Known for his infamous portrayal of Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother, Neil Patrick Harris recently revealed a delightful BTS tidbit that left fans buzzing. The openly gay actor admitted to having a crush on one of his HIMYM co-stars.
During filming the show, Harris playfully flirted with his crush as much as possible, blending real-life affection with his character’s persona. Let’s uncover the object of Harris’ desires in the series.
Neil Patrick Harris Reveals the Real-Life Inspiration Behind Barney Stinson’s Evolution on HIMYM
The legendary (and sometimes outrageous) playboy from How I Met Your Mother, Barney Stinson, might have had a little more going on than just high fives and penchant suits. The actor who brought Barney’s character to life, Neil Patrick Harris, recently revealed what inspired him to take up the role. Openly gay in real-life, Harris had a crush during HIMYM, and it was his co-star Cobie Smulders!
While discussing his career in a new GQ video, Harris admitted falling in love with Smulders. This is a surprising twist considering Harris initially wasn’t sold on the show itself. “Terrible title,” he quipped about HIMYM—but hey, love can work in mysterious ways, could it not?
Harris confessed he didn’t see himself in the Barney role originally envisioned. But everything changed when he met Smulders. The actor confessed during the interview:
I was like, wait a second. She’s so talented and hot and funny and Canadian already. That’s four stars. She’s just amazing. So I started flirting with her as much as I could on camera and that Barney could do all of that.
This on-screen chemistry, fueled by Harris’ genuine admiration for Smulders, transformed Barney’s character to a T. So guys, the next time y’all HIMYM, do keep an eye out for Barney’s interactions with Robin. You might find a little more genuine affection there than meets the eye, thanks to Neil Patrick Harris’ not-so-secret crush!
Fans React: Neil Patrick Harris Leaving the Show in 2014
After an incredible nine years, Neil Patrick Harris left HIMYM in 2014. He sent out a tweet after delivering his last lines as everyone’s favorite ladies’ man: “I just uttered my last word as Barney ‘Awesomepants’ Stinson today. Nine years. Man, time sure flies when you’re having fun…” Fans showered him with lots of love and praises.
@ActuallyNPH thankyou for the all the brilliance, barnacle!
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) February 28, 2014
@ActuallyNPH To be fair, he's your character. You can always pretend to be him 😛
— Dan's Nintendo Feed (@TheNintendoFeed) February 27, 2014
@ActuallyNPH if you want…I'll still call you Barney. 😉
— Drew Scott (@MrDrewScott) February 28, 2014
@ActuallyNPH wiil be missed for a legendary serial ): barney best character i see , @HIMYM_CBS
— مراهمد 𓃵 #بليتش 🍀 (@Ahmedm94m) March 3, 2014
@ActuallyNPH: now who am I supposed to model my pickup techniques after? Lol. You've been amazing on HIMYM
— Jonathan Silver Scott (@JonathanScott) February 27, 2014
@ActuallyNPH thanks for the memories dude, amazing show and amazing performance.
— Cory Niblett (@PR3SIDENT) February 26, 2014
Created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays for CBS, How I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom, which aired from September 19, 2005, to March 31, 2014. The series is known for its unique structure, humor, and incorporation of dramatic elements.
Watch How I Met Your Mother only on Disney+ and Netflix.
