Jodie Comer, the Emmy-winning actress best known for her portrayal of the psychopathic assassin Villanelle in “Killing Eve,” has managed to keep her personal life remarkably private despite her rising fame. The Liverpool-born star has been in a relationship with American tech professional and lacrosse player James Burke since 2019, marking a significant chapter in her romantic journey.
Their love story began during an unexpected period in Comer’s life when she wasn’t actively seeking romance. While filming the action comedy “Free Guy” in Boston, the actress met Burke at a party, sparking what would become a five-year relationship that has weathered both personal challenges and public scrutiny. The relationship represents Comer’s first serious romance in the public eye, though she has been fiercely protective of their privacy throughout their time together.
What makes their relationship particularly intriguing is how it developed during Comer’s first major Hollywood production on American soil, coinciding with her career reaching new heights. The timing proved serendipitous, as Comer later described meeting Burke during this transformative period as “special,” emphasizing how the relationship felt different from any she had experienced before. Despite facing controversy and maintaining a long-distance dynamic during the pandemic, their bond has remained strong, offering fans a look into the personal life of one of Britain’s most talented actresses.
Early Life and Career Background
Jodie Comer (Image via Getty)
Jodie Marie Comer was born on March 11, 1993, in Liverpool, England, beginning her acting career in 2008 with an appearance on “The Royal Today.” She gained recognition through roles in “My Mad Fat Diary” and “Doctor Foster” before achieving international acclaim as Villanelle in “Killing Eve” from 2018 to 2022. Her performance earned her a BAFTA Television Award and a Primetime Emmy Award, establishing her as one of the most talented actresses of her generation.
The actress has always been notably private about her personal life, often expressing the importance of maintaining boundaries between her public persona and private relationships. In a 2024 interview, she emphasized the significance of protecting her personal space, stating that people will go to great lengths to invade that privacy.
Meeting James Burke: A Boston Romance
The romance between Jodie Comer and James Burke began in 2019 during the filming of “Free Guy” in Boston. Burke, a Massachusetts native and Penn State University graduate, was working as a tech professional while also being involved in lacrosse. Their meeting occurred at a party in the States, where Comer was experiencing her first major American film production.
Comer later revealed that she wasn’t looking for a relationship at the time, having been single for a while and “going with the flow.” She described the meeting as serendipitous, explaining to British Vogue: “When you’re relaxed and letting the universe do what it’s doing, things kind of fall into place. Which is very much what happened.” The actress characterized the beginning of their romance as “special,” noting how different it felt from her previous relationships.
Public Confirmation and Early Relationship
In March 2020, Comer made her first public acknowledgment of being in love during an interview with British Vogue, though she didn’t initially name her partner. When asked about love, she responded: “I’m very much in it. I think love’s the best.” This marked a rare moment of openness from the typically private actress about her romantic life.
By late 2020, Comer became more candid about her relationship with Burke, describing it to Sunday Times Style as “very different” from her previous relationships. She explained: “This relationship feels very different. This feels like nothing else… When you actually feel it, you’re like, ‘Ahhh, so this is what it feels like!’ And it was special.” The actress emphasized how the relationship developed during a period of significant professional and personal firsts in her life.
Controversy and Public Scrutiny
Jodie Comer (Image via Getty)
The relationship faced significant public scrutiny in 2019 when fans discovered that Burke was a registered Republican voter, leading to calls for Comer to be “cancelled.” The controversy centered around concerns that the actress, who publicly supports Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ+ rights, was dating someone whose political beliefs might align with former President Donald Trump.
Comer addressed the situation in multiple interviews, describing it as “absurd.” She told InStyle: “It was really; it was the first time I had ever been dragged into something like that. And it wasn’t just me; it was my family.” The actress chose to remain silent during the controversy, explaining that she saw the absurdity of the accusations against both herself and her partner.
The experience taught Comer valuable lessons about maintaining her personal boundaries and not feeling obligated to convince others of her truth. She stated: “I know who I am, I know my truth, and that’s good enough for me.”
Long-Distance Challenges During COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic presented unique challenges for the couple, as travel restrictions prevented Comer from visiting the United States. In a 2020 interview with InStyle, she revealed they were managing a long-distance relationship through “millions of FaceTimes.” Despite the difficulties, Comer remained optimistic about their connection, stating: “I feel like, with anything, if you want something enough, you can make it work.”
Current Relationship Status
Jodie Comer and James Burke (Image via Getty)
As of 2024, there has been speculation about whether Comer and Burke are still together, with some British celebrity watchers suggesting they might have parted ways. However, Comer has remained characteristically quiet about her current relationship status, neither confirming nor denying rumors while focusing on her busy acting career.
The actress continues to prioritize her privacy, rarely sharing details about her personal life or appearing in public with Burke. Their relationship, which began in 2019, has lasted approximately five years, making it one of the longest-documented relationships in Comer’s public life.
Impact on Comer’s Career and Personal Growth
Throughout her relationship with Burke, Comer has continued to achieve significant career milestones, including her Tony Award-winning performance in “Prima Facie” on Broadway in 2023. The relationship appears to have provided stability during a period of intense professional growth and international recognition.
Comer has often spoken about the importance of having grounding influences in her life, including family and long-term friends from school. Her relationship with Burke seems to fit into this pattern of maintaining authentic connections despite her rising fame.
The actress’s approach to balancing her public career with private relationships demonstrates her commitment to protecting what matters most to her while continuing to deliver exceptional performances on screen and stage.
