Nicola Coughlan and Jake Dunn spark romance rumours on London outing

Nicola Coughlan has ignited speculation about a possible romance with British actor Jake Dunn, as the two were seen walking together, holding hands, during a night out in North London.

The Bridgerton actress, 37, swapped her character Penelope Featherington’s elegant Regency clothing for a laid-back black dress, tights, and a roomy cardigan for their night out.

Dunn, 24, opted for a casual look, wearing cargo pants, a red-and-white baseball t-shirt, and a cap while posing for photos, where he had his arm around her shoulder, as seen in images shared by MailOnline.

People believe they may have connected through her co-stars from Derry Girls, since Dunn has worked with Louise Harland and Dylan Llewellyn in the past.

The two sparked rumors about their romantic involvement in March when they were seen together in an Instagram post that was shared by one of Dunn's co-stars from Renegade Nell.

Since that time, the couple has been observed at the All Points East festival in London during August and has been seen together multiple times in North London.

The Standard has reached out to representatives for Nicola Coughlan and Jake Dunn for their remarks.

Earlier this year, fans of Bridgerton began to wonder about Coughlan’s connection with her fellow actor Luke Newton when they were spotted holding hands at the Australian launch event for the show in May.

Not long after season three premiered, Newton revealed that he was dating dancer Antonia Roumelioti, while Coughlan emphasized that the two share a wonderful friendship.

Earlier this month, she jokingly told Time magazine, "Many people are eager for me to marry Luke. We share a beautiful friendship."

"Our connection and the bond we share are truly special, something I know I won't experience with anyone else. Isn't it beautiful how a man and woman can form such a deep relationship?"

Although their bond is solid, the duo previously revealed that they accidentally damaged a chaise lounge while shooting the steamy intimate scenes for the newest episode of the Netflix series.

She shared with Entertainment Weekly: “We accidentally damaged a piece of furniture during one of our scenes. It was kind of like a stunt where they said, 'Alright, let’s go through this, this, and this.'”

"However, once we were granted the freedom to make our own choices in how to approach those scenes, it really gave us a sense of empowerment. We had a significant voice in the creative process, which felt great."

"We had an amazing time. They turned out to be surprisingly fun, something I hadn't expected. It was a blast!"