Nicola Coughlan makes relationship with BF Jake Dunn Instagram official with sweet birthday post

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Nicola Coughlan has officially taken her romance with Jake Dunn to the social media stage.

The 'Bridgerton' actress, 38, confirmed her relationship with the 25-year-old actor by posting a heartfelt birthday tribute on Instagram.

Nicola Coughlan makes it Instagram official with Jake Dunn on his birthday

The post, shared on February 12, Wednesday featured a candid shot of Jake Dunn gazing at the sky on what looked like a film set. Keeping things simple yet affectionate, Nicola Coughlan captioned the image, "Happy Birthday."

Speculation about the couple’s relationship first swirled in August 2024 after they were spotted getting cozy at Mitski’s concert during London’s All Points East festival.

The following month, Dunn fueled the buzz when he shared a photo of a friend wearing a hat that read “Nicola Coughlan” and a T-shirt with the phrase “and her perfect breasts,” a cheeky reference to Coughlan’s viral commentary on body positivity, as reported by People.

By October, the pair had been seen holding hands on strolls through London and leaving an Irish pub together. Earlier this year, fans also noticed them looking particularly affectionate while out and about, further solidifying their romance.

Even before their relationship was public, Coughlan quietly supported Dunn’s career. She attended the premiere of his Disney+ series 'Renegade Nell' in March 2024, though they didn’t walk the red carpet together.

A behind-the-scenes snap later revealed Dunn’s arm around her, a subtle hint at their budding connection.

Coughlan has generally kept her love life private, even shutting down speculation that she was dating her 'Bridgerton' co-star Luke Newton. “A lot of people really want me to marry Luke,” she told TIME in October 2024. “We have this gorgeous friendship but isn’t it lovely that a man and a woman can just have that without romance?”

How did Nicola Coughlan and her boyfriend Jake Dunn meet?

Nicola Coughlan’s love life got a little push from a familiar face, her 'Derry Girls' co-star and longtime friend, Louisa Harland. Harland, who shares a deep bond with both Coughlan and actor Jake Dunn, played matchmaker, introducing them through their shared social circle.

After months of quiet outings, the 'Bridgerton' actress, 37, and 'Renegade Nell' star, 24, were finally spotted hand-in-hand after a cozy night out at a pub in North London on October 23. A source close to the couple revealed, "They’re absolutely besotted with each other and have so much fun together. Despite their busy schedules, they’ve slotted into each other’s lives so easily as they share such a big group of mutual friends."

The source further explained, "When Derry Girls ended, Nicola, Dylan, and Louisa remained the best of friends and always supported each other in their careers, so it made sense Nicola met Jake."

Most recently, the couple jetted off to New York City, where they attended a live taping of Saturday Night Live. An eyewitness shared, "Her boyfriend stood by her side proudly while people kept coming up fan-girling."