I’m a big “Hart of Dixie” fan, and I blame (thank really) The Fug Girls for turning me on to it. It’s a cheesy, predictable show but it has really likable characters set in an ideal southern small town, and it’s so charming. So that’s why I’m fond of Rachel Bilson, she plays the lead character, Dr. Zoe Hart, a New York city-based young doctor transplanted to the fictional town of Bluebell. She’s not a fabulous actress, but she’s cute and charming too, and I remember her well from The O.C. (Loved that show!)
All of that is preface to this Cosmo interview and cover with Bilson, in which they’ve released only a few quotes out of context. She comes across as annoying and kind of pollyanna-ish, but we don’t know what questions she was asked. Like maybe they asked her “Do you consider yourself a good girlfriend? Do you cook much?” Because otherwise her answers are sort of one-note:
Bilson on how she and boyfriend, Hayden Christensen, spend their free nights: “I love to cook, so we make dinner at home a lot and watch movies.”
Bilson on having kids: “I definitely have family on the brain. Having kids is something I want to see in my future – I hope.”
Bilson on being a good girlfriend: “I’m a really good girlfriend – I always put all that first in my life. I’m definitely the person who would make him his favorite dinner to come home to.”
Bilson on what she wears for a hot date: “Guys are so visual. I can never go wrong with a tight dress or a short skirt.”
Bilson’s response to a Cosmo Quiz question: If I could do a karaoke duet with anyone, it would be “Eminem”, and we would sing “anything. I secretly want to be a rapper.”
She sounds to me like her character on Hart of Dixie, or maybe I have a hard time separating her from Zoe Hart. The stuff about guys being visual sounds like something Zoe would say, like advice she would give to her little teenage friend, Rose. Zoe is always wearing tiny dress shorts after all.
The other stuff, about how she’s a great girlfriend and puts her boyfriend first is also something that Zoe would say. I swear that was a plot for the show one week, when Zoe was trying to support Wade and being super agreeable and it just backfired on her since Wade found her bizarre. In that context, these quotes make sense. Plus it’s Cosmo, they’ve been working to appeal to a younger audience and they may have coached Rachel, or otherwise distilled her quotes into the most basic. “Put your boyfriend first! Cook for him! Wear tight dresses and short skirts!” I hope Rachel is more nuanced than this, because even her goofy show acknowledges that this kind of attitude can only get you so far.
Getting back to Rachel, she’s been with Hayden Christensen since at least 2007 and they got engaged in 2009, broke up in 2010, and then got back together in 2011. So maybe Rachel is angling for a ring again with all this talk about babies and how she’s a great girlfriend. I don’t know much about Hayden except that he’s a homebody and lives on a farm. If Zoe pressured her down-home boyfriend to propose, it would backfire.
Rachel is shown at an event on 3-20-13. Photos credit: Cosmo and WENN.com
Maybe I’m reading too many blinds but the rumor is Hayden is gay and Rachel is his beard.
Since they started going out, that rumour is all I hear about Hayden Christensen. Even though I find him appealing…maybe, it’s true?
Why would a woman waste over 5 years of her life on being a beard? And it’s not like Rachel can’t find anyone else…
I believe it.
I might have believed that when they first started dating – he was more famous back then, with the recent Star Wars movies and all, and she could have benefited from bearding with the extra attention that came from being his girlfriend… But Hayden’s career has kind of gone downhill since then, and she’s still with him, so I don’t know what she would be getting out of the relationship still if it wasn’t real.
She’s so pretty. I like the show too–it’s cheesy, but it’s perfect comfort viewing.
Aww I love The OC. It started 10 years ago now which is terrifying!
The second photo is so cheap.
Cheap doesn’t begin to describe it. WTH is that? Body paint, a Missoni bra and truck stop booty shorts? Cosmo is a waste of paper, truly.
I am in the same boat as Rachel. I love my boyfriend and want to keep him and myself happy, so the fact that she is intuned with him and his likes is great to hear
I like her. She seems so down to earth and Hayden too. They aren’t famewhores which is a good thing.
