Ariel Winter reveals lasting friendship with TV brother Nolan Gould!
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Growing Up Dunphy
Ariel Winter and Nolan Gould shared something few people experience.
The actors literally grew up together on screen, playing siblings Alex and Luke Dunphy for eleven seasons of “Modern Family.”
Winter was just 11 when the show began in 2009, while Gould was barely 10 years old.
Their childhood and teen years unfolded in front of millions of viewers each week.
Friendship Beyond The Set
“I’m extremely close to Nolan,” Winter recently revealed in a PEOPLE interview.
The connection they formed playing brother and sister didn’t fade when cameras stopped rolling in 2020.
Despite both actors moving on to new projects and adult lives, their friendship remains rock solid.
Recent photos show them still hanging out at charity events, proving their bond is genuine.
Unexpected Success Story
Winter never anticipated the show’s massive success when she first landed the role. “I was 11 when it started.
I don’t think I had any idea if it was going to be successful,” she admitted with refreshing honesty.
Her biggest excitement? Working alongside Ed O’Neill, whom she knew as Al Bundy from “Married… With Children.”
Growing Pains In Public
Being on a hit show brought challenges nobody prepared her for.
Winter faced brutal public scrutiny about her changing body during adolescence.
“Grown people writing articles about me saying how I looked terrible or pregnant or like a fat slut.
I mean, I was 14,” she recalled. This constant criticism severely damaged her self-esteem during formative years.
Life After Modern Family
Following the show’s conclusion, Winter deliberately moved away from Los Angeles.
While still acting – she voices the lead in “Sofia the First: Royal Magic” – she needed distance from Hollywood’s intensity.
She’s also found purpose advocating for children’s safety, working with Safe From Online Sex Abuse to protect kids from online predators.
