All About Jake Dunn, Nicola Coughlan’s Boyfriend

Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan hasn’t ever spoken about her actual love life. However, Coughlan has commented on persistent rumors that she and Bridgerton co-star Luke Newton were dating. The pair play a romantic couple on the show and are very close. But as she told Time in October 2024, they are just friends.

“A lot of people really want me to marry Luke,” she explained. “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?”

But there is one actor she has been romantically linked to: 24-year-old British actor Jake Dunn. After months of speculation, Coughlan confirmed their relationship on Feb. 12, 2025, when she shared a birthday tribute to Dunn on her Instagram Story. It marked the first time she has publicly acknowledged their romance. Here’s everything to know about Dunn and his relationship with Coughlan so far:

Like Coughlan, Dunn is an actor. He attended the Guildhall School for Music and Drama in London, according to his bio page. Dunn has done a lot of work in theater, appearing in productions of Much Ado About Nothing, Oedipus, and Death of a Salesman. But his star really rose when he was cast in Disney+’s Renegade Nell. The show is set in a fantasy version of 18th-century England and Dunn plays the show’s villain, Thomas. He was also recently cast in William Tell with Ben Kingsley and Connor Swindells.

In August 2024, the Daily Mail shared photos of Coughlan and Dunn at a Mitski show at All Points East festival at Victoria Park, looking more intimate than friends. Coughlan wore a white minidress and was seen with her arm around Dunn’s waist.

But it’s possible they have been linked longer than that. Dunn’s Renegade Nell costar, Alice Kremelberg, shared a throwback pic from the show’s world premiere, which took place in March 2024 in London. In the image, Coughlan posed with the other two stars, so they were clearly close before any romantic rumors started circulating.

In September, Dunn posted a carousel photos, and in one of the pics his friends are wearing a hat that reads “Nicola Coughlan” and a shirt that says “and her perfect breasts.” The top references a comment Coughlan made in regards to her body after being questioned about a Bridgerton nude scene.

The pair was seen again in October 2024 in London. In early January 2025, unverified gossip Instagram DeuxMoi posted pics of Coughlan and Dunn walking through London. The couple held hands and embraced. At one point, Dunn tucked Couglan’s hand into the pocket of his hoodie to keep it warm.

On Feb. 12, 2025, Coughlan and Dunn became Instagram official, as the actress shared an Instagram Story post to celebrate his birthday. The Bridgerton actress posted a photo of Dunn, simply writing, “Happy Birthday ❤️.” The image featured Dunn in a white T-shirt, looking off into the distance.

This marks the first time Coughlan has publicly acknowledged their romance. While the couple had been spotted together multiple times over the past several months, neither had spoken about their relationship until then.

Dunn previously included Coughlan in his December 2024 Instagram carousel post, but the birthday tribute is the first direct confirmation from the actress herself.

On April 25, Dunn and Coughlan attended the BAFTA TV Craft Awards nominees’ party, walking the red carpet together for the first time. The pair were in matching black.

Coughlan is nominated for the BAFTA Television Craft Award for Female Performance in a Comedy for Big Mood.

Additional reporting by Moriel Mizrahi Finder.