In an interview with Esquire published on Wednesday, Oct. 2, the 41-year-old actor mentioned his four-year relationship with Emma Stone, 35, which started while they were filming The Amazing Spider-Man and ended in 2015.
When Garfield was asked about fans who think La La Land, the musical starring Stone and Ryan Gosling, is partly based on his relationship with Stone, he replied, "I guess people need something to believe in."
La La Land premiered in theaters on December 9, 2016, over a year after PEOPLE confirmed Stone and Garfield's breakup in October 2015. Directed by Damien Chazelle, the musical follows aspiring actress Mia, played by Stone, who falls in love with jazz musician Sebastian (Gosling) as they both strive for success in Los Angeles. While both characters achieve their dreams by the end, their relationship does not survive.
Garfield, who usually stays private about his personal life and romantic history, had no involvement with La La Land. The film won six Academy Awards at the 89th Oscars in 2017, including Stone's first Oscar.
Garfield also told Esquire, "I have never, and I will never, discuss or confirm anything about my personal life with anyone."
Since his relationship with Stone ended (they remain friends), Garfield was linked to model Alyssa Miller from 2021 to 2022. Recently, he has been dating Kate Tomas, an author and spiritual advisor. The couple was spotted holding hands on what seemed to be a double date with Phoebe Bridgers and Bo Burnham in Malibu, California, in March, and they have been seen together multiple times since then.