Kevin Costner Opened up About His Relationship With Whitney Houston While Filming 'The Bodyguard'

These days, a lot of classic and longtime actors aren't afraid to get candid on the internet. In the worst-case scenario, they get exposed for some cancelable offenses that could turn them into PR poison overnight. But on the other hand, they could simply reveal some fun behind-the-scenes facts about our favorite shows and movies in modern formats. Podcasts have become a popular platform among actors to spill some hot goss or share their honest takes on the latest topics, for better or worse.

Even older actors like Kevin Costner are getting in on the audio action! The award-winning actor has been in the business since 1978 and is known for his roles in films like Dances with Wolves in 1990 and, more recently, his starring role in Yellowstone, which premiered in 2018.

Having been active for decades in TV and movies, he's got plenty of stories to tell regarding the industry. Interestingly, he even opened up about his working relationship with Whitney Houston while they filmed a movie together.

In a June 2024 episode of Armchair Expert, a podcast hosted by actors Dax Shepard and Monica Padman, the two of them sat down with Kevin Costner to talk about his long and storied history in acting. He had plenty of things to share about his different experiences in Hollywood, but folks have taken a special interest in the kind of relationship he had with late American music megastar Whitney Houston.

Kevin and Whitney starred together in 1992's The Bodyguard, which follows a former United States Secret Service agent who takes on bodyguard duties for a famous singer as he protects her from a stalker.

In the podcast, Kevin admitted that — as a producer on the film — he had picked her personally for the role. However, he also revealed that the film's director, Mick Jackson, was "uncomfortable with her" for some reason.

"I loved her," Kevin admitted. "It's not like, this giant mystery. So I knew that she would be the one."

He would go on to reveal that he fought for her to be in the movie and that even during filming, he supported her whenever Mick Jackson expressed his negativity toward her.

"There was a moment where she trusted me and as I looked at her, [I could] see the director was afraid of her."

Ultimately, Kevin made the decision to support her and offer some direction of his own whenever the actual director wasn't making the effort.

"I started to guide her," Kevin revealed. "I wasn't trying to usurp my director, but I had made a promise to her, not f---ing him."

Though the film ultimately received lukewarm critical response upon release, the songs that Whitney Houston performed for The Bodyguard were both nominated for Academy Awards later that year.

As for Kevin and Whitney, they seemed to have a strong work relationship while filming.

"I don't know what it was, but we had a moment," Kevin stated on the podcast. "I realized that the world had a higher idea of who we were, so I basically embraced it. I was her imaginary bodyguard."