History Main / ActOfTrueLove

* In ''ComicBook/AllStarSuperman'', JimmyOlsen turns himself into [[ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman Doomsday]], risking that the DNA will overwhelm him, to stop a [[BrainwashedAndCrazy black Kryptonite infected]] Superman without sending him to the PhantomZone. Jimmy basically risked his life to stop and save his dad figure.

* In ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}'', Genie is willing to face an eternity of servitude if it means Aladdin and Jasmine get to stay together.

On the same topic, compare with TrueLovesKiss; kisses, while a great expression of affection, are, in and of themselves, rather unreliable indicators of love, as anyone who's had casual or hate sex can testify. Compare also with AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther, where characters who are ''not'' normally affectionate towards each other are seen to demonstrate their love in unequivocal ways, usually by enacting this trope.

* On ''Film/ThirteenGhosts'', the only way to shut down the [[ArtifactOfDoom Ocularis Infernum]] is by means of an act of self-sacrifice, which is something that Arthur Kriticos is willing to do [[PapaWolf to save his children]]. [[spoiler:Only this is not quite true, as the sacrifice will instead '''trigger''' the device... and Arthur's EvilUncle knows quite well [[BatmanGambit that Arthur will perform the sacrifice to save his kids, which is the reason he's using them as bait in the first place]].]]

* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': Peeta repeatedly (and at one point literally) throws himself on the sword for Katniss. He convinces their mentor to focus only on saving her at the cost of Peeta's own life, runs back to her after the tracker jacker attack to warn her off (which leads to him fighting with Cato and taking a sword to the leg) and at the end of the Games begs her to kill him so that she can win. In the second book he volunteers to be in the Games so that he can ensure she will win them and once again makes a pact with Haymitch to focus on her survival above his own.

* The entirety of ''Literature/LordOfTheRings'' (book or film) is one of these for [[BattleButler Samwise]] [[UndyingLoyalty Gamgee.]] He followed [[TheNotLoveInterest Frodo]] into {{Mordor}}, being his keeper for the whole trip.
** Probably the highlight is the moment when Sam says, "I can't carry your burden, but I ''can carry you!''" In the film, this scene is accompanied by music reminiscient of the Grey Havens -- the closest manifestation of divine love in Middle-Earth.

* This trope is namedropped in Disney's ''Disney/{{Frozen}}''. When a bolt of ice strikes a protagonist's heart, a wise Troll informs the victim that "Only an Act of True Love can thaw a frozen heart." Everyone listening assumes that it's TrueLovesKiss (which admittedly in the Disney canon is a surefire bet) and acts accordingly. [[spoiler: Anna, on the verge of turning to ice from the inside out, then gives up her chance to kiss Kristoff and save her own life, in order to [[TakingTheBullet block the sword]] and save Elsa's life. By laying down her life for her sister's, Anna's curse is broken, and she comes back to life.]]

* In ''Disney/{{Frozen}}'', the prophecy is that the only thing that can save a frozen heart is [[TropeNamer an act of true love]]. [[spoiler:It doesn't come from whom you'd expect, nor in the way you'd imagine. There are at least two Acts Of True Love in the film -- Olaf's determination to get Anna cured, even if it means he melts ("some people are worth melting for") and Anna's HeroicSacrifice, neglecting a possible cure to save her sister from the BigBad.]].

* In the ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' / ''ComicBook/PowerGirl'' crossover ''FanFic/OriginStory'', Alexandra Harris kills three government agents because they nearly killed her lover/partner Louise. She kills a fourth person, this one a high-ranking government official, because the not only does Alex find out that the attack was on orders from the official, but that he ordered a fourth government agent to attack as well.

* In ''ComicBook/{{Runaways}}'', Xavin poses as her beloved Karolina Dean and hands herself over to a group of Majesdanians who blamed Karolina for the destruction of their homeworld, protecting both Karolina and the other Runaways from the Light Brigade's retribution.

