Ariel Winter may not be starring in a “Modern Family” reboot just yet, but according to the actress, she’s kind of living one in real life. The former ABC sitcom star revealed that she and former on-screen brother Nolan Gould are now roommates in Los Angeles, just days after confirming her split from longtime boyfriend Luke Benward.
Winter, who played Alex Dunphy on “Modern Family,” recently shared that she has been spending more time in California and is currently renting a home with Gould, who famously portrayed her younger brother Luke on the hit comedy. “It’s funny because I spend more time out here now and I rent a house with Nolan,” Winter told PEOPLE. The actress had previously been splitting her time between Los Angeles and Nashville, where she lived with Benward and their four rescue dogs.
And while fans continue hoping for a “Modern Family” reboot, Winter joked that she and Gould may already be delivering one, just in a much smaller form. “People ask me about a ‘Modern Family’ reboot, but Nolan and I are real roommates now,” she said. “So it’s like we’re having our own little ‘Modern Family’ reboot, but it’s just the two of us living together. So I see him every day.”
Winter Says Their Dynamic Would Make Great TV
According to Winter, cameras might actually enjoy following their day-to-day life. The actress admitted she and Gould have joked about how entertaining their roommate dynamic can be.
“I’m not gonna lie, when we sit there at night, and we watch, like, ‘Temptation Island’ together, it’s pretty hilarious,” she shared. “So we have thought about it. We’re just like, people would find this really funny.”
Ariel Winter’s Roommate Reveal Comes Days After Luke Benward Split
The update about Winter’s living situation comes shortly after the actress confirmed she and Luke Benward had gone their separate ways after nearly six years together. Responding to PEOPLE’s Instagram post about the breakup on May 14, Winter made it clear there’s no bad blood between the pair.
“He’s still one of my best friends, a great human being and a great pup coparent,” she wrote. “Just because sometimes people aren’t meant to be doesn’t mean you don’t still appreciate the time spent and retain the friendship you shared. Still a big Luke fan over here!!!”
The confirmation came more than a year after Winter publicly praised the strength of their relationship. “There are so many things that go into a partnership, but I think what I find so important is a ‘best friendship,’” she told E! News in 2024. “I feel like, if you have that foundation, you really can weather a lot of storms.”
At the time, Winter also acknowledged that lasting relationships require effort. “I believe a relationship is more than just love,” she explained. “I believe it’s respect. I believe it’s work. You can’t just love somebody. And I really feel like we have all of those things.”
Winter Previously Reflected On Growing Up On ‘Modern Family’
Winter has also spoken openly about how close she became with Gould after spending more than a decade together on “Modern Family,” which ran for 11 seasons from 2009 to 2020. The actress admitted she never expected the show to become the massive success it eventually turned into. “I was 11 when it started. I don’t think I had any idea of if it was going to be successful or not,” she recalled. “I was just like, ‘Oh, awesome, I got a job.’”
Winter added that one of the biggest draws at the time was getting the chance to work alongside Ed O’Neill, who played Jay Pritchett. “But once the show started, it was an immediate hit, and it was so exciting to have that opportunity,” she said. “And being on the same show for so long? I feel like that doesn’t really happen anymore.”
Ariel Winter Is Returning As Sofia In Disney Reboot
Winter is also stepping back into one of her most beloved roles. The actress recently revealed she will reprise her voice role as Princess Sofia in the upcoming reboot, “Sofia the First: Royal Magic,” set to premiere May 25 and 26. According to Winter, the revival will feature plenty of updates for longtime fans, including refreshed music, cross-genre influences, and appearances from beloved Disney princesses such as Ariel and Moana.
For Winter, returning to the franchise has also been deeply nostalgic. “It’s so nostalgic for me because I remember my audition in 2011 and just waiting for my callback and thinking ‘It would be so cool to be a Disney princess,’” Winter told PEOPLE, reflecting on landing the role at just 13 years old.
The actress said seeing how much the original show meant to younger viewers, especially within her own family, has made the reboot even more meaningful. “Then getting the job and watching my nieces, who were 2 at the time, growing up with Sofia,” she shared. “They actually called me the other day, and she and all their friends rapped the theme song to me.”
Winter added that her nieces were thrilled to hear the beloved Disney series is returning. “They told me how much the first one meant to them, so when I told them it was coming back, they were so excited.”
“Sofia The First: Royal Magic” returns to Disney Jr. and Disney + on May 25.
