Tom Hiddleston and Zawe Ashton are one of our favorite low-key couples. The pair, whose engagement was confirmed in March 2022, are also parents to a toddler they welcomed last summer.
On July 16, Hiddleston and Ashton made a rare public appearance at the Wimbledon men’s final, where they happened to sit in front of Ariana Grande and Andrew Garfield. And in a July 18 Entertainment Weekly article, Ashton explained how Hiddleston gave her great advice when it came to joining him in the MCU. Ashton stars in this November’s “The Marvels,” and Hiddleston, of course, has appeared in the Marvel films for years as Loki.
“It led to some incredible conversations about his experience being part of this franchise for over a decade,” Ashton told EW about joining the franchise with Hiddleston. She said that he gave her practical advice like making sure her costume has “enough zippers to go to the bathroom.” Ashton explained, “One of the main takeaways from our conversations was, ‘What you put into Marvel, you get back.’ He said, ‘If you go into this with an open heart and a great work ethic and just want to provide an amazing experience for the fans, you’ll have an amazing experience on those sets.’ He really empowered me in that way.”
Ashton and Hiddleston met in 2019 while starring on the West End together and quickly sparked dating rumors. But rather than be loud about their relationship, the two very private people have mostly kept the details of their romance to themselves. Hiddleston, who famously dated Taylor Swift in 2016, made a U-turn on sharing his personal life after that experience. He told the Telegraph in 2017 that he wanted to keep his private life just that – private.
“Everyone is entitled to a private life,” he shared, adding, “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.”
For everything we know about Hiddleston and Ashton’s sweet and low-key romance, keep reading ahead.
Related: Tom Hiddleston and Zawe Ashton’s “Lovely Chemistry” in Photos
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March 2019: Tom Hiddleston and Zawe Ashton Star in "Betrayal"
Hiddleston and Ashton first met when they starred together in the West End production of “Betrayal.” The show opened in March 2019 before heading to Broadway that August, at which point both stars moved to New York for the gig. Ashton mentioned in an AOL Build Series interview in late 2019 that she’d grown close to Hiddleston and their costar Charlie Cox while working on the production. “We were really lucky that we, on day one, had an incredible trust,” she said, adding, “I feel a core connection to these people and it’s because I can feel how open we are. I can feel the trust that we have.”
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August 2019: Tom Hiddleston and Zawe Ashton Attend the US Open Together
Soon after moving to New York for “Betrayal,” Hiddleston and Ashton attended the US Open together in August 2019, their first public outing unrelated to their work in “Betrayal.” It’s around this time that rumors the pair may be more than friends began to swirl. Though the Sun reported the two began dating around February (most likely amid rehearsals for “Betrayal”), neither Hiddleston nor Ashton confirmed the rumors.
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September 2021: Tom Hiddleston and Zawe Ashton Kiss While on Vacation in Spain
In September 2021, Hiddleston and Ashton were spotted showing a rare bit of PDA while frolicking in the ocean on vacation in Ibiza, Spain, per photos published by “Entertainment Tonight.” The pair were still keeping information about their dating status close to the chest, so this was as close to a confirmation that they were dating as fans could expect.
Getty / Jenny Anderson
September 2021: Tom Hiddleston and Zawe Ashton Make Red Carpet Debut as a Couple
Just after returning from their trip to Spain, Hiddleston and Ashton walked the red carpet at the 2021 Tony Awards together. While the pair had walked red carpets as costars of “Betrayal” before, this was seemingly their first outing as a couple. Hiddleston was up for best performance by a leading actor in a play, and “Betrayal” was nominated for best revival.
Getty / Tristan Fewings
March 2022: Tom Hiddleston and Zawe Ashton Attend the BAFTAs Hand-in-Hand
Hiddleston and Ashton attended the BAFTAs together in 2022, holding hands on the red carpet as they posed for photos. They looked cozy together on the red carpet and shared adoring looks before the event.
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March 2022: Tom Hiddleston and Zawe Ashton Reveal They're Engaged
Fans spotted a diamond ring on Ashton’s finger in some behind-the-scenes BAFTAs photos, including one shared by TV presenter AJ Odudu. In her photo, Odudu is posing with Ashton and Hiddleston, and Ashton’s large ring is clearly there. People confirmed the engagement, though neither of the actors’ reps commented.
But while fans caught on to the engagement during the BAFTAs, it turns out Ashton was spotted with the ring months earlier – as far back as November 2021. So while we don’t know exactly when Ashton and Hiddleston got engaged, it’s safe to assume it was long before anyone realized it. And knowing how intensely private this couple is, we may never find out for sure.
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June 2022: Tom Hiddleston and Zawe Ashton Reveal They're Expecting Their First Child
On June 29, during the New York premiere for Ashton’s film “Mr. Malcolm’s List,” the actor debuted her growing baby bump, revealing that the engaged couple was expecting their first child together. Vogue also confirmed the pair’s pregnancy news in a behind-the-scenes feature on Ashton’s “Mr. Malcolm’s List” premiere look.
Getty / Stephane Cardinale - Corbis
October 2022: Tom Hiddleston and Zawe Ashton Become Parents
In October, Us Weekly reported that the couple welcomed their first child. “Tom and Zawe are loving being new parents and are filled with joy,” a source told the outlet on Oct. 26. “They have been having the struggles of new parents and aren’t sleeping much but are thrilled.” The couple have not yet revealed the name of their child.
Getty / Darren Gerrish
July 2023: Tom Hiddleston and Zawe Ashton Attend Wimbledon Together
Hiddleston and Ashton had a rare outing as a couple on July 16 at the men’s final during Wimbledon. They wrote coordinating blue looks and were spotted cheering enthusiastically from the stands.