* Peeta repeatedly (and at one point literally) throws himself on the sword for Katniss. He convinces their mentor to focus only on saving her at the cost of Peeta's own life, runs back to her after the tracker jacker attack to warn her off (which leads to him fighting with Cato and taking a sword to the leg) and at the end of the Games begs her to kill him so that she can win. In the second book he volunteers to be in the Games so that he can ensure she will win them and once again makes a pact with Haymitch to focus on her survival above his own.

* The entirety of ''LordOfTheRings'' (book or film) is one of these for [[BattleButler Samwise]] [[UndyingLoyalty Gamgee.]] He followed [[TheNotLoveInterest Frodo]] into {{Mordor}}, being his keeper for the whole trip.

** "[[Recap/StarTrekS3E12TheEmpath The Empath]]", [=McCoy=] sacrifices himself to save Kirk and Spock from death or insanity via ColdBloodedTorture. again, he lives, but he didn't know that.

* In the ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekS2E1AmokTime Amok Time]]", [[TheCaptain Kirk]] sacrifices his career to save [[TheLancer Spock]]. [[LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt He gets it back, of course]], but he didn't know that that would happen.

* The English folk song [[http://youtu.be/GgBIk7Ibmt0 "Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier"]] (sung here by Music/MarkOConnor and Music/JamesTaylor) has an unnamed woman sell everything she has in order to buy a sword for her lover, the eponymous Johnny. The Irish folk song [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Si%C3%BAil_A_R%C3%BAn "Siuil A Run"]] is similar.

Compare and contrast with ThickerThanWater, UndyingLoyalty, or {{True Companions}}ship, or a sense of obligation or duty, which can be devotions to roles or positions rather than to people. A mother can be emotionally distant from her children, a vassal can think their lord mad and evil, two squadmates can hate each other's guts, yet still fiercely and unconditionally stand by them. The ActOfTrueLove, however, is always driven by sheer personal affection to the person.

Compare and contrast with ThickerThanWater, UndyingLoyalty, or TrueCompanions True Companionship, or a sense of obligation or duty, which can be devotions to roles or positions rather than to people. A mother can be emotionally distant from her children, a vassal can think their lord mad and evil, two squadmates can hate each other's guts, yet still fiercely and unconditionally stand by them. The ActOfTrueLove, however, is always driven by sheer personal affection to the person.

* Throughout ''Literature/ThePrincessBride'', Westley's True Love for Buttercup motivates nearly every effort and sacrifice he does, but where we have an Act Of True Love is when [[spoiler:he practically comes back from the grave]] and struggles against extreme pain and weakness for the sake of rescuing her from the grisly fate that would await her, were he to allow himself to succumb.

* In ''Anime/KillLaKill'', Mako does several of these for Ryuuko, usually in the form of a CooldownHug, and [[spoiler:Senketsu sacrifices himself to protect her]]. Gamagoori [[spoiler:takes a sword stab for Mako]]. [[spoiler:The Elite Four would do ''anything'' for Satsuki.]] Satsuki [[spoiler:defied the most powerful woman in the world to avenge her mother, but, much more touchingly, ran to catch her beloved sister falling from space, screaming her name with no restraint or shame]].

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* ''Ballet/SwanLake:'' LateArrivalSpoiler: Prince Siegfried needs to choose a bride at the ball. He encounters a group of swans who are really enchanted maidens. They have been placed under a sorcerer's spell where they can only appear in human form at night by the side of the enchanted lake. He falls in love with the main swan, Odette. The spell can only be broken if one who has never loved before swears to love Odette forever. At the ball, Siegfried is not interested in any of the princesses that his mother wants him to marry because he has fallen in love with Odette. Suddenly the black swan, Odile arrives. She is the sorceress' daughter in disguise. Siegfried announces to the court that he plans to marry Odile. After the sorcerer reveals the truth, Siegfried rushes back to the lake. Siegfried apologizes to Odette but the sorcerer demands that Siegfeld marry Odile, condemning Odette to spend her life as a swan. Siegfeld's Act of Love is to jump into the lake with Odette. They drown and this act of sacrifice breaks the sorcerer's spell over the other swans and the sorcerer dies. Siegfeld and Odette are united in heaven. [[GoodEnding The ending changes]] [[DependingOnTheWriter depending on the production]], though.

