Australian singer-songwriter Ruel Vincent van Dijk has captured hearts worldwide with his soulful voice and emotional lyrics, but what about his own heart? The 22-year-old Sydney native, known mononymously as Ruel, has been relatively private about his romantic life, though recent interviews have shed light on his relationship status. Born on October 29, 2002, in London before moving to Australia, Ruel has grown from a 12-year-old songwriter penning tracks about young love to a mature artist with real relationships while maintaining his career.
The “Don’t Tell Me” singer first gained attention when he wrote his debut single at age 12 about a crush, after his family dismissed his feelings as too young for love. This early experience with romantic frustration would become a recurring theme in his music, as Ruel has consistently drawn from personal experiences to create his emotionally resonant tracks. His journey from teenage infatuation to adult relationships has been documented through his evolving discography, making fans curious about the real-life inspirations behind his love songs.
With over 3 billion global streams and recognition as the “golden boy of Australian music,” Ruel’s personal life has become increasingly scrutinized. However, the artist has managed to balance his public persona with maintaining privacy around his romantic relationships, only recently opening up about his current relationship status in select interviews. This careful approach to sharing personal details reflects his growth as both an artist and an individual fame while protecting his private life.
Current Relationship Status: Ruel’s Confirmed Romance
Ruel (Image via Getty)
As of 2024, Ruel has confirmed he is in a committed relationship, revealing in a recent interview with Newsweek that he has a girlfriend and has been with her for four years. The Australian singer described his love life as “wonderful” and expressed satisfaction with the stability of his long-term relationship. This revelation came during promotion for his EP “Adaptations,” marking one of the few times Ruel has publicly discussed his romantic life in detail.
The singer’s decision to keep his girlfriend’s identity private demonstrates his commitment to maintaining boundaries between his public career and personal relationships. Despite his openness about having a girlfriend, Ruel has not revealed her name or shared photos together on social media, suggesting a mutual decision to keep their relationship away from public scrutiny. This approach aligns with his generally reserved nature when it comes to discussing personal matters outside of his music.
Ruel’s four-year relationship timeline would place the beginning of their romance around 2020, coinciding with the release of his EP “Bright Lights, Red Eyes.” This timing suggests that some of his more recent musical content may have been influenced by this stable, long-term relationship, representing a shift from his earlier songs about unrequited love and relationship struggles.
Early Love Life: From Childhood Crushes to Musical Inspiration
Ruel’s relationship with love and romance began early, with his very first song “Don’t Tell Me” written at age 12 about a dinner table conversation where he shared his feelings about a crush. His family’s dismissive response to his young romantic feelings sparked the creation of what would become his breakthrough single, released when he was 14. This early experience established a pattern of channeling personal romantic experiences into his songwriting that continues today.
The young artist’s approach to relationships during his teenage years was heavily influenced by his musical career, as he began collaborating with other songwriters and sharing personal stories in professional settings. Ruel has described himself as a “visceral oversharer” in relationships, a trait he attributes to years of songwriting sessions where vulnerability and personal disclosure are essential. This tendency to overshare has both helped and hindered his romantic connections throughout his career.
During his formative years, Ruel’s songs frequently explored themes of young love, heartbreak, and the confusion that comes with growing up. Tracks like “Younger” reflected on friendships and relationships that changed over time, while “Say” dealt with personal hurt and relationship challenges he was experiencing while writing. These early compositions established Ruel as an artist willing to mine his personal life for authentic musical content.
Musical Evolution: How Relationships Shape His Art
Ruel (Image via Getty)
Ruel’s songwriting has consistently drawn from his personal romantic experiences, creating a musical timeline that mirrors his relationship journey. His latest single, “Made it Awkward,” released in November 2024, exemplifies his continued willingness to explore uncomfortable romantic situations through music. The song chronicles the aftermath of confessing feelings to someone who doesn’t reciprocate, a scenario Ruel admits to experiencing multiple times.
The evolution from his early songs about unrequited teenage love to his current work reflects his growth in both relationships and artistry. While his debut material focused on the frustration of young love being dismissed or unreciprocated, his more recent work explores the complexities of adult relationships and communication. This maturation is evident in how he approaches both his music and his current stable relationship.
