Seven years. In the world of show business, that is basically an eternity. When Erin Doherty and Sophie Melville first crossed paths in 2017, the world didn’t really know their names yet. Erin hadn't yet stepped into the low-heeled shoes of Princess Anne for The Crown, and Sophie was still carving out a reputation as one of the most "electrifying" stage actresses of her generation. They were just two talented women working on an experimental play called The Divide.
Then, everything changed.
They became a "power couple" before most people even knew they were dating. Honestly, it was the kind of relationship that felt grounded in a way most celebrity romances aren't. They lived in Peckham. They shopped at Lidl. They shared a dog named Free. But as of 2025, that chapter has officially closed. If you’ve been keeping up with the news, you know that Erin Doherty has moved on, and the long-term partnership with Sophie Melville is now a part of her history.
The Start of Erin Doherty and Sophie Melville
They didn't meet on a glitzy red carpet. No. They met in a rehearsal room for Alan Ayckbourn’s The Divide. It was 2017, and the play was a massive, five-part epic that debuted at the Edinburgh International Festival before moving to the Old Vic in London.
Imagine the intensity.
Working on a project that demanding creates a specific kind of bond. You're together for twelve hours a day, figuring out complex blocking and emotional beats. For Erin and Sophie, it wasn't just a professional connection. It was the start of something that would last nearly a decade.
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Building a Life in South London
For a long time, they were notoriously private. They didn’t go public until 2019, which coincidentally was the same year Erin’s career went into the stratosphere thanks to The Crown. While the world was obsessing over her deadpan delivery and perfect royal posture, she was going home to a shared flat in South London.
They eventually bought a place together in Peckham. It’s funny—Erin once mentioned in an interview with The Independent that their new flat had a "weird room" that made strange noises, so they’d just blast music to ignore it. It’s those little, human details that made fans love them. They felt like a real couple, not a PR stunt.
Working Together: From "The Divide" to "Wolfie"
Most actors avoid working with their partners. It can be a nightmare. But for Erin Doherty and Sophie Melville, it seemed to be where they thrived. In 2019, they starred together in a play called Wolfie at Theatre503.
It was a two-hander. Just the two of them on stage.
They played twins separated at birth, and the reviews were glowing. Critics called them "electrifying" and "rubber-limbed shapeshifters."
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The Creative Synergy
- Wolfie (2019): A visceral, physical performance where they played twins.
- Massive (2020): An Audible original where they played a queer couple.
- Support System: Sophie once told The Stage that there’s no better partner than someone who understands the industry. They’d help each other with self-tapes and auditions constantly.
In a 2020 video for Audible, Erin famously called her relationship with Sophie her "greatest achievement." It wasn't the BAFTA nominations or the Netflix fame. It was her. That’s a heavy statement to make publicly.
Why Did They Break Up?
This is the part where everyone wants a scandalous answer. Was there drama? A huge falling out? Honestly, we don't know. Neither Erin nor Sophie has ever given a tell-all interview about the split.
The news started trickling out in early 2025. Fans noticed they had stopped following each other on Instagram—the modern-day equivalent of a formal divorce announcement. By March 2025, sources confirmed to The Mirror and other outlets that the relationship had been over for a while.
Seven years is a long time. People grow. They change. Sometimes the person you needed when you were 25 isn't the person you need when you're 32.
Life After the Split
Erin has since gone on to find love again. She made it "Red Carpet Official" with Sinéad Donnelly, an NHS radiographer, at the 2025 Emmy Awards. It’s a bit of a shift—dating someone outside the industry—but Erin seems incredibly happy. She even joked about the "lesbian cliché" of moving in together quickly.
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Sophie, meanwhile, has remained focused on her craft. She’s been doing incredible work on stage and recently appeared in the BBC’s The Way. She’s always been an "actor's actor," someone who cares more about the sweat and the struggle of the performance than the celebrity gossip columns.
The Impact of Their Relationship
Even though they aren't together anymore, the era of Erin Doherty and Sophie Melville mattered. They were one of the few high-profile queer couples in the UK acting scene who didn't make their identity their entire "brand." They just lived their lives.
Erin has been very open about her coming-out journey. She didn't realize she was gay until she was about 25. That realization coincided with her meeting Sophie. In a way, Sophie was a huge part of Erin finding her authentic self. On the How to Fail with Elizabeth Day podcast, Erin mentioned that her first relationship with a woman was "mind-blowing" and finally made the penny drop.
What You Can Learn from Their Story
People change. Careers explode. Lives move in different directions. But that doesn't make the time spent together any less valuable.
If you're following their careers now, you're seeing two women at the top of their game. Erin is winning plaudits for her role in Adolescence and the Disney+ series A Thousand Blows. Sophie is still the queen of the London stage, consistently proving why she's one of the most respected performers in the country.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out Wolfie on Audible if you want to hear their incredible chemistry together.
- Watch Erin in Adolescence on Netflix—it's her best work since The Crown.
- Keep an eye on the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse schedule; that's where Sophie does some of her most "magical" work.
The "power couple" might be a thing of the past, but their individual futures look brighter than ever.