Who is Nicola Coughlan’s boyfriend Jake Dunn and how long has she been dating the Renegade Nell star?

NICOLA Coughlan has been romantically linked to actor Jake Dunn.

The couple's relationship came to light in October 2024, though they are believed to have been dating since at least August of the same year.

Who is Jake Dunn?

Jake is a British actor and producer, best known for his role as Thomas Blancheford in the Disney+ series Renegade Nell (2024), which was axed after just one series.

He graduated from the prestigious Guildhall School for Music and Drama in London in 2022.

During his studies he honed his acting skills and participated in various productions, including Anna Karenina and Julius Caesar.

Relationship timeline

The first public sighting of Nicola and Jake together was in August 2024 at the All Points East festival in London's Victoria Park.

They were spotted enjoying Mitski's performance, with Nicola seen cozying up to Jake.

However, it wasn't until October 2024 that their relationship became public knowledge.

On October 23, 2024, the couple was photographed on a date night in London, leaving the Auld Shillelagh Irish pub in Stoke Newington.

They were snapped walking arm-in-arm as they strolled down a residential street, seemingly to confirming the rumours about their relationship.

Public reaction

While fans have been supportive of Nicola's new relationship, there has been some controversy surrounding the photos taken during their October date night.

Some fans expressed concern over the invasion of privacy.

One wrote: “These photos are so creepy, it’s obviously a suburban street not even the high street…

"Did they follow them home?! Such an invasion of privacy!”

Nicola herself has been vocal about her desire for privacy, particularly when it comes to discussions about her body image.

She has expressed frustration with the media focus on her appearance, rather than her acting work.

Previous partner speculation

Prior to her relationship with Jake, there were rumours linking Nicola romantically to her Bridgerton co-star Luke Newton.

However, Nicola has since clarified that their relationship is purely platonic.

In October 2024, she told Time: “A lot of people really want me to marry Luke.

“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?”

Jake has worked with some of Nicola's Derry Girls co-stars in other projects, including Louise Harland and Dylan Llewellyn during his time on Renegade Nell.

While neither Nicola nor Jake has made any official statements about their relationship yet, their public appearances together suggest a blossoming romance.