Why Mandy Moore Fell In Love With ‘A Walk to Remember’ Co-Star Shane West

It is hard to believe that it has been almost 20 years since the tear-jerking movie A Walk to Remember was released, but it has, in fact, been that long. Those who had read the novel by Nicholas Sparks that the movie was based on rushed to see the film adaptation, and with stars Mandy Moore and Shane West in the roles of Jamie and Landon, it certainly didn’t disappoint. Millions of fans are familiar with the premise of the movie — set in the 1950s in North Carolina, high-school student Landon Carter falls in love with the most unexpected person — Jamie Sullivan, the daughter of the town minister.

They are true and complete opposites, and with many surprises during the course of the relationship, the story is touching, heartwarming, and heartbreaking all at once. Now, we will talk a look at why Mandy Moore fell in love with her A Walk to Remember co-star Shane West. 

‘A Walk to Remember’: Some background on Mandy Moore and Shane West

While it doesn’t seem like it to those who are fans of the film, Moore and West were actually worlds apart at the time they were cast. Moore was an up and coming pop star, while West, according to Entertainment Weekly, “didn’t have a million credits at the time” he got the role of Landon Carter. However, they knew from the first time they read the script together that they were the perfect duo to play the roles, and judging from the onscreen chemistry that the two of them had, it was a spot-on choice to cast them both. Moore herself says that “The whole process was so unfamiliar to me and weird”, but she was so phenomenal that her performance is still remembered all these years later.

Working on ‘A Walk to Remember’ together

West and Moore knew that working on the movie together was the chance of a lifetime. When it comes to working on the movie, West says that “it was incredibly easy”. The two actors have fond memories of filming the movie, especially when it comes to some of the most memorable scenes, such as when Landon applied Jamie’s tattoo. What do they have to say about that touching moment?

“We were just pulled over near the alleyway. It was fun to do. It’s hard to not smile when you’re looking at Mandy’s cute, adorable face”. Sounds like they really had a great time, both on and offscreen! Moore looks back on the making of the film with nostalgia as well, saying that “It was such an overwhelmingly positive, memorable experience.”

Why Mandy fell in love with Shane

Moore and West play a teenage couple in A Walk to Remember who go on to get married at a young age, but many people may not know that they actually had a little crush on each other in real life.

According to Vulture, there was an attraction between the two, and even after two decades, they still remember and aren’t afraid to talk about it! They formed a connection on the set of the film, and West says of his pretty co-star that “I think we both had a little bit of a crush”. Moore definitely doesn’t deny this fact, adding that “I felt incredibly lucky right off the bat that I had someone who was as willing to work with me”. So, what else does Moore have to say about falling in love with West while filming A Walk to Remember? She shared that “Shane was so cool. Everything about him — the way he dressed, the little cigarettes that he smoked, and the music he listened to. He was the character to me and there was definitely a part of me that absolutely fell in love with him.”