Bonnie Hunt Felt '25 Again' When She Met Flirty Taylor Kinney — but Reason Behind His Introduction Left Her Speechless

Mar. 15, 2025

(L-R) Bonnie Hunt; Taylor Kinney.Photo:Theo Wargo/Getty; Arnold Jerocki/WireImage

Theo Wargo/Getty; Arnold Jerocki/WireImage

Bonnie Hunt’s initial first impression ofTaylor Kinneymade her blush.During a recent appearance onThe Talk,Cheaper By The Dozenactress, 63, recalled back to the first time she met the 43-year-oldChicago Firestar — and the butterflies that filled her stomach after their introduction.“You know the guy that was engaged toLady Gagawho’s onChicago Fire?” theRed Oneactress began. “So I meet him in Chicago at a fundraiser for, like, you know, medical research. And he’s kind of talking to me, and I’m like, ‘Is he flirting with me or am I imagining it?’ I’m like, ‘I hope so!’ So I think about this for a while and then the event’s over, but he talked to me and stuff.“Bonnie Hunt on The Talk.The Talk/YoutubeA year and a half later, the two ran into each other at another charity event.“He says ‘Bonnie, hi.’ He goes, ‘Gosh, I’ve been thinking about you since I saw you,'” she continued as the audience laughed. “I’m like, ‘I knew it! He’s flirting with me.’ He says, ‘But I didn’t have your number, and I couldn’t contact you.'““I’m telling you guys, my whole body changed,” Hunt gushed, “All the sudden, I was 25 again.“But what came next quickly brought Hunt back down to Earth.Taylor Kinney.Cindy Ord/NBCUniversal/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty"And he says to me, ‘I wanted to call you because I thought maybe you could play my mom on the show,'” she finished.While it’s no surprise that Kinney’s charm and good looks were able to sweep Hunt off her feet, theShamelessstar is officially off the market.In May, a rep for Kinney exclusively told PEOPLE that the actorgot marriedto modelAshley Crugeron April 30 “in a small, private ceremony in Chicago,” where he recently wrapped shooting season 12 of his hit NBC drama.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Kinney and Cruger have been together since 2022, with the actor sharing hisfirst photo of his loveon Instagram in March of that year.The couple officially went public with their relationship that April when they attended a charity event together in Utah. Cruger thendebuted Kinney on her Instagramaccount the same month, posting a photo of them attending a race in Texas.

Bonnie Hunt’s initial first impression ofTaylor Kinneymade her blush.

During a recent appearance onThe Talk,Cheaper By The Dozenactress, 63, recalled back to the first time she met the 43-year-oldChicago Firestar — and the butterflies that filled her stomach after their introduction.

“You know the guy that was engaged toLady Gagawho’s onChicago Fire?” theRed Oneactress began. “So I meet him in Chicago at a fundraiser for, like, you know, medical research. And he’s kind of talking to me, and I’m like, ‘Is he flirting with me or am I imagining it?’ I’m like, ‘I hope so!’ So I think about this for a while and then the event’s over, but he talked to me and stuff.”

Bonnie Hunt on The Talk.The Talk/Youtube

The Talk/Youtube

A year and a half later, the two ran into each other at another charity event.

“He says ‘Bonnie, hi.’ He goes, ‘Gosh, I’ve been thinking about you since I saw you,'” she continued as the audience laughed. “I’m like, ‘I knew it! He’s flirting with me.’ He says, ‘But I didn’t have your number, and I couldn’t contact you.'”

“I’m telling you guys, my whole body changed,” Hunt gushed, “All the sudden, I was 25 again.”

But what came next quickly brought Hunt back down to Earth.

Taylor Kinney.Cindy Ord/NBCUniversal/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

“And he says to me, ‘I wanted to call you because I thought maybe you could play my mom on the show,'” she finished.

While it’s no surprise that Kinney’s charm and good looks were able to sweep Hunt off her feet, theShamelessstar is officially off the market.

In May, a rep for Kinney exclusively told PEOPLE that the actorgot marriedto modelAshley Crugeron April 30 “in a small, private ceremony in Chicago,” where he recently wrapped shooting season 12 of his hit NBC drama.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Kinney and Cruger have been together since 2022, with the actor sharing hisfirst photo of his loveon Instagram in March of that year.

The couple officially went public with their relationship that April when they attended a charity event together in Utah. Cruger thendebuted Kinney on her Instagramaccount the same month, posting a photo of them attending a race in Texas.

source: people.com