Paul Mescal 'smitten' with fellow BAFTA star as relationship 'steps up a notch'

02 March 2024 , 21:02

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Sources close to the couple say they became close after last month's Bafta Awards (Image: WireImage)

Bafta winner Paul Mescal is dating this year’s ­Rising Star nominee Sophie Wilde.

The Normal People heartthrob, 28, became friends with Aussie actress Sophie, 26, after they met at red carpet events last year. And now their relationship has stepped up a notch – with the pair said to be smitten. A source said: “Paul and Sophie have been having lots of fun to­­­gether and now their friend-ship has turned into something more. They got really close after last month’s B Awards and were seen smooching into the early hours at an after-party at Chiltern Firehouse. It’s early days, but they’re excited about where things could go. They have a solid foundation and loads of respect for each other.”

Sophie Wilde was up for this year's EE Rising Star Award at the Baftas (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images f)

Irish actor Paul – who stars in the upcoming Gladiator 2 – split from his US singer girlfriend Phoebe Bridgers 15 months ago, after two years together. Since then, he has been spotted looking for love on members-only networking app, Raya. Paul, who won the Best Actor Bafta for Normal People in 2021, was nominated for Best Sup­por­ting Actor for his performance in All of Us Strangers at February’s awards.

He narrowly missed out to Robert Downey Jr, who took home the award for his role in Oppenheimer. Sophie, who shot to fame in Aussie horror flick Talk to Me, was up for this year’s EE BAFTA Rising Star award, but was pipped to the post by Mia McKenna-Bruce for her role in How to Have Sex. Sophie is due to star alongside Nicole Kidman in upcoming erotic thriller, Babygirl.

Nicola Fahey