Highlights
- Melissa Gilbert reflects on her past relationship with Rob Lowe on Jennie Garth’s podcast
- The couple dated on and off from age 17 until their split in 1987
- Gilbert describes dealing with sudden fame and aggressive fan attention as “horrible”
- Says the experience taught her “what didn’t work” in relationships
- Contrasts her former anxiety-filled life with her current sense of calm
Melissa Gilbert reflects on intense relationship with Rob Lowe
Actress Melissa Gilbert has opened up about her high-profile teenage relationship with actor Rob Lowe, describing it as both formative and emotionally overwhelming. Speaking on I Choose Me, a podcast hosted by Jennie Garth, Gilbert called the relationship “tumultuous” and admitted she was unprepared for the attention and pressures that came with Lowe’s rise to fame.
“I was such a baby when Rob and I were together,” said Gilbert, now 61. The pair began dating in 1981 at age 17 and were in an on-again, off-again relationship until 1987.
Dealing with fame and fan culture
Rob LoweGetty Images
At the time, Gilbert had already gained significant recognition for her role as Laura Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie, while Lowe’s career was just beginning to skyrocket. She said the contrast between their levels of fame brought unforeseen challenges.
“I was prepared for the premieres and award shows,” she recalled. “But I wasn’t prepared for the fandom—and, frankly, the girls.”
Gilbert described being pushed aside by fans trying to get Lowe’s attention, sometimes literally. “They just push right past me and stick phone numbers in his pockets,” she said. “To say it was disconcerting is doing it a big disservice. It was horrible.”
Hard lessons and long-term perspective
Despite the difficulties, Gilbert acknowledged the valuable life experience the relationship gave her. “I think I learned a lot about what didn’t work for me, actually—and what I wouldn’t stand for later on,” she said. “We had some really fun times, but I also got some really important lessons.”
She also spoke about how far she’s come since then, noting that her current life feels more grounded and peaceful.
“In looking back, I look at the way my life is so easeful now,” she explained. “But I look at it back then and I feel like… my shoulders were always up by my ears, always waiting for the next shoe to drop.”
Meanwhile, Lowe discusses cosmetic surgery
In a recent episode of his own podcast, Rob Lowe opened up about cosmetic procedures he’s undergone. While not directly connected to Gilbert’s interview, the revelation adds a new dimension to the ongoing public interest in the former couple’s lives decades after their split.
