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See Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan and Boyfriend Jake Dunn Make Red Carpet Debut
Nicola Coughlan is not letting numbers—or distance—define her relationship.
Though the Bridgerton star is 13 years older than boyfriend Jake Dunn, 26, when it comes to their life together, it’s actually the Renegade Nell actor who brings more mature energy into the mix.
“He doesn’t have slippers, but he’s always like, ‘10pm is bedtime,’” Nicola, 39, quipped to Elle UK in an interview published March 5. “And I’m like, ‘Let’s stay up until 2!’”
And despite the decade plus difference in their relationship, Nicola admitted she’s feeling younger than ever.
“I think I felt old when I was young and I feel young now,” she added. “I didn’t know [who] I would be at 39.”
Though the duo—whose relationship was confirmed in 2025—are often away from one another due to work, they work hard to stay connected.
“We try our best,” the Derry Girls alum shared. “I send him annoying videos all the time and then, you know, a lot of Facetime, but he’s super-busy.”
Not that Nicola minds, as she was a fan even before they began dating.
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“Before we were together, I just thought he was a really talented actor,” she added. “But I love when people have their own stuff going on.”
Though Nicola had previously keep her dating life out of the public eye, she put on a rare display of affection when she hard-launched their romance on social media in February 2025. At the time, Nicola shared a close up picture of Jake unknowingly posing for her camera, writing, alongside a red heart emoji, Happy Birthday."
Just two months later, Nicola and Jake dazzled as they made their red carpet debut at the BAFTA Television and Television Craft Nominees' Party in London. Proving they were a great match, Jake coordinated in all-black attire that was a perfect complement to Nicola’s all-black Carolina Herrera dress.
Months later she shared insight into how she felt seeing the early moments of her and Jake’s romance displayed for the public through paparazzi photos.
“Imagine if you had an evening at the pub and then you walked around, talking, having a lovely time," she told The Guardian in December. "And a few days later, you see pictures of that. The violation is immense."
For more of the IRL romances from the stars of Bridgerton, keep reading…
Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/WireImage
Nicola Coughlan
While Nicola's Penelope Featherington found love with Luke Newton's Colin Bridgerton on season three, Nicola herself has sparked romance rumors with Renegade Nell alum Jake Dunn.
Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/WireImage
Sam Phillips and Bessie Carter
Lord Debling and Prudence Dankworth (née Featherington) may not factor into each other's love lives on the show, but the actors have made a real-life match.
And it appears that Carter's mum Imelda Staunton approves.
Shane Anthony Sinclair/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA
Phoebe Dynevor
Daphne Bridgerton swapped vows with Regé-Jean Page's Simon Basset, and now the Bridgerton alum plans to take her own stroll down the aisle.
Dynevor flashed her engagement ring from producer Cameron Fuller at the 2024 Met Gala.
Kate Green/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA
Regé-Jean Page
The erstwhile Duke of Hastings, Page having left the show after season one, keeps his personal cards close to his vest off-camera, but has looked awfully happy in copywriter Emily Brown's company since 2021.
James Veysey/Shutterstock
Jonathan Bailey
Like Anthony, 9th Viscount Bridgerton, the English actor prefers to stay mum on romantic affairs.
But he told The Standard in December 2023 that he was in a not-secret-but-private relationship with a "lovely man."
"Having a private life is, for me, completely critical," the Fellow Travelers star said. "I don't know if I would be able to be as confident to speak out on other things if I felt that my whole life was up for grabs."
James Veysey/Shutterstock
Simone Ashley
The Sex Education star, who fit the Vicountess bill for Anthony upon arrival from India, confirmed she was in a relationship with Tino Klein with a March 2023 Instagram post. But in February 2025, the actress shared she had entered her "single era" in an interview on BBC’s Woman Hour podcast, revealing the split occured one month prior.
James Veysey/Shutterstock
Luke Thompson
Benedict Bridgerton seemingly just wants to be free to do his thing, as an artist and in the bedroom. Though maybe he's developing some feelings...
And Thompson, who's not one to share what he's up in real life, was totally onboard with his character's journey, wherever it took him.
"It's lovely to explore," he told Deadline ahead of the season three finale, "but also putting down some roots and choosing something or someone also has huge value and excitement."
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Luke Newton
Newton dated actress Jade Louise Davies—her sister Amber Davies won Love Island U.K. in 2017 with then-boyfriend Kem Cetinay—for several years.
But he was snapped following Bridgerton's June 2024 midseason premiere in London hand-in-hand with dancer Antonia Roumelioti.
Of course, most fans are just disappointed that Colin Bridgerton and Penelope aren't together in real life.
"We think it’s really sweet," Coughlan told Extra of the off-camera shipping that goes on for them. "I think because we truly love each other."
Simon Ackerman/WireImage
Charithra Chandran
The actress who plays Kate's sparkling sister Edwina Sharma may be single at the moment, but she sent hearts soaring with the release of her 2024 rom-com How to Date Billy Walsh, costarring her longtime friend Sebastian Croft.
Lia Toby/Getty Images
Claudia Jessie
It turns out the actress destined to play Eloise Bridgerton ended up falling for the non-actor she auditioned with, casting editor Cole Edwards.
"I got a job and a fella on the same day," Jessie told The Guardian in April 2024. "It was a great day for me, wasn't it?"
She also not shied away from sharing candid confessions about her sex life, despite the fact that her character Eloise has yet to have sex on the series.
“It’s funny though,’” Claudia joked with AP during a joint interview with Hannah Dodd and Luke Newton in 2026, “cause in real life I’m having more sex than both of them.”
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