Photo: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images
Tom Hiddlestonand new fiancéeZawe Ashtonhit it off quickly.
On Thursday, PEOPLE confirmed that the 41-year-oldLokiactor and Ashton, 37,are engaged.
Three years ago, the two played husband and wife in the playBetrayalon Broadway, though they met prior to that when the show was revving up in London before making the leap to New York City. A source close to the production tells PEOPLE that the mostly private couple always had “lovely” chemistry together.
“They were very private publicly, but behind the scenes you could just see a lovely chemistry,” the source recalls. “There were twinkles in both of their eyes, and the entire company, including Charlie Cox, were all very close.”
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“And being Brits abroad, they would hang out frequently. Zawe and Tom showed great affection for each other, and you could also see that coming off slightly in their onstage performance,” adds the source.
Tom Hiddleston and Zawe Ashton.Stephane Cardinale/Corbis via Getty
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The source says, “Tom has always been a very, very private person. Behind the scenes, they would just privately be affectionate and hugging and sitting next to each other and holding hands.”
The pair confirmed their relationship this past September when they made theirred carpet debut as a coupleat the Tony Awards, where he was nominated. At the 2022 BAFTA Awards over the weekend, Ashton sported her engagement ring while holding hands with Hiddleston on the red carpet.
Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions
Hiddleston, who previously datedTaylor Swift, explained why he doesn’t discuss romantic relationships during a 2017 interview withThe Telegraph, saying, “Everyone is entitled to a private life.”
“I love what I do and I dedicate myself with absolute commitment to making great art and great entertainment, and in my mind I don’t conflict the two. My work is in the public sphere and I have a private life. And those two things are separate.”
source: people.com
