Crazy Taylor Swift rumours and school sweethearts: Inside Theo James’ dating history

Real ones know Theo James from the absolute classique Divergent series and then White Lotus, but let’s be honest you’ve probably fallen a bit more in love with him after seeing him as Eddie in The Gentlemen. And whilst everyone is weirdly raging about Eddie and Susie not getting together by the end of the show, you’re probably wondering all about Theo James’ dating history in real life, including all the Taylor Swift rumours from back in the day. So let’s take a look inside Theo James’ relationship history:

He’s been married to Ruth Kearney since 2018

Theo is currently married to Ruth Kearney. They got married in 2018 with two ceremonies, one low-key civil ceremony and a bigger occasion in Italy. According to InStyle, Theo and Ruth signed their papers at Islington Town Hall and later on, amongst friends and family, the pair celebrated at the gorgeous Villa Vistarenni, in Tuscany, specifically located in the wine province of Chianti.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Ruth Kearney (@ruthkearney)

Ruth Kearney is 39 and grew up in Dublin. She is also an actress and has acted alongside her husband in Sanditon where her character actually ends up marrying Sidney Parker, Theo’s character in the season finale.

Speaking to ISSUE Magazine in 2017, Ruth spoke about being an actress: “It’s a tough career, but I feel like I can’t really imagine doing anything else. It can be great fun [but also] really challenging.”

They met at drama school

Theo and Ruth are basically school sweethearts as they met when they were both in drama school together. They both studied drama at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and speaking to the Evening Standard in 2020, Theo joked about how he and Ruth’s eyes initially met as they “were huddled in leotards pretending to be mice… Being frogs. We did all that animal shit”

Via Richard Young/Shutterstock

He said that they had a connection very early on: “She’s very sanguine, thoughtful and funny. It made sense pretty early on. It’s interesting being together this long because we have navigated through the very beginnings of our careers… That can be hard at times, but also that [brings] certain strengths [to] a relationship.”

They have two kids together

Via Diggzy/Shutterstock

Theo and Ruth have two kids together. They had their first baby girl in August 2021 and a baby boy later in 2023. They keep very private, and so they haven’t shared the names of either of their children.

However, Theo revealed in an interview how he had adjusted to having his first child. “It’s discombobulating at first,” he said. “Especially with your first child because your whole life changes, but ultimately it makes you, definitely for me, at least, a much more solid person.”

They made no official announcements at the birth of either of their children so the world came to learn of their second baby boy’s existence through a throw-away comment by Theo on the Emmys red carpet this year when he said: “We have a daughter and then a 4-month-old son. We’re in the thick of it.”

Did he ever date Taylor Swift or Shailene Woodley?

Since Theo and Ruth are basically school sweethearts, Theo James’ relationship history is very short and sweet. But there have been a number of rumours from over the years. In 2014, it was alleged that Taylor Swift was “interested” in Theo James by Classicalite. The magazine said: “[Taylor] asked her friend Hailee Steinfeld to ask Theo’s friend Douglas Booth, another British actor, if there was a chance they could meet up for a date in Los Angeles. But Douglas told Taylor to go away!.. He wasn’t interested, despite the fact she confirmed she was a ‘Divergent’ fanatic.” Obviously, these are only rumours and nothing was ever confirmed between the two of them.

There were also a number of rumours about a connection between him and fellow Divergent star Shailene Woodley but the two have confirmed they were just very good friends and grew close whilst filming Divergent.

Related stories recommended by this writer:

• Feel like a criminal mastermind with these The Gentlemen behind the scenes pics and secrets

• There are £6 million worth of watches featured in The Gentlemen, says costume designer

• The White Lotus to The Gentlemen: Theo James’ characters, ranked from worst to best

Featured image via Diggzy/Shutterstock and Richard Young/Shutterstock.