Nicola Coughlan’s Real-Life Love Story: Who is Jake Dunn?

After playing the lead in one of the most talked about romances of the year, Nicola Coughlan has seemingly found her own real-life love story.

The Bridgerton star, 37, has been linked to actor Jake Dunn, 24, since they were spotted together in August 2024, but it wasn’t until October that they took their romance public as they enjoyed a stroll in London on a cozy date night out.

Like Coughlan, Dunn is an actor best known for Disney+’s 2024 show Renegade Nell. The two have yet to speak publicly about their relationship, but they have been seen together on numerous occasions.

Earlier in 2024, fans speculated if Coughlan was dating her Bridgerton costar and love interest, Luke Newton, after the two held hands at a season 3 launch event. However, she has since shut down the rumors, telling TIME they are just friends.

“A lot of people really want me to marry Luke,” she told the outlet in October 2024. “We have this gorgeous friendship. We have such a love for one another and this experience that I’ll never have with someone else again. Isn’t it gorgeous that a man and woman can have that sort of relationship with one another?”

So who is Nicola Coughlan’s boyfriend? Here’s everything to know about Jake Dunn and his relationship with the actress.

Dunn studied acting in London

After playing the lead in one of the most talked about romances of the year, Nicola Coughlan has seemingly found her own real-life love story.

The Bridgerton star, 37, has been linked to actor Jake Dunn, 24, since they were spotted together in August 2024, but it wasn’t until October that they took their romance public as they enjoyed a stroll in London on a cozy date night out.

Like Coughlan, Dunn is an actor best known for Disney+’s 2024 show Renegade Nell. The two have yet to speak publicly about their relationship, but they have been seen together on numerous occasions.

Earlier in 2024, fans speculated if Coughlan was dating her Bridgerton costar and love interest, Luke Newton, after the two held hands at a season 3 launch event. However, she has since shut down the rumors, telling TIME they are just friends.

“A lot of people really want me to marry Luke,” she told the outlet in October 2024. “We have this gorgeous friendship. We have such a love for one another and this experience that I’ll never have with someone else again. Isn’t it gorgeous that a man and woman can have that sort of relationship with one another?”

So who is Nicola Coughlan’s boyfriend? Here’s everything to know about Jake Dunn and his relationship with the actress.

Dunn studied acting in London

Dunn went to school for acting at the Guildhall School for Music and Drama in London, graduating in 2022. While he was there, he studied drama and starred in two main productions on campus, including as Betsy’s husband in Anna Karenina and Cassius in Julius Caesar, per his bio page.

He also worked on a number of projects, including Much Ado About Nothing, Oedipus and Death of a Salesman.

He starred in a Disney+ show

Dunn went to school for acting at the Guildhall School for Music and Drama in London, graduating in 2022. While he was there, he studied drama and starred in two main productions on campus, including as Betsy’s husband in Anna Karenina and Cassius in Julius Caesar, per his bio page.

He also worked on a number of projects, including Much Ado About Nothing, Oedipus and Death of a Salesman.

Following his graduation, Dunn began working professionally on several TV shows, most notably Disney+’s Renegade Nell, a show set in a fantastical 18th-century England. Dunn plays Thomas, one of the villains in the story.

“He was so unlikable and enjoyed being unlikable that you kind of had to go there,” Dunn told a journalist in April 2024.

Dunn will next appear in William Tell, a movie starring Ben Kingsley and Sex Education‘s Connor Swindells.

Coughlan supported Dunn at his show’s premiere

Renegade Nell had its world premiere in March 2024 in London, and Dunn had Coughlan by his side. Though the two weren’t photographed walking the carpet together, one of Dunn’s costars, Alice Kremelberg, later shared a throwback snap from the premiere that featured Coughlan.

In the June 2024 post, Kremelberg included a photo of her posing with Coughlan and Dunn as the latter had his arm around the Bridgerton star, leaning into her face.

Coughlan and Dunn were first linked in August 2024

Fans first started buzzing about Coughlan and Dunn when the two were spotted together enjoying the music at All Points East festival at Victoria Park in London in August 2024. The Daily Mail obtained photos of Coughlan cozying up to Dunn as they enjoyed Mitski’s performance.

While Coughlan sported a white mini dress with studded ankle boots, Dunn opted for an open shirt matched with black linen pants. In some of the pictures, Coughlan was photographed with her arm around Dunn’s waist, causing fans to suspect the two were more than just friends.

They were seen on a date night in October 2024

Coughlan seemingly confirmed her relationship with Dunn when the couple were spotted getting cozy on a date night in London in October 2024. The duo were seen embracing as they strolled down a street after leaving an Irish bar.

In one photo, Dunn had his arm looped around Coughlan as she laced her fingers through his while deep in conversation with one another. The couple kept it casual, with Coughlan sporting a mustard cardigan over a black dress and Dunn in a white and maroon baseball tee and green cargo pants.

The sighting came a month after Dunn posted a photo of one of his friends wearing a hat that said “Nicola Coughlan” paired with a shirt that read “and her perfect breasts,” referencing a June 2024 clip of Coughlan referring to “women with my body type” as “women with perfect breasts.”

Coughlan has previously spoken about her dating red flags