Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have accomplished a real feat in and out of Hollywood: 10 years of marriage. Reynolds spoke to People about how their relationship has endured while discussing his close, 17-year-long friendship with Hugh Jackman in a joint interview.

“I think the secret sauce to a long-lasting Hollywood friendship is not too dissimilar to having a partner or a marriage,” Reynolds began, telling Jackman, “I am genuinely rooting for you, all the time. I want you to win. It’s the same way I feel about Blake. As I’m rooting for her, I know she’s rooting for me, and it’s why we’re so connected.”

Of course, this isn’t the first time Reynolds has spoken about what makes his marriage work. In fact, he has spoken about the importance of his friendship with Lively multiple times over the years.

He told Entertainment Tonight in November 2021, “We don’t take each other too seriously, but we’re also friends. Falling in love is great, but do you like each other? That’s kinda the question you gotta ask yourself, you know, going into it. We’ve always liked each other. We grow together. We learn from each other. So yeah, I’m lucky to have a buddy in that.”

Lively and Reynolds actually started as friends before they dated, following their co-starring gigs on 2011’s Green Lantern. Reynolds recounted their When Harry Met Sally-beginnings on Entertainment Weekly‘s Sirius XM radio show in February 2016.

“I remember it was funny because for about a year after Green Lantern had come and gone and all that stuff, we were both single,” Reynolds said. “We went on a double date with—she was on a date with another guy, and I was on a date with another girl, and that was the most awkward date from their perspective probably because we were just like fireworks coming across. Yeah, it was like this first weird [date]—but we were buddies for a long time. I think it’s the best way to have a relationship―to start as friends.”