* In ''Disney/{{Frozen}}'', the prophecy is that the only thing that can save a frozen heart is [[TropeNamer an act of true love]]. [[spoiler:It doesn't come from whom you'd expect, nor in the way you'd imagine. There are at least two ActsOfTrueLove in the film -- Olaf's determination to get Anna cured, even if it means he melts ("some people are worth melting for") and Anna's HeroicSacrifice, neglecting a possible cure to save her sister from the BigBad.]].

* ''Ballet/SwanLake:'' LateArrivalSpoilers: Prince Siegfried needs to choose a bride at the ball. He encounters a group of swans who are really enchanted maidens. They have been placed under a sorcerer's spell where they can only appear in human form at night by the side of the enchanted lake. He falls in love with the main swan, Odette. The spell can only be broken if one who has never loved before swears to love Odette forever. At the ball, Siegfried is not interested in any of the princesses that his mother wants him to marry because he has fallen in love with Odette. Suddenly the black swan, Odile arrives. She is the sorceress' daughter in disguise. Siegfried announces to the court that he plans to marry Odile. After the sorcerer reveals the truth, Siegfried rushes back to the lake. Siegfried apologizes to Odette but the sorcerer demands that Siegfeld marry Odile, condemning Odette to spend her life as a swan. Siegfeld's Act of Love is to jump into the lake with Odette. They drown and this act of sacrifice breaks the sorcerer's spell over the other swans and the sorcerer dies. Siegfeld and Odette are united in heaven. [[GoodEnding The ending changes]] [[DependingOnTheWriter depending on the production]], though.

The ActOfTrue Love proves beyond doubt that you are ready to put your loved one's interests before your own, that you are truly loyal and devoted to them. Usually this involves a sacrifice on your part, at the very least a considerable effort and/or a great risk. The action must be motivated, not by morals or principle or expectation of future reward, but by sheer personal affection.

The Act Of True Love proves beyond doubt that you are ready to put your loved one's interests before your own, that you are truly loyal and devoted to them. Usually this involves a sacrifice on your part, at the very least a considerable effort and/or a great risk. The action must be motivated, not by morals or principle or expectation of future reward, but by sheer personal affection.

Compare and contrast with ThickerThanBlood, UndyingLoyalty, or TrueCompanions True Companionship, or a sense of obligation or duty, which can be devotions to roles or positions rather than to people. A mother can be emotionally distant from her children, a vassal can think their lord mad and evil, two squadmates can hate each other's guts, yet still fiercely and unconditionally stand by them. The Act Of True Love, however, is always driven by sheer personal affection to the person.

An Act Of True Love may well involve a HeroicSacrifice: this can often be a DeathTrope, so beware any Unmarked Spoilers ahead. However, the sacrifice need not be heroic: sometimes LoveMakesYouEvil or [[LoveMakesYouCrazy Crazy]].

Contrast with simple UndyingLoyalty or [[TrueCompanions True Companionship]], or a sense of obligation or duty, which are devotions to roles or positions rather than to people. The Act Of True Love is driven by sheer personal affection to the person.

Contrast with GrandRomanticGesture: showboating, parading or boasting of how much you love the other person, being dramatic or spectacular, all that shows that you're very interested in (starting) the relationship, but it says absolutely nothing of your commitment to the person. TheCasanova and the SerialRomeo make such displays as a matter of routine.

An Act Of True Love may well involve a HeroicSacrifice: this can often be a DeathTrope, so beware any Unmarked Spoilers ahead.

* Probably-platonic example: A background conversation on the Citadel in ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' slowly reveals that a human woman has sold her car, which she loved, in order to buy a suit of armor for a salarian friend who's about to head off to fight in the Reaper War.