Dominic Fike has captured hearts not only through his music and acting but also through his high-profile relationships that have kept fans and media buzzing. The multi-talented artist, known for his breakout role in HBO’s hit series Euphoria and chart-topping singles like “3 Nights,” has navigated the complexities of love in the public eye with remarkable openness about his romantic experiences.
Born on December 30, 1995, in Naples, Florida, Fike’s journey from SoundCloud sensation to mainstream success has been paralleled by equally romantic storylines. His most notable relationship with Euphoria co-star Hunter Schafer dominated headlines for over a year, while recent speculation about a potential romance with BLACKPINK’s Jennie has reignited interest in his dating life.
The 29-year-old Capricorn has been refreshingly candid about his struggles with codependency and his journey toward self-discovery following his most publicized breakup. As someone who describes himself as a “relationship person” who feels “uncomfortable being alone,” Fike’s romantic history offers fascinating insights into how young celebrities navigate love, heartbreak, and personal growth under intense public scrutiny.
From his early relationships before fame to his current single status, Dominic Fike’s dating timeline reveals a pattern of deep connections, creative collaborations, and the inevitable challenges that come with mixing romance and career in the entertainment industry.
Current Relationship Status: Is Dominic Fike Single?
Dominic Fike (Image via Getty)
As of June 2025, Dominic Fike appears to be single, though recent social media activity has sparked intense speculation about his romantic life. The singer-actor has maintained his commitment to being “alone for a while” following his highly publicized split from Hunter Schafer in July 2023.
However, January 2025 brought unexpected dating rumors when BLACKPINK’s Jennie posted an intimate-looking photo with Fike on Instagram, showing him giving her a back hug while both wore matching outfits. The image, captioned “Call me back” with Fike tagged, sent fans into a frenzy of speculation about a potential new romance.
Despite the social media buzz, these rumors appear to be unfounded. The cozy photograph was actually promotional content for their musical collaboration “Love Hangover,” featured on Jennie’s upcoming solo album “Ruby,” set for release in March 2025. The song explores relationship dynamics, and their chemistry in both the promotional photo and music video was purely professional.
Fike’s decision to remain single stems from his acknowledgment of codependency issues and his desire for personal growth. In his own words, he’s “done being in relationships right now” as he focuses on understanding himself better outside of romantic partnerships.
The Hunter Schafer Romance: A Love Story Born on Set
Dominic Fike’s most significant and public relationship was with transgender actress Hunter Schafer, his Euphoria co-star. Their romance began in early 2021 when they met during filming of the show’s second season, where Fike joined as Elliot, a character who develops romantic feelings for Schafer’s Jules.
The Beginning
The couple’s relationship timeline moved quickly from professional to personal. They first sparked dating rumors in January 2022 when spotted holding hands during a dinner date in West Hollywood. By February 2022, Fike had confirmed their romance by posting a photo of them kissing at a restaurant, captioning it “Happy birthday, happy birthday.”
Their relationship became red carpet official at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in March 2022, where they made their debut as a couple. Fike was notably smitten, admitting to GQ that he visited Prada’s SoHo store multiple times just to see Schafer’s face in their advertising campaigns.
Dominic Fike and Hunter Schafer (Image via Getty)
The Unique Dynamic
What made their relationship particularly intense was how it developed alongside their on-screen chemistry. Fike explained to GQ how filming intimate scenes accelerated their real-life connection: “In those moments, your relationship is accelerated because you’re so vulnerable with someone, immediately. Which usually takes a long time. Some people fall in love, like, months after they meet, or years after. We developed an attraction—it sped it up so fast.”
The Challenges and Breakup
The relationship ended in July 2023, with Fike citing his need to address codependency issues. However, Schafer later revealed on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast that infidelity played a role in their breakup, marking her first experience with cheating in a relationship. She described how this “fundamentally changed” her, though she emphasized that cheating reflects the cheater’s issues rather than the partner’s worth.
Pre-Fame Relationships: Diana Silvers and Shelby Tangorra
Before his relationship with Schafer, Fike had two notable relationships that shaped his understanding of love and partnership.
Diana Silvers (2020-2021)
Fike’s relationship with actress Diana Silvers began in an unexpectedly modern way—he slid into her Instagram DMs. The pair bonded over their shared love of The Beatles, leading to a year-long relationship from August 2020 to July 2021. Silver, known for her roles in “Booksmart” and “Space Force,” was featured on Harper’s Bazaar Australia’s cover during their relationship period.
Their relationship coincided with Fike’s rising music career, as he released his debut album “What Could Possibly Go Wrong” in July 2020, which charted in multiple countries including the United States and Australia.
Shelby Tangorra (2018-2019)
Fike’s earliest documented relationship was with Shelby Tangorra, lasting from 2018 to November 2019. This relationship occurred during Fike’s pre-fame period when he was still building his music career through SoundCloud releases. Little public information exists about this relationship, as it predated his mainstream success and the intense media attention that would later follow his romantic life.
Recent Speculation and Future Outlook
Dominic Fike (Image via Getty)
The January 2025 rumors linking Fike to BLACKPINK’s Jennie demonstrate how his romantic life continues to generate significant public interest, even when he’s focusing on remaining single. The speculation highlighted fans’ eagerness to see him in a new relationship, with some even comparing Jennie’s appearance to his ex-girlfriend Hunter Schafer.
Fike’s approach to relationships has evolved significantly since his breakup with Schafer. He’s been open about working on his codependency issues and learning to be comfortable alone—a journey that many young adults, particularly those in the public eye, can relate to.
His commitment to personal growth suggests that when he does enter his next relationship, it will likely be from a more mature and self-aware place. As he continues to balance his music career with his acting commitments, including the upcoming Euphoria season 3, Fike appears focused on professional development and personal healing.