Ruel’s collaborative approach to songwriting, working with producers like Grammy-winner M-Phazes since age 12, has required him to become comfortable sharing intimate details about his romantic life. This professional vulnerability has translated into his personal relationships, where he acknowledges being an oversharer, sometimes to the detriment of new connections. However, this same openness has likely contributed to the success of his four-year relationship.
Privacy and Fame: Balancing Public Life with Personal Relationships
Ruel (Image via Getty)
Despite his success and growing fame, Ruel has maintained a relatively private approach to his romantic life, only recently confirming his relationship status after years of speculation. His decision to keep his girlfriend’s identity private reflects a mature understanding of how fame can impact personal relationships. This boundary-setting demonstrates growth from his earlier tendency to overshare in various contexts.
The singer’s move to Los Angeles in 2024, six months before his recent interviews, represents a significant life change that he’s undergone alongside his long-term relationship. Ruel has noted the faster pace of LA compared to his native Sydney, suggesting that maintaining his relationship while adapting to a new environment and career demands requires careful balance. His girlfriend’s support during this transition likely plays a crucial role in his continued stability.
Ruel’s approach to social media and public appearances with regard to his romantic life shows deliberate restraint compared to many artists his age. While he shares aspects of his career and creative process, he has consistently kept romantic content separate from his public persona. This strategy appears to be working, as evidenced by his successful four-year relationship and continued career growth.
Daisy Edgar-Jones has captured hearts worldwide with her compelling performances in Normal People, Twisters, and Fresh, but fans remain equally fascinated by her personal life. The British actress, who rose to international stardom through her portrayal of Marianne in Sally Rooney’s adaptation, has managed to keep her romantic relationships relatively private despite intense public scrutiny. While many viewers continue to ship her with Normal People co-star Paul Mescal, the reality is quite different from fan fiction.
Since September 2023, Edgar-Jones has been in a committed relationship with photographer Ben Seed, professionally known as “Pip.” Their romance represents a beautiful blend of artistic souls – one shining in front of the camera, the other creating magic behind it. The couple’s relationship has evolved from professional collaboration to personal partnership, marking a significant chapter in the 26-year-old actress’s life.
Unlike the intense media attention surrounding her on-screen chemistry with Mescal, Edgar-Jones has successfully maintained a more grounded approach to her real-life romance. The relationship with Seed demonstrates her preference for keeping personal matters away from the spotlight while still occasionally sharing glimpses of their happiness with fans. As Edgar-Jones continues to navigate Hollywood’s demanding, her partnership with Seed provides stability and creative inspiration, proving that sometimes the most meaningful connections happen when cameras aren’t rolling.
Current Relationship: Ben Seed (2023-Present)
Daisy Edgar-Jones and Ben Seed (Image via Getty)
Daisy Edgar-Jones is currently dating Ben Seed, a talented photographer who operates professionally under the nickname “Pip.” Their relationship began in 2023, with the couple first being spotted together during a PDA-filled stroll in London in September of that year. However, their connection likely started earlier, as Seed had been photographing Edgar-Jones professionally since June 2023, sharing striking black-and-white portraits of her on social media.
The romance became public knowledge when The Daily Mail captured intimate moments between the pair, showing Edgar-Jones embracing Seed as he kissed her head. A source revealed to The Sun that Edgar-Jones was “on cloud nine” with Seed, suggesting they had been dating for some time before being photographed together. The insider noted, “They have both had some free time this summer and love hanging out in Broadway Market in East London, just going to bars and spending time together. There’s a real spark there, and they are excited about finding each other.”
Who Is Ben Seed?
Ben Seed is a multifaceted creative professional who describes himself as a “photographer, director, and artist” on his Instagram profile. The self-taught photographer from Northern England specializes in portraiture, fashion, and fine art, building an impressive portfolio that includes work for luxury brands like Prada, Bulgari, Dior, and Louis Vuitton. His client roster extends beyond fashion to include major music labels such as Columbia Records, Sony Music, and Warner Music.
Seed’s artistic eye has captured portraits of numerous celebrities, including Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Priyanka Chopra, Nicola Coughlan, and notably, his girlfriend Daisy Edgar-Jones. His professional pseudonym “Pip” stems from his surname – a playful British reference to a small seed that he’s carried since childhood. This creative approach to his professional identity reflects the artistic sensibility that likely drew Edgar-Jones to him.
