Milo Ventimiglia makes rare comment about ‘being with’ ex Alexis Bledel on ‘Gilmore Girls’ set

Team Jess, this one’s for you.

Milo Ventimiglia is revisiting his “Gilmore Girls” days with a rare comment about “being with” his former co-star and real-life ex, Alexis Bledel.

In an interview with Us Weekly published Monday, the actor, who played Jess Mariano on the popular comedy-drama series, reflected on his time on the show.

Milo Ventimiglia revisited his “Gilmore Girls” days with a rare comment about “being with” his former co-star and real-life ex, Alexis Bledel. (Ventimiglia and Bledel are pictured above together in 2004.) WireImage
In an interview with Us Weekly published Monday, Ventimiglia, who played Jess Mariano on the popular comedy-drama series, reflected on his time on set. (Ventimiglia is seen above as Jess alongside Bledel, who played Rory Gilmore, in Season 2 of “Gilmore Girls.”) ©Warner Bros/Everett Collection

“The episodes are for an audience to pick apart, dissect,” Ventimiglia, 49, told the outlet. “For us to make it, [it’s] the experience of making it. What were those days like on set? Hanging out with Jared Padalecki, being with Alexis. The experience is something that I always lean into, that really fills me up.”

The “This Is Us” actor joined “Gilmore Girls” in its second season and went on to play the boyfriend of Bledel’s character, Rory Gilmore, throughout Season 3, making recurring appearances until the series finale in 2007.

Notably, some of his fondest memories from the show involve Bledel, now 45, whom he dated in real life from 2002 to 2006.

“What were those days like on set? Hanging out with Jared Padalecki, being with Alexis. The experience is something that I always lean into, that really fills me up,” Ventimiglia said in part. Warner Bros.
Ventimiglia joined “Gilmore Girls” in its second season, playing the boyfriend of Bledel’s character through Season 3, while the two also dated in real life from 2002 to 2006. (They are seen above together in 2006.) Getty Images

“I remember shooting on the backlot of Warner Bros. with Alexis and getting on the bus and carrying a bag that the prop guy wanted to make really light,” Ventimiglia recalled. “But I [said], ‘Yeah, but it looks full and it’s huge, so it should be heavy. Put a sandbag in it.’

“Those are the things that I think about. I don’t think about the episode,” he added.

Elsewhere in his interview with Us Weekly, Ventimiglia confirmed that he is expected to appear in the upcoming “Gilmore Girls” documentary currently in production for HBO Max, which is being made by series creator Amy Sherman-Palladino.

Lauren Graham, who portrayed Lorelai Gilmore, is also set to appear in the project.

“I remember shooting on the backlot of Warner Bros. with Alexis and getting on the bus and carrying a bag that the prop guy wanted to make really light. But I [said], ‘Yeah, but it looks full and it’s huge, so it should be heavy. Put a sandbag in it,’” Ventimiglia recalled of the memory from set. (He is pictured above as Jess alongside Bledel as Rory in Season 2.) Warner Bros/courtesy Everett Co
Ventimiglia confirmed that he is expected to appear in the upcoming “Gilmore Girls” documentary alongside Lauren Graham, who portrayed Lorelai Gilmore. (The cast of “Gilmore Girls” is seen above.) ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

As for preparing for the documentary, Ventimiglia told the outlet he “probably won’t watch any [episodes] to refresh” his memory of the series, adding, “I have no idea what I’m getting into,” and revealing that he “[has] yet to record [his] part.”

“I think the world of Amy, and Lauren, too. I have no idea what we’re going to talk about. It was 26 years ago that I made the show,” he said.

Despite the years that have passed since “Gilmore Girls” wrapped, the “Heroes” actor said fans still approach him to ask about specific lines from the show.

Ventimiglia said he “probably won’t watch any [episodes] to refresh” his memory of the series, adding, “I have no idea what I’m getting into.” (He is pictured above as Jess alongside Bledel as Rory in Season 6.) ©Warner Bros/courtesy Everett Co
“It’s funny: I’ll have people run up to me and be like, ‘Hey, do you remember that time on ‘Gilmore’ when you said this?’ I’m like, ‘That was 26 years ago,’” Ventimiglia said in part. Warner Bros.

“It’s funny: I’ll have people run up to me and be like, ‘Hey, do you remember that time on ‘Gilmore’ when you said this?’ I’m like, ‘That was 26 years ago.’ I’m like, ‘Tell me something about your life from 26 years ago.’ They’re like, ‘I wasn’t born,’” he said.

Ventimiglia has been married to model Jarah Mariano since 2023. The couple share two children: daughter Ke’ala Coral, whom they welcomed last year, and son Rock-Anthony Makoa.

Bledel, for her part, married actor Vincent Kartheiser in 2014, and the pair finalized their divorce in 2022. The former couple share a son, whom they welcomed in fall 2015.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *