A Very Important Investigation Into Paul Mescal’s Dating History

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Ever since he burst onto our screens as Connell in Normal People back in 2020, Paul Mescal has held a place in our hearts as one of our favourite rising stars. Five years later, and he’s a bona fide movie star, most recently playing the character of Lucius opposite Pedro Pascal in Gladiator II.

But while he might have played a starring role in one of the most iconic love stories to grace screens in recent years (we’re obviously talking about Normal People, not Gladiator II), the 27-year-old actor has so-far kept his love life IRL relatively under wraps.

So if, like us, you’re invested in exactly who Paul Mescal has been romantically linked to, we’ve got you covered. Below, a comprehensive list of Paul Mescal’s dating history, from rumoured flings to girlfriends, and fully fledged engagement.

Gracie Abrams

Like most of his relationships, Paul Mescal and Gracie Abrams have kept theirs pretty under wraps since they were first spotted together in June 2024. In the almost-year since, they have been papped together countless times, walking the streets in New York City together, and even attending the All Points East Festival in London last August. These sightings aside though, their romance has also been unofficially hard launched a few times.

Back in November, Abrams attended the premiere for Gladiator II and in May 2025, she also attended the premiere for The History of Sound at the Cannes Film Festival. Though both films star Paul and despite them both walking the red carpet on both occasions, they kept some distance between them and were not photographed together. Paul also supported Gracie on her tour, attending her Auckland concert in April 2025.

All signs point to these two going strong.

Phoebe Bridgers

Arguably his most famous relationship to date, Paul was linked to Phoebe Bridgers from early 2020 until late 2022.

Their connection began on social media, with a series of flirty X (formerly Twitter) exchanges.

In June 2020, Phoebe told NME that “the cute boy” from Normal People had followed her on Instagram, saying “I got a little pitter-patter in my heart when I saw.”

The following November, Paul indirectly hinted at a new relationship, telling GQ his “girlfriend” was a “lifesaver” during the COVID-19 lockdown.

“To have someone to lean on through such a mad, mad time has been invaluable. Really, I don’t know where I’d be without her,” he said.

The couple then revved up their yet-to-be-confirmed romance in December 2020, with Paul starring in the music video for Phoebe’s track, ‘Saviour Complex’.

The following year, they were spotted together in two separate Instagram posts. The first was captured at the BAFTAs, after Paul took home the award for Leading Actor.

The second showed the couple getting cosy at a costume party amongst a group of friends, while dressed as Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox.

Then, in November 2021, they made their romance official, with their first public appearance. The pair walked the red carpet at the LACMA Art + Film Gala in California, affectionately posing for photos, with Phoebe even resting her head on Paul’s shoulder for one photo op.

And if there was any doubt that the red carpet appearance signalled the start of an official romantic relationship, Phoebe even playfully Tweeted during the award’s show, writing, “Paul thinks thousand island is called hundred years sauce.”

Just one month later, they took their relationship to the next level by going Instagram official. Phoebe posted a sweet snap of the two arm in arm by the sea. A modern day declaration of love, if you ask us.

Another milestone in this love story was the 2022 Met Gala, which the pair attended together. Paul and Phoebe looked very much in love as they giggled on the famed Met steps, with Paul looking dapper in a tuxedo, and Phoebe in a glamorous beaded gown.

Around the same time, rumours swirled of a possible engagement, and shortly after, however, a new rumour took over: Paul and Phoebe had officially called it quits.

In keeping with their lowkey attitude throughout their relationship, neither one of the duo officially confirmed the split. However in February 2023, Paul got candid to Vanity Fair about the media’s persistent interest in his love life.

“Sometimes I can drown it out and then other times it makes me really mad and upset,” he said.

“People are going to write and say things because there’s a certain interest with any person who’s in the public eye in how that person lives their life, and who they’re living up with, and what they’re doing and how they’re going about doing it,” he added.

“And look, a lot of the time people are really kind about their support for me. That’s my predominant experience.”

Angelina Jolie

Shortly after calling it quits with Phoebe, it seemed Paul had struck up a new romance with none other than Angeline Jolie. The unlikely pairing was spotted grabbing coffee in London in January 2023, alongside Angelina’s 16-year-old daughter, Shiloh.

However, a source close to Paul quickly shut down any rumours of a spark, telling Us Weekly that the outing “was a friendly coffee and nothing more than that.”

Daisy Edgar-Jones

Ever since their undeniable on-screen chemistry as Normal People‘s Connell and Marianne, fans have speculated if there could be more to the friendship of co-stars Paul and Daisy Edgar-Jones.

But while there’s no actual proof that Paul and Daisy were ever anything more than good friends, it hasn’t stopped fans from speculating over the years.

Among the most famous pieces of evidence are pictures from the 2022 Met Gala where, although Paul is posing with then-partner Phoebe Bridgers, an image from a different angle shows him apparently gazing at Daisy in the distance.

In another instance, Daisy presented Paul a BIFA for his role in Aftersun, making for one of the sweetest moments ever to be caught on camera. In the cute video shared to TikTok, the pair can be seen elatedly hugging after Paul makes his way onto stage to collect the award. We’re not crying, you are…

Rumours swirled again in September 2023. In a seemingly innocent series of photos posted to Daisy’s Instagram from Milan fashion week, fans were quick to hone in on an unassuming detail.

In the second snap, which shows Daisy at a fitting, her phone screen is on display, as well as what looks suspiciously to be an image of Paul Mescal as her screen saver.

While the image is a little too blurry to know for sure, an eagle-eyed TikToker zoomed in on the image in question, and we have to say, it’s very convincing. You can see the full video here.

In short, there has been (and probably always will be) speculation about the status of their relationship, but if we’re really honest with ourselves, we get more sibling vibes from these two. Sorry.

The post A Very Important Investigation Into Paul Mescal’s Dating History appeared first on ELLE.

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