Tiffany Chen Reveals How She And Robert De Niro Fell In Love: 'We Really Get Along'

In a recent interview, Robert De Niro's partner Tiffany Chen got very candid about their love story. The couple, who first met on the set of the film, "The Intern," in 2015, welcomed their first child together, daughter Gia, in April.

However, Chen faced serious "postpartum complications" after giving birth to her daughter and was diagnosed with Bell's palsy. 

Keep on reading to learn more.

Robert De Niro and Tiffany Chen first met on the set of the 2015 film "The Intern," but their story has seamlessly transitioned them from working colleagues to a very loving couple.

In a recent interview, Chen, a skilled martial arts instructor, shared that their relationship started strictly professionally during the filming. However, their connection organically evolved over several years into a romantic partnership.

"When we were working, it was just work," Chen revealed during her appearance on "CBS Mornings" with Gayle King on Friday, per Page Six. "And then a couple of years later, we got back in touch, and I said, 'Oh, I guess we get along, and I guess we really get along.'"

In the movie, De Niro portrayed the character Ben Whittaker, a widowed senior who decides to rejoin the workforce as a senior intern at a fashion website. Throughout the story, he forms an unlikely and heartwarming friendship with the CEO of the company, Jules Ostin, played by Anne Hathaway. On the other hand, Chen had a minor role in the comedy-drama as Ben's tai chi instructor.

During the filming of "The Intern," De Niro was still in a relationship with his second wife, Grace Hightower. However, their marriage came to an end in 2018.

In a delightful turn of events, the "Taxi Driver" actor and Chen quietly welcomed their first child together, a daughter, on April 6. The news came to light when a reporter referred to De Niro as a "father of six," to which the Oscar winner quickly corrected, stating, "Seven, actually. I just had a baby."

A few weeks later, on "CBS Mornings," Gayle King unveiled the name and the first photo of their daughter, Gia, on behalf of De Niro and Chen. "They both wanted this baby," King shared, expressing their overwhelming joy, adding, "They're over the moon. She was brought here in love. He's very psyched about it."

During her Friday appearance on "CBS Mornings" with King, Chen shared her experience of being diagnosed with Bell's palsy after giving birth. She explained that shortly after leaving the hospital with her baby girl Gia in April, she started experiencing unusual sensations in her tongue, such as tingling and numbness.

Describing the feeling, Chen recalled, "My face just felt weird. It was like everything was starting to just fall down on itself. Like, my face was melting on itself." She continued, "Then a week after giving birth, that was when it all hit," adding that she began to "slur" her speech and "couldn't eat."

Concerned, the martial arts instructor returned to the hospital, where she completely lost all facial function upon arrival. After a medical evaluation, Chen received a diagnosis of Bell's palsy, a condition characterized by muscle weakness on one side of the face.

In her interview with King, Chen expressed her gratitude for De Niro's unwavering support and kindness during her health struggles.

She fondly recalled De Niro's reassuring words as he attempted to downplay any noticeable changes in her appearance, stating that "he didn't see any difference, he didn't see any change."

She added, "He was like 'No. ... You look fine.' He's like, 'Maybe you look a little stern.' And I'm like, 'Really?' My whole face has melted on itself. But he was very strong, very supportive."

In addition to his successful acting career, De Niro is a loving father to his children from different relationships. Besides Gia with Chen, the actor shares two children, Drena, 51, and Raphael, 46, with Diahnne Abbott, and twins Aaron and Julian, 27, with Toukie Smith. Furthermore, he is a proud father to Elliot, 25, and Helen, 11, whom he shares with Hightower.