Is Anna Wintour dating Bill Nighy?

FOLLOWING YEARS of rumours, Anna Wintour and Bill Nighy have seemingly confirmed their relationship. The US Vogue Editor-in-Chief arrived arm-in-arm with the lauded British actor at the 2023 Met Gala on Monday, May 1. While the pair could very well be attending as friends, as so many Gala guests do, Wintour has often arrived to the glamorous event solo. Her decision to take Nighy to fashion’s biggest night this year, famously her night, perhaps proving it’s love, actually.

As they walked the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Wintour affectionately held onto the Love Actually star while taking pictures. She wore an embellished gown and coat combination from Chanel’s SS23 collection, meanwhile the Best Actor nominee looked dapper in a classic navy suit.

Now if you’re baffled by their Met Gala debut, their romance isn’t exactly new. Speculation that the close friends began dating goes back to February 2020. Here’s what we know about their relationship, before we start seeing more stylish red carpet couples appearances.

Related: Everything they’re wearing on the 2023 Met Gala red carpet

How did Anna Wintour and Bill Nighy meet?

It’s unclear when Anna Wintour and Billy Nighy first met, but multiple outlets suggest they’ve known each other for years. They were first photographed together sitting side-by-side on the front row of Nicole Farhi’s Spring 2011 show in London, and then a year later at Nicole Farhi’s 2012 show as well as Mulberry’s. Then in 2020, Wintour and the Living actor smiled for pictures at Paul Smith’s 50th anniversary dinner in Paris and attended a special screening of the Emma adaptation, starring Anya Taylor-Joy.

Aside from professional media and fashion events, they’ve also accompanied each other to the theatre outings and restaurants since at least 2015.

When did Anna Wintour start dating Bill Nighy?

To preface, neither Anna Wintour nor Bill Nighy have confirmed their relationship. However, rumours of their romance began in February 2020, just after Wintour’s divorce to Shelby Bryan, when an eyewitness told Page Six the US Vogue Editor-in-Chief looked: “happier than I have ever seen her.” 

“Anna was beaming the whole time. She looked happy and in very good company. She was beautifully made-up and she was smiling so much — she had her sunglasses off the entire time! They were sitting together in a corner enjoying a frothy coffee,” the source continued.

Then in 2021, Wintour and Nighy were spotted enjoying a romantic meal in Rome more than once. At the time, the British actor was snapped gifting the fashion mogul a big bunch of roses.

Has Anna Wintour ever been married?

Anna Wintour was first married to David Shaffer, a well-known and respected child psychiatrist in New York, from 1984 to 1999. The former couple share 35-year-old daughter Bee and 37-year-old son Charlie.

Wintour then married Shelby Bryan, a business executive and venture capitalist, in 2004. The pair divorced in 2020.

Meanwhile, Nigh has been single since 2008 — having broken up with his wife of nearly 30 years Diana Quick, with whom he shares daughter Mary Nighy, 38.

Related: See the sweetest couples looks at the 2023 Met Gala