How to tell a celebrity relationship is the real deal?

We've all seen them. The all-star couple nuzzling up to one another at movie premieres and putting on over-the-top PDAs on romantic Caribbean vacations. And often our cynical side will dismiss these celebrity relationships as fake and put on for the cameras, especially when they emerge suspiciously close to the release of either partner's movie/fashion

We've all seen them. The all-star couple nuzzling up to one another at movie premieres and putting on over-the-top PDAs on romantic Caribbean vacations. 

And often our cynical side will dismiss these celebrity relationships as fake and put on for the cameras, especially when they emerge suspiciously close to the release of either partner's movie/fashion line/modelling project.

So can you ever find true love in tinseltown, or is every high-profile coupling a desperate attempt for media attention and self-promotion? 

Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi

Genuine: Experts believe there are various signs that suggest a celebrity relationship is real, and you can see these in couplings such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick (left), and Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi (right)

As we prepare to watch Kyle West and Megan Morrison's $10million marriage play out when E!'s The Arrangement premieres on March 5, we spoke to experts to find out how to distinguish real celebrity relationships from the fakes.

1. Watch the body language

Clinical psychologist and relationship expert Dr Wendy Walsh says that any short-term, not-so-serious couple can hold hands for the cameras and even snuggle into each other's necks.

So she suggests that you look for more subtle body language to assess whether the relationship is genuine.

'Where exactly do they put their hands on each other's bodies?' she says. 'A hip and lower back touch says: "Everything in this area is mine". But the waist and shoulder hug are far less sexual, suggesting less intimacy.'

The real deal: Body expert Blanca Cobb says that she looks for tenderness and warmth in a couple's body language, and she sees this in pairings such as Paulette and Denzel Washington

The real deal: Body expert Blanca Cobb says that she looks for tenderness and warmth in a couple's body language, and she sees this in pairings such as Paulette and Denzel Washington

'I want to see tenderness and warmth in their body language,' adds body language expert Blanca Cobb. 'For example, couples who are in a genuine relationship might let their foreheads touch after a kiss. Or a man might kiss his lady’s hand.

'Their emotional closeness might be reflected in their physical closeness. This means that they stand or sit right next to each other. Or they angle their body toward their partner. 

'When it comes to genuine happiness, you expect to see the corners of their eyes crinkle and their cheek muscles pulled upwards.' 

 I want to see tenderness and warmth in their body language. Body language expert Blanca Cobb 

Ms Cobb says that you notice this sort of body language in couples such as Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Paulette and Denzel Washington, and Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell - relationships she believes are the real deal.

She explains that incongruent body language is a warning sign that something is off, adding: 'This means that their bodies are sending two different messages. 

'For example, they might smile, but turn their bodies away from each other. Or you’ll notice that they’re standing beside each other, but their bodies show tension in the jaws, and shoulders or stiffness in their hands and posture.'

2. Time will tell 

A very simple way to tell whether a relationship is genuine is to look to its longevity. 

'If the celebrity couple has hit the one year mark and is still being seen together, it's probably real,' says Dr Williams.

'Love "arrangements" for publicity purposes usually end by the time their new movie is out and the spotlight turns away.' 

Loved up: Ms Cobb says that from looking at their body language, she believes Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn are another genuine couple that will go the distance

Loved up: Ms Cobb says that from looking at their body language, she believes Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn are another genuine couple that will go the distance

Dating coach Tracey Steinberg agrees, using the example of Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick - a couple she believes are the real-deal and will continue to have a strong marriage.

'Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick have been married since 1997 and they have three children together,' she says.

'Since the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior and these two have already proven that they're capable of staying married for decades, I'm putting my money on them.' 

3. Look to the past

Dr Walsh also notes that the best indicator of a person's future behavior is how they have behaved previously, so she suggests looking to a celebrity's past relationships to see if their current one has staying power.

 If a celebrity has a history of short relationships, expect this to continue.  Psychologist Dr Wendy Walsh

'If a celebrity has a history of short, broken relationships, expect this to continue if they haven't done some serious work on a therapist's couch,' she says.

So if a celebrity is known to be publicity hungry and has been in apparently 'fake' relationships previously, the chances are that their current one won't be genuine, and you can expect it to follow the same pattern.

4. Are they private? 

When a couple brazenly flaunt their relationship and make wild declarations of love on social media, there's a good chance that all is not as it seems.

Ms  Steinberg says that one of the best indications a couple is the real deal is when they keep their relationship private.

'Sarah Jessica Parker has publicly stated that the secret to their long marriage is that she doesn't talk about it publicly,' she adds. 'Matthew Broderick has publicly stated that the secret to their long marriage is communication. 

'These may at first sound like very different responses, but I suspect their success is due to the fact that they're doing a lot of communication with each other at home and not sharing much with the media. That sounds like a recipe for success to me.'

5. Do they seem grateful?

When you have a relationship involving multimillionaire Hollywood stars, you might expect there to be two inflated egos at work.

Authentic: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have been together for 28 years. Dr Wendy Walsh says that longevity is a sure sign that a celebrity relationship is real

Authentic: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have been together for 28 years. Dr Wendy Walsh says that longevity is a sure sign that a celebrity relationship is real

But Ms Steinberg believes that a coupling is most likely to work when there's humility between partners and they seem genuinely grateful to be with one another. She uses the example of Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, who are a couple she believes to be the real deal.

'They've been married since 2008 and they are both so grateful to have found each other,' she says. 'Ellen has admitted publicly that they often tell each other how lucky they are to be together and how committed they both are to enjoying their relationship for the rest of their lives.

'Feeling appreciated is so important in a relationship and so many relationships end because someone feels taken for granted,' Ms Steinberg adds.

'The fact that they tell each other every day how grateful they are for each other makes me think that they both feel loved and respected in their marriage. When it comes down to it, isn't that what we all truly want?'

The Arrangement premieres on E! Sunday March 5 at 10/9c. 

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