Kat Dennings' Says 'Cagey' Guys Made Her 'Distrustful' of Men Before Meeting Husband Andrew W.K. (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Kat Dennings and Andrew W.K. in 2022.Photo:Gilbert Flores/Variety/Penske Media via Getty

Gilbert Flores/Variety/Penske Media via Getty

After years of kissing frogs,Kat Denningsfound her Prince Charming in her husband, rocker Andrew W.K.

In an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE, the 38-year-old star of the new ABC sitcomShifting Gearsopens up about her relationship with the musician, 45, and how she had to unlearn certain dating behaviors to accept the love she knew she deserved.

“He is a very loving, kind, gentle person. He’s the kindest person I’ve ever met,” she says of W.K. “When we first started talking and seeing each other, I was shocked at how he was just so straightforward with me, and I was used to a little bit more game stuff.”

“I was used to men being more like cagey and I really was on high alert for that. I really was distrustful,” she admits.

Kat Dennings and Andrew W. K.Kat Dennings/ Instagram

Kat Dennings/ Instagram

But Dennings noticed a huge “difference” when she started dating the singer. Instead of playing games, W.K. wanted to make sure there was “no confusion on my part” about the way he felt about her.

“It was his worst nightmare that I would misunderstand something,” she explains. “He did everything he said he was going to do. He texted me back immediately. He was just very like, ‘I really want to be with you, and I’ll do anything to make sure that this works out.’ And that was completely different for me.”

Before meeting her husband, Dennings was romantically linked to her2 Broke Girlscostar, Nick Zano, and the former couple dated from 2011 to 2014. After parting ways with the actor, Dennings moved on with singerJosh Groban, whom she dated from 2014 to 2016.

Josh Groban and Kat Dennings in 2016.Michael Kovac/WireImage

Michael Kovac/WireImage

Though the exact timeline of their relationship remains unclear, Dennings and W.K. shocked fans when they announcedtheir engagementin May 2021 after going public with their romance earlier that month.

“It was still pretty good,” she says, before sharing what else they did to mark the occasion. “We just spent the day together. He got me flowers, and I wrote him a love note, and we just spent the day together and told each other how much we loved each other and looked at our pictures.”

Kat Dennings and Andrew W. K.Kat Dennings Instagram

Now, a little over a year after her wedding, Dennings says her views on marriage have changed: “When I was younger, my ideas of what getting married meant were very different from my feelings now as an older person, because I waited a pretty long time — which I think is a good idea.”

Dennings notes that because life is “unpredictable,” one should ask the important questions — and answer them — when it comes to choosing a life-long partner.

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“Will that person be there for you? Could you be there for that person?” she says. “I waited until I found that person who fulfilled those things. And there’s been a lot of ups and downs in life for both of us, and I am so glad that I’m with him for that.”

“Just find the person that you trust completely. That was very hard for me, and it took a long time so I’m very grateful for him,” she smiled.

source: people.com