Pretty but so much eyeliner!
I’m a Hart of Dixie fan too! I’m so jealous she gets to fondle Wilson Bethel.
Wilson Bethel is really hot in his role as a southern bad boy. I don’t find him as hot when he is out of character but they make him look really good on the show. I hope he and Zoe get back together at the end of the show.
I’ve never watched her shows but she seems nice. However, I feel like all that came out of that interview was “I like to wear a short skirt and make my man’s favorite dinner.” I’m going to hope the interviewer is to blame for asking lame questions.
If she wants kids…he needs to put a ring on it…otherwise…time to move on.
You don’t have to have a ring on your finger to become pregnant. 😉
I’ve always liked her.
She’s cute and all, but why is she on the cover of a magazine? Is Hart of Dixie popular?
Well it’s just Cosmopolitan, and no it’s not.
Perfect Stepford girlfriend!! Awww~
I’m going to have to check this show out – I’ve read about it before and though it sounded like comfort viewing. And I think it’s on Apple TV now, so I’ll definitely be watching it this summer on rainy days :D.
Also, it’s crazy to think that after the OC, Mischa Barton was supposed to be the “big star” and look what she’s done to her life. Glad to see that Rachel is still a working actress!
She just opened a shop in London apparently.
Why are they not married yet?
At first I thought she meant she was a good friend to her female friends; Now, that, I admire.
From what I’ve heard over the years via the rumor mill, is that something really traumatic happened (allegedly) to Rachel a long time ago, to the point where she doesn’t want to be in a relationship. Ever. Either intimate or romantically. With anyone. E-V-E-R. The fact that she can avoid being sexual with anyone by being Hayden’s long-time beard is what makes her stay.
Although, when they “broke up” in 2010, it was (again, allegedly) because Hayden did not disclose to his partner at the time that he had an STD and Rachel was either pissed about that since she was also friends with his partner or was trying to distance herself from the possible negative fall-out if it were ever made public.
But yeah. The gay rumors have been around and are STILL floating around Hollywood, a la Zachary Quinto (except he’s out now). No one would be surprised if Haydan ever came out.
I can’t imagine her going through anything so traumatic that she doesn’t want to be intimate with a man ever again. Was she raped? What the heck happened to her? Even if something like that happened to her, wouldn’t it just be easier to be single rather than bearding long-term for a closeted gay man who isn’t even that big of a star anymore? It’s not like she’s bearding for George Clooney and can enjoy the perks of going to the Oscars or receiving lavish gifts before the break-up. I just find it hard to believe anyone as rich and attractive as Rachel would be in this type of contractual relationship with another C-list star. It doesn’t make any sense.
Well, rape or some other form of sexual abuse/assault is what is usually alluded to. No one knows for sure. Hence the rumor part of it. Besides, women respond/react to such traumatic experiences in many different ways. This may just be what works for her.
On a side note, if it is true, I do think its the best way to deal with things. Especially in Hollywood. Think about it. Publicity-wise, what’s the first thing people think of when an attractive, single, rich woman in Hollywood doesn’t seem to have a love life? This goes for dudes too.
Dunno. It makes sense to me. Bearding isn’t always about perks.
That’s a horrible rumor to promote. If she talked about it herself like Fran Drescher fine, otherwise it’s vile to dredge up assaults or imply that there’s something wrong with her or a man who goes out with her if it did.
That rumor has been floating out there for years, both online AND offline. Nothing new under the sun — unless it’s the first time you’re hearing it.
And who said that there was anything wrong with her or any guy that dates her if she was assaulted? No one. Read my question carefully and look at it from a gossip standpoint: What IS the first thing that comes to mind for most people when an attractive, single rich person doesn’t settle down to the satisfaction of the gossip audience? Gay. And don’t say no because that would be a lie. Please see: George Clooney…and he’s BEEN married before.
And judging by the way Hollywood tries to run away from THAT stigma, by bearding she is avoiding that ball ‘o drama and can live peacefully without having to answer questions she may not want to talk about regarding her private life.