get a text ... ‘You should hook up with Dave tonight,’” Brie told People magazine in July. “And I gave it an enthusiastic, ‘Yes! I’m down!’” The matchmaker then showed Franco the text under the table, making him promise not to tell Brie, before telling Brie in the bathroom that she'd indeed shown Franco, reassuring her that he was keen.

“It was great because we both left the restaurant with a sexy secret,” Brie continued. “And imbued with the confidence that comes with knowing the other person is already in.”