Remember how Meredith from The Office was always ready to mingle? Well, in real life, Kate Flannery has a very different love story. She's been happily partnered with Chris Haston for years, and she’s got some wisdom to share about what’s made their relationship work so well.
"I think being older is a gift," says Kate, who's now 55, in an exclusive chat with Closer Weekly. "I’m a late bloomer when it comes to love, too. I didn’t meet Chris until I was 41 — or maybe I was 40 when I met him, but we didn’t start dating until I was 41. So yeah, I think both of us have more realistic expectations of each other now. There’s less drama, and we’ve got a lot more patience and a better sense of humor. If you’re single and haven’t found the right person yet, trust me, later is better. It really is!"
From The Office to Dancing with the Stars: Chris Supports Kate’s Adventures
Kate and Chris have been together since 2006, and their bond has only grown stronger over the years. Recently, Kate took on a new challenge as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars Season 28, where she was the fifth person eliminated. But you know what? Chris was fully supportive of her decision to step out of her comfort zone.
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"He’s amazing," Kate says with a laugh. "I think I took both of us out of our comfort zones because he wasn’t used to the way reality TV works. I’ve spent my whole career in scripted TV, so the time limits and hours are completely different. I was so busy every day — we started out dancing four hours a day, then it went up to six, and eventually, we were dancing and filming for eight hours a day. But Chris was fantastic about it. He was there for every show, sitting in the front row, cheering me on. It was just so lovely."
"I wasn’t very available since August when rehearsals started, but Chris was patient. He came to every show and sat in the front row, which was just so sweet," Kate continues. "He’s actually coming with me on tour to a bunch of cities. My family will be in Philadelphia, so he’ll be joining my dad, who just turned 96. Dad’s in pretty good health, but I didn’t want to push him too far out of his comfort zone. Still, Chris is excited about all this, and I want to keep dancing too. It’s going to bring us even closer together."
The Secret to Their Success: Patience and Cherishing Time Together
"Chris is now eager to start dancing himself, and I want to keep it up," Kate gushes. "But really, the key is patience. Being apart sometimes is tough, but it makes you appreciate the moments you have together even more. We’re not perfect — no one is — but under these crazy circumstances, we’re doing pretty well. It’s all about cherishing the time you have together and understanding that relationships take effort and patience. They’re worth it!"