Relationship Timeline and Public Appearances
The couple’s relationship has progressed steadily since those initial September 2023 sightings. They made their red carpet debut at the GQ Men of the Year Awards in November 2023, officially confirming their romantic status. This was followed by appearances at prestigious events, including the EE BAFTA Film Awards in February 2024, where they were later spotted at Netflix’s after-party at Chiltern Firehouse.
Edgar-Jones made their relationship “Instagram official” in July 2024 when she shared a photo carousel from the Glastonbury Festival. Among pictures with friends, including one with Paul Mescal, she included a sweet image of herself and Seed walking arm-in-arm, finally giving fans the confirmation they’d been seeking. Seed reciprocated this public acknowledgment by sharing his own photos of Edgar-Jones, including an adorable mirror selfie of her sitting on his back, accompanied by a proud message about her work in Twisters.
Recent sightings confirm the relationship remains strong, with the couple photographed holding hands during a rare public outing in New York City in April 2025. For their NYC date, Edgar-Jones wore a brown tank top with black pants while Seed opted for a casual white t-shirt and jeans, demonstrating their comfortable, low-key approach to public appearances.
Past Relationships: Tom Varey
Daisy Edgar-Jones and Ben Seed (Image via Getty)
Before her relationship with Seed, Edgar-Jones dated fellow actor Tom Varey from 2018 to 2021. The pair met while filming the limited series Pond Life in 2018, and their relationship continued through Edgar-Jones’s rise to fame with Normal People. Varey provided crucial support during this pivotal period, particularly when Edgar-Jones had to navigate the intimate scenes in Normal People.
Speaking on the How to Fail podcast in 2020, Edgar-Jones praised Varey’s understanding: “My boyfriend, actually, he was amazing, because what a tricky thing to watch. He loves the series, thank goodness, that’s something I’m very relieved about.” She revealed there was a moment during episode six where Varey admitted it was “a bit weird” watching the intimate scenes, but they worked through it together.
The couple lived together during the 2020 lockdown, but their relationship ended in late 2020 or early 2021. The Sun reported that their split was amicable, with both actors choosing to prioritize their burgeoning careers: “They got on really well during lockdown last year, but they’re both young and passionate about following their careers.”
Addressing Paul Mescal Speculation
Despite persistent fan speculation about a romantic relationship with Normal People co-star Paul Mescal, Edgar-Jones has consistently maintained that their connection is purely platonic. The actress has addressed these rumors with characteristic grace and humor, telling the Sunday Times, “You watch with bemusement really, because it’s interesting to see what narratives people write in.”
Edgar-Jones has been particularly clear about the nature of her friendship with Mescal, stating at the Fastnet Film Festival in May 2024: “Met Paul, fell in love with Paul… as a friend. I’m announcing it here.” She emphasized to Variety that Mescal is one of her “lifetime best friends,” describing their bond as something special that emerged from their shared Normal People experience.
The pair remain close friends, often appearing together at events like Glastonbury Festival, where Edgar-Jones included a photo of Mescal in her Instagram post that also featured Seed. This demonstrates her ability to maintain meaningful friendships while being in a committed romantic relationship.
Maintaining Privacy in the Public Eye
Daisy Edgar-Jones (Image via Getty)
Edgar-Jones and Seed have successfully maintained a relatively private relationship despite public interest. They typically keep their romance out of the spotlight, with their April 2025 NYC outing being described as a “rare day out.” This approach reflects Edgar-Jones’s broader philosophy about balancing her public career with personal privacy.
The couple’s relationship appears to be built on mutual respect for each other’s artistic endeavors. Seed has publicly supported Edgar-Jones’s career, sharing proud messages about her work in Twisters and other projects. Meanwhile, Edgar-Jones has gradually become more comfortable sharing glimpses of their relationship on social media, suggesting a healthy evolution in their comfort with public attention.
As Edgar-Jones continues to establish herself as one of Hollywood’s most promising young talents, her relationship with Seed provides a grounding influence away from the industry’s pressures. Their shared artistic sensibilities and mutual support system appear to create a strong foundation for their continuing romance in 2025.
