Rachel Brosnahan love story indie movie fans might be surprised to learn that the celebrated actress and her husband Jason Ralph began their relationship behind the scenes of a little-known film, far from the spotlight of their most famous roles. Their connection started in 2013 while filming the independent feature
“I’m Obsessed With You: But You’ve Got to Leave Me Alone,”
with details about their romance remaining mostly private until recent years shed new light on their history.
A Chance Meeting During an Indie Film Production
In 2013, Rachel Brosnahan and Jason Ralph first crossed paths on the set of
“I’m Obsessed With You: But You’ve Got to Leave Me Alone,”
an indie film based on an off-Broadway play by Genevieve Adams. Contrary to widespread rumors, their initial meeting happened during this project and not on the television series “Manhattan.” Brosnahan confirmed during a 2022 interview with Town & Country Magazine that the project was the real setting of their introduction and the beginning of their story as a couple.
The tightly knit cast and crew lived together in dorm-style accommodations at Dartmouth College, reflecting the project’s modest scale and intimate working environment. Additional filming took place around New York City and in the Hamptons. Despite sharing scenes and living arrangements, Brosnahan and Ralph were not cast opposite each other in the movie. She later revealed that romance didn’t blossom immediately, as she distanced herself from Ralph during production:
It was a hard no for me. Stay away, stay away. Okay, fine.
—Rachel Brosnahan, Actor
It was only after the cameras stopped rolling that their relationship took a new turn. Once filming ended, the two began dating and have been together since.
“I’m Obsessed With You”: The Forgotten Start of a Love Story
While “I’m Obsessed With You” set the stage for Rachel Brosnahan’s and Jason Ralph’s romance, the film itself remained mostly unnoticed by audiences and critics alike. Genevieve Adams, the screenwriter and an alumna of Dartmouth, originally created the story as an off-Broadway play under the name “IMPROVed.” After the play’s Broadway run, Adams turned to crowdfunding through a Kickstarter campaign to finance the film adaptation.
The ensemble included Rachel Brosnahan, Jason Ralph, Manish Dayal of “The Resident,” Thomas McDonell from “The 100,” and Adams herself. The movie had its debut at the Sonoma International Film Festival before seeing a limited video-on-demand release. While available, only a small number of viewers rated it, providing it with a score of 67% on Rotten Tomatoes.
By 2021, “I’m Obsessed With You” had vanished from streaming platforms. This mystery drew the attention of Alex Goldman, host of the Hyperfixed podcast, after a listener questioned the film’s whereabouts. Through his investigation, Goldman learned from Adams that she had personally taken the film down, believing that no one was interested in watching it. The renewed attention from the podcast episode convinced her to make the film available again on Amazon Prime Video in the United States, giving a new audience the chance to see Brosnahan in her first leading film role. The journey of the indie film, from being hidden to having a resurgence, echoes the quiet, understated beginnings of Brosnahan and Ralph’s own relationship.
Managing Privacy and Avoiding the Spotlight
Despite public speculation about their relationship, Rachel Brosnahan and Jason Ralph quietly continued their romance after meeting on set. Reports emerged in 2018 of a secret marriage, though Brosnahan provided clarification about the timeline and her stance on privacy at the 2019 SAG Awards, stating that she and Ralph had been married for some time. However, specific details about when their romance turned into marriage remained unconfirmed.
Brosnahan explained her reluctance to publicly discuss their marriage, highlighting a gendered double standard in media coverage. As both actors navigated careers as series leads, Brosnahan found herself fielding personal questions on the red carpet far more often than Ralph. At the SAG Awards, she remarked:
Jason and I also noticed early on that, while we are both the leads of successful television series, he has almost never been asked about our relationship while I have been asked on almost every red carpet I have walked in the last two years. We both find this double standard problematic and frustrating and opted to redirect those conversations to our work.
—Rachel Brosnahan, Actor
This approach to privacy shaped the couple’s interactions with the public and the press, allowing them to prioritize their professional achievements rather than their personal relationship. After Brosnahan’s win for her role in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” at the SAG Awards, the couple shared a celebratory moment together. Earlier that year, Brosnahan won a Golden Globe and personally thanked Ralph in her acceptance:
Jason, I love you. I wouldn’t be here at all without you. Thank you
—Rachel Brosnahan, Actor
These rare glimpses into their relationship have helped emphasize the importance they place on mutual respect and boundaries while navigating demanding careers.
Career Growth and Continued Collaboration
Both Rachel Brosnahan and Jason Ralph’s careers continued to evolve following the release of “I’m Obsessed With You.” In 2021, Ralph joined the cast of Brosnahan’s acclaimed series, portraying the character Mike Carr. Ralph is also recognized for his role as Quentin Coldwater in “The Magicians,” which ran for four seasons, and for appearances on “Younger” and the Starz drama “Three Women.”
The renewed interest in “I’m Obsessed With You” allows audiences to revisit the humble origins of the couple’s journey. The film stands as a testament to the unpredictable ways life can change both on and off screen.
The Cultural Impact and What Lies Ahead
Rachel Brosnahan and Jason Ralph’s experience highlights how a small, nearly forgotten indie movie can have lasting significance, both for the people involved and for fans who now view the film through the lens of their enduring romance. Their decision to maintain privacy challenges traditional expectations about celebrity relationships, and their professional paths continue to intersect in new and meaningful ways. With
“I’m Obsessed With You: But You’ve Got to Leave Me Alone”
now streaming once more on Amazon Prime Video, viewers can witness the early days of a Hollywood love story that flourished away from the spotlight.
