It looks like Liam Hemsworth has found a new love. The actor is reportedly dating his Independence Day: Resurgence co-star Maika Monroe.
According to Us Weekly, Hemsworth and Monroe spent the Fourth of July weekend together. The two were spotted “making out” and “grinding” at a Hollywood bash for the holiday. Though the actors apparently aren’t a full-on couple just yet, the report claims they have “ridiculous” chemistry — which means it may only be a matter of time before they’re official. Here are 10 things to know about Hemsworth’s new love.
More: Liam Hemsworth on Miley: “There’s no bad blood there”
1. Maika Monroe isn’t her birth name
View this post on Instagram
The 22-year-old Santa Barbara native was actually born Dillon Monroe Buckley, but Maika has always been a special name to the family. As Monroe told Under the Radar, her mother had a best friend named Maika and was considering naming her daughter that before eventually deciding on Dillon. But when Monroe heard that story, she instantly felt Maika was a better fit and started going by it at a very early age. She later legally changed her name.
2. She wasn’t always an actress
View this post on Instagram
Before she started appearing on the big screen, Monroe was actually a professional kiteboarder. She started when she was only 13 years old and moved to the Dominican Republic to train at 17. She was ranked No. 32 in the world as a professional freestyle kiteboarder as recently as 2013.
More: Liam Hemsworth reveals kissing JLaw isn’t all it’s cracked up to be
3. Her athletic background prepared her for the movie business
View this post on Instagram
Monroe says the rigors of kiteboarding helped prepare her for hearing “no” at auditions. The transition in careers also means she was completely self-taught and has never attended acting school.
4. She “fell” into acting — through dance
View this post on Instagram
It looks like Monroe has done a little of everything. In addition to kiteboarding and acting, the star used to attend dance classes. That’s actually how she discovered acting. A film production company contacted her dance school looking for background dancers, and before she knew it, she found herself on set. The rest is history.
5. Her feature film debut involved Zac Efron
View this post on Instagram
Monroe’s first notable movie role was in the 2012 drama At Any Price, which co-starred Efron as well as Dennis Quaid, Heather Graham and Sophie Curtis. Monroe was 19 years old at the time.
6. She’s already starred alongside some big names
View this post on Instagram
In addition to co-starring with Efron, the up-and-coming star has already appeared in films with some critically acclaimed names, like Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin (in the 2013 drama Labor Day).
More: Will Chris and Liam Hemsworth share the big screen?
7. She loves to travel
View this post on Instagram
As a kiteboarder, Monroe has already traveled all over the world, but she’s had the travel bug since she was young. “I think I got this from my dad,” she told Under the Radar. “We take a lot of trips to places, usually involving sports. We went to Chile when I was younger to go skiing in the Andes.”
8. She’s already showed Hemsworth some social media love
View this post on Instagram
Monroe posted this photo with Hemsworth and Jeff Goldblum on Instagram, with the caption “resurgence sandwich.”
9. Her Independence Day role has already stirred up some controversy
What the actual fuck? @maebirdwing is talented as hell, and JUST proved she can carry a film. Smh. https://t.co/Njrsb7Gb1Z
— Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47) April 28, 2015
In Independence Day: Resurgence, Monroe will portray former first daughter Patricia Whitmore — a role that Mae Whitman played in the original. The controversial casting switch did not go over well with Whitman’s fans, especially since the Parenthood actress was reportedly not even on the short list for the part. No details were revealed on why Whitman wasn’t chosen but HitFix questioned if it was because Whitman doesn’t fit the typical “hot” mold. Whitman retweeted the article and several famous females, including Anna Kendrick (above) and Shonda Rhimes, tweeted their support for Whitman.
10. She’s about to have a very big year
View this post on Instagram
Monroe is set to star in a slew of other movies over the next year, aside from Independence Day: Resurgence. She’ll appear alongside Chloe Grace Moretz and Liev Schreiber in the upcoming sci-fi thriller The 5th Wave. Monroe will also co-star with Jennifer Garner and Tye Sheridan in the 2016 YA adaptation The Tribes of Palos Verdes.
Leave a Comment