Gaten Matarazzo reveals communication and distance management as keys to eight-year relationship
Synopsis
The Stranger Things actor just revealed that thriving through distance — not merely surviving it — is the secret to his eight-year bond with high school sweetheart Elizabeth Yu. With both building parallel acting careers and a shared home base to return to, Matarazzo has flipped the long-distance playbook: instead of a relationship liability, separation became a skill that strengthened their connection.
Key Takeaways
Gaten Matarazzo and Elizabeth Yu have been in a relationship for eight years , beginning in 2018 when both were 15 years old .
Matarazzo cited communication and distance management as the primary factors enabling the relationship's longevity.
The couple maintains a shared home base in one city but do not cohabitate, living "very close" to each other instead.
Yu made her acting debut in the 2022 film Somewhere in Queens , directed by Ray Romano .
Matarazzo revealed their relationship began shortly after Stranger Things season 2 premiered on Netflix .
Gaten Matarazzo, star of Netflix's Stranger Things, has disclosed the cornerstones of his eight-year relationship with girlfriend Elizabeth Yu during an appearance on Chelsea Handler's podcast Dear Chelsea. The couple, who began dating in 2018 when both were 15 years old, have navigated high school, simultaneous acting careers, and extended periods apart — challenges that typically strain long-distance partnerships.
The foundation: Communication and intentional distance management
Matarazzo, now 23, attributed the relationship's longevity to deliberate communication practices. "A big key to it is thriving through distance," he explained on the podcast. The couple was "thrust into" separation early when Matarazzo began filming Stranger Things while Yu simultaneously launched her own acting career in the same industry.
How they make long distance work
Rather than viewing geographical separation as a relationship threat, the couple has reframed it as a skill to master. "So much of our work has to do with us leaving the city and being able to communicate through that and do it very well was kind of a tell-tale sign that this was working pretty well," Matarazzo said. He acknowledged that long-distance relationships "usually fizzle out because it's so hard not being in the same city as your person," but their shared home base in one city provides an anchor — a place they consistently return to after work travel.
Living arrangements and independence
Matarazzo clarified that he and Yu do not cohabitate but maintain residences "very close to each other." Handler suggested this proximity without full cohabitation may itself contribute to the relationship's stability, allowing both partners independence while remaining emotionally connected.
Timeline and career parallel
Matarazzo and Yu began dating a few months after the premiere of Stranger Things season 2 on Netflix. Around the same period, Yu commenced auditioning for acting roles, eventually making her film debut in the 2022 release Somewhere in Queens, directed by Ray Romano. Both have since built independent professional trajectories while maintaining their relationship.
Point of View
Yet Matarazzo's framework—treating separation not as a trial but as a skill—inverts the conventional wisdom. The real insight is structural: a shared home base removes the existential uncertainty that typically erodes distant partnerships. His refusal to cohabitate while maintaining emotional proximity also challenges the assumption that commitment requires constant physical proximity. For a generation navigating careers that span continents, his model is worth studying.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How long have Gaten Matarazzo and Elizabeth Yu been together?
Gaten Matarazzo and Elizabeth Yu have been in a relationship for eight years, having begun dating in 2018 when both were 15 years old. They started dating a few months after Stranger Things season 2 premiered on Netflix.
What does Gaten Matarazzo say is the key to their relationship's success?
Matarazzo credits strong communication and the ability to thrive through distance as the primary factors. He explained that learning to manage separation well early in their relationship — when both began pursuing acting careers simultaneously — became a foundation for their long-term bond.
Do Gaten Matarazzo and Elizabeth Yu live together?
No, Matarazzo clarified that they do not cohabitate but instead live very close to each other. He noted that maintaining a shared home base in one city while living separately has contributed to the relationship's stability.
What is Elizabeth Yu's acting background?
Elizabeth Yu made her acting debut in the 2022 film Somewhere in Queens, directed by Ray Romano. She began auditioning for acting roles around the same time she started dating Matarazzo in 2018.
