Hollywood moves fast, but the internet moves faster. One minute everyone is obsessing over a viral dance scene in Saltburn, and the next, they’re digging through the personal life of the man behind the performance. Most recently, if you've spent any time on TikTok or X, you've probably seen the term barry keoghan baby momma trending alongside some pretty heavy accusations.
But who is she, really?
Her name is Alyson Sandro. She isn't a Hollywood starlet or a pop singer looking for a "Short n' Sweet" romance. She’s a Scottish dental nurse and orthodontic therapist who was by Barry’s side long before he was wearing designer suits on the Met Gala red carpet. While the world was busy shipping Barry with Sabrina Carpenter throughout 2024, Alyson was back home, navigating the reality of being a mother to their son, Brando.
Who is Alyson Sandro?
Alyson Sandro and Barry Keoghan first crossed paths in a London pub back in February 2021. It’s the kind of "meet-cute" that sounds like a movie script, mostly because Alyson allegedly didn't believe he was an actor. Barry has joked in interviews about how he had to show her photos of himself with Angelina Jolie on the set of Eternals just to prove he wasn't lying about playing a superhero.
She wasn't impressed by the fame. That's probably what he liked about her.
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They were together for nearly three years. During that time, they lived a relatively low-key life compared to the chaos that followed his Saltburn breakout. They made their red carpet debut in late 2021 and by 2022, they were preparing for a massive life change. In August 2022, they welcomed their son, Brando—named after the legendary Marlon Brando.
The Breakup and the "Deadbeat" Allegations
Things got messy around the summer of 2023. While Barry’s career was hitting an all-time high, his personal life was hitting a wall. Rumors of a split started circulating in July 2023, and by the time 2024 rolled around, Barry had moved on to a very high-profile relationship with Sabrina Carpenter.
This transition is where the barry keoghan baby momma discourse turned sour.
Internet sleuths began accusing Barry of being an "absent father" or a "deadbeat." The narrative was simple: he got famous, left the mother of his child, and started dating a pop star. But Barry finally broke his silence on these rumors in late 2024 during an appearance on The Louis Theroux Podcast.
Honestly, he sounded pretty fed up.
He told Theroux that the "deadbeat dad" comments "sicken" him. He explained that he actually stopped posting photos of his son because he didn't want the toddler to be "ammunition" for online trolls. He also pointed out a heavy reality: he didn't have a father figure growing up (his mother passed away when he was 12, and he spent years in the foster care system). He admitted he doesn’t have a "normal" blueprint for fatherhood, but he’s doing his best.
What Alyson Has Said
Alyson herself has mostly stayed quiet, which is probably the classiest move possible. She’s an independent woman—she even told GQ once that Barry was "lucky" she was so independent because of his grueling filming schedules.
However, fans have noticed her "liking" a few pointed comments on Instagram that suggested Barry wasn't always the perfect partner. It’s a classic case of two sides to every story. While Barry calls her an "incredible mother" and insists they are co-parenting, the optics of him jet-setting across the globe with Sabrina Carpenter while Alyson stayed in Scotland didn't sit well with everyone.
A Timeline of the Relationship
- February 2021: They meet at a London pub.
- October 2021: First red carpet appearance at the Eternals premiere.
- August 2022: Son Brando is born (Barry only got one day off from filming Saltburn for the birth).
- Summer 2023: Reports surface that they have split.
- Late 2023 - 2024: Barry begins dating Sabrina Carpenter.
- December 2024: Barry and Sabrina officially split; Barry deactivates Instagram due to harassment.
- January 2026: New Year's posts from Sabrina Carpenter suggest a permanent end to their "on-and-off" saga, putting the focus back on Barry's family life.
The Reality of Co-Parenting in 2026
Now that we are in early 2026, the dust has somewhat settled. Barry's relationship with Sabrina Carpenter ended in December 2024, and since then, he has seemingly pulled back from the spotlight to focus on his work and his kid.
It’s easy to judge a celebrity based on a 15-second TikTok clip. We see the glitz, but we don't see the 5:00 AM wake-up calls or the FaceTime sessions from film sets in different time zones. Is Barry Keoghan a perfect dad? He’d probably tell you himself that he isn't. Is Alyson Sandro a "scorned ex"? It’s more likely she’s just a mom trying to give her son a stable life while his father is one of the most famous men in the world.
The term barry keoghan baby momma shouldn't be a slur or a punchline. It represents a real woman, Alyson Sandro, who is raising a child under a microscope she never asked for.
If you want to support the people involved, the best thing to do is respect their privacy. Stop looking for "clues" in Instagram likes and start recognizing that celebrity family dynamics are just as complicated—if not more so—than our own. Barry’s upbringing was incredibly tough; he’s trying to build something he never had. Whether he succeeds or fails isn't for us to decide via comment sections.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Follow Alyson Sandro on Instagram if you want to see the occasional (and very cute) photo of Brando, but keep the comments respectful.
- Listen to the full Louis Theroux interview with Barry to hear his side of the story without the tabloid filter.
- Wait for the facts before jumping on "deadbeat" trends—social media rarely gives you the full picture of someone's home life.