Gracie Abrams and Paul Mescal’s bid to become Hollywood’s new ‘power couple’: Couple pack on ‘performative’ PDA as they hard launch their relationship at the 2026 BATFAs

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Paul Mescal and his girlfriend, Gracie Abrams, publicly appeared as a couple for the first time on the red carpet at the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards in London on Sunday evening.

The awards show featured a special moment for the famous couple, who openly showed their affection for each other.

However, some people have speculated that certain displays of affection between them weren’t genuine, and Gracie has been criticized for seemingly copying Kylie Jenner’s public approach to revealing a new relationship.

While posing for photos on the red carpet, 26-year-old songwriter Gracie sweetly kissed 30-year-old Paul on the cheek, and they shared a loving gaze.

The couple shared a tender kiss inside the auditorium while celebrating their film, Hamnet, winning the award for Outstanding British Film.

This public showing of affection is a big change for the couple, who have been dating since 2024 but have generally kept their relationship private – until recently.

According to body language expert Judi James, one partner seems eager to present their relationship as a major Hollywood power couple.

She explained to the Daily Mail that everything the couple did on the red carpet seemed intended to show everyone they’re in a committed, romantic relationship, and that they want to be seen as the next big power couple in Hollywood.

They moved seamlessly into each pose for the photos, with Gracie leaning into Paul and almost melting against him – a sweet gesture that made him seem like her protector for the evening.

‘His hand with the slightly splayed fingers rests on her bottom in a casually sexy gesture.’

However, Judi noted that there is a ‘hint of a branding disconnect’ with their body language.

She went on to say that Gracie carries herself with a very polished, glamorous air, like a Hollywood celebrity, while Paul seems more down-to-earth and genuinely relaxed in his mannerisms.

During their red carpet photos, Gracie seems eager to give Paul lots of little kisses on his face. When she gives him a quick, polite peck, Paul subtly puckers his lips, suggesting he’d rather keep things simple and natural.

Then, Gracie leans in to kiss his cheek, and he reacts with a lopsided grin, clearly enjoying the moment and acknowledging he’s landed a lucky romantic connection – as if signaling to the camera about his good fortune.

During the ceremony, rapper Stormzy announced that Hamnet had won Outstanding British Film.

It was such a sweet moment when the camera showed the Hamnet team! I noticed Paul leaning down and giving Gracie a quick kiss – honestly, it was adorable and you could just feel the warmth between them.

Judi observed that Paul sat casually and comfortably in the auditorium, with Gracie affectionately linking her arm through his, showing her affection.

Oh my gosh, did you see how Paul was sitting? It was just so… him! Totally relaxed and natural, not at all stiff or posed. And the best part? He was sitting right near his co-star, like he was completely open and friendly and wanted to connect with them. It just felt so genuine and… perfect, honestly!

Gracie lovingly clings to his arm, showing both affection and pride. She wraps both hands around his bicep, fingers intertwined, to emphasize their close connection.

You can often tell the real dynamic in a relationship when awards are given out – the way partners congratulate each other, and how affectionate that congratulations is, clearly shows who holds more influence.

After the film Hamnet won Best British Movie, Gracie squeezed Paul’s arm in celebration, and their very public kiss strongly suggested they were officially confirming their relationship.

Paul shared a sweet and gentle kiss with Gracie, pausing to cup her face with his hand. This tender moment showed how important she’s become to him.

It seems Paul is now making Gracie a top priority. He recently shared that he intends to scale back his work to spend more time with his family.

Turning 30 made him realize how much he appreciated the steady pace he’d found in his work. He felt this comfortable rhythm started around age 23 and has continued to this day, as he enters his fourth decade.

I’m starting to prioritize things that truly matter to me, like spending quality time with my family, partner, and friends, and I’m consciously making time for those relationships.

The actor, who usually keeps his relationship with singer Gracie private, went on to say, ‘Until now, I’ve always been focused on my career and haven’t really wanted to do much else…’

‘And now I do have a desire to not spend my time necessarily in a rehearsal room or on set.’

Paul recently shared that he’s prioritizing his personal relationships, following an earlier conversation with Rolling Stone where he expressed his desire to become a father someday.

He mentioned wanting to have children someday. He wasn’t in a rush, but definitely saw it as something he wanted in the future.

Paul and Gracie were first seen together in public in June 2024, enjoying a romantic date at BRAT Restaurant in London.

Onlookers revealed at the time that ‘they were kissing a lot’.

An insider told People Magazine in August the two were ‘hooking up and it’s in the early stages’.

They spent their first summer together going to several UK music festivals and enjoying quiet dates in London.

In October 2024, Paul publicly supported his singer girlfriend by attending her concert in New York City, where he was seen enjoying the show and singing along.

Even though Paul and his partner have been showing more of their relationship publicly, he’s still very private and doesn’t want attention on his personal life. He stated last October that he prefers to keep that part of his life to himself.

‘How I am in my private life is so precious to me because I get very little of it.’

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2026-02-23 14:52