Josh O'Connor is the kind of guy who looks like he’d rather be glazing a ceramic pot in a quiet shed than walking a red carpet. He’s made a career out of playing repressed aristocrats and sweaty tennis stars, but his real-life vibe is famously low-key. For years, if you searched for josh o'connor partner, you’d find a lot of old news about marketing directors and very little about his day-to-day. That changed recently.
The internet basically went into a tailspin when photos surfaced of him in Italy. Not alone, but with Irish actress Alison Oliver. You probably know her as the tragic Venetia in Saltburn or the lead in Conversations with Friends. Since late 2024, they've been the couple everyone is whispering about, and honestly, they're kind of the perfect match for the "artsy-intellectual" corner of Hollywood.
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Who is Alison Oliver?
Alison isn't just a "plus-one." She's a heavy hitter in her own right. Born in Cork, Ireland, she graduated from The Lir Academy—the same prestigious drama school that produced Paul Mescal. It's funny because she actually landed her breakout role in the Sally Rooney adaptation Conversations with Friends the day after she graduated. Talk about timing.
She and Josh were first linked in November 2024. They weren't at some flashy club in Mayfair. Instead, they were spotted in a film and photography library in Bologna, Italy. It’s so on-brand it hurts. Fans saw them posing for selfies among the bookshelves, looking like two students on a study break rather than international movie stars. Sources at the time said they prefer hanging out in libraries over big industry events, which explains why they managed to keep things under wraps for so long.
The Public Debut at Cannes
Things got a lot more "official" in May 2025. Josh was at the Cannes Film Festival for the premiere of his film The Mastermind. Usually, he does these things solo or with his co-stars, but this time, Alison was right there. They didn't just walk the carpet; they were seen with Josh’s parents. That’s usually the universal signal for "this is serious."
There’s this one specific moment from the festival that went viral. Josh was caught on camera very sweetly helping Alison down the steep steps after the premiere. It was a small gesture, but in the world of celebrity gossip, it was the confirmation everyone needed. Later that week, they were seen in Portofino, basically looking like a postcard. TMZ caught them diving off boats and, well, being very much in love.
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The Margot Hauer-King Era
Before Alison, the name most associated with the actor was Margot Hauer-King. This wasn't some fleeting fling. They were together for years, starting around 2019. Margot is a high-flying marketing director and, interestingly, the sister of Jonah Hauer-King (Prince Eric in the live-action Little Mermaid).
Josh and Margot even lived together in East London and briefly in New York. Back then, a friend told the Daily Mail that Josh had "found the one." But Josh is a vault. He rarely spoke about her in interviews, other than mentioning he’d like to have kids eventually but was in no rush. By 2023, the trail went cold. The photos of them together on social media vanished, and they haven't been seen together since. It seems they just drifted apart as his career went into the stratosphere with Challengers.
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Why He Keeps Things Private
Josh has been vocal about how much he hated the "f***ed-up" level of fame that came with playing Prince Charles in The Crown. He’s mentioned in several interviews, including a recent chat with The Guardian alongside Paul Mescal, that he values a "quieter" life.
- Social Media: His Instagram is a collection of ceramics and landscapes. No mirror selfies. No relationship hard-launches.
- Hobbies: He’s obsessed with pottery and gardening.
- The "Twigs" Incident: He once admitted to GQ that he joined a band called Orange Output just to impress FKA Twigs when they were in school. She apparently had no idea who he was.
What Most People Get Wrong
There's a misconception that Josh is currently single because he doesn't post about his personal life. People see his "Artsy Boy" aesthetic and assume he's a lone wolf. But the reality is that he’s been in a steady relationship with Alison Oliver for over a year now. They’ve even attended family weddings together—he was spotted at her sister Lauren’s wedding in South London back in September 2024.
They seem to have a shared philosophy on fame. Neither of them is chasing the "influencer" lifestyle. You won't see them doing a "73 Questions" tour of their home or posting sponsored content as a couple. They’re just two actors who happen to be dating and would much rather be in a library in Italy than at a Coachella after-party.
If you’re looking to follow their journey, don't expect a lot of updates from their official channels. Your best bet is keeping an eye on film festival red carpets or, apparently, quiet bookstores in European cities. Their relationship is a blueprint for how to handle being an A-list actor without losing your mind to the paparazzi.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch Alison Oliver in Saltburn (Prime Video) to see the range she brings to the table.
- Check out Josh's recent film The Mastermind to see the project where they made their first major public appearance as a couple.
- Follow the official Cannes Film Festival archives for the 2025 season if you want to see the high-quality photos of them with Josh's family.