When it comes to celebrity relationships, "Stranger Things [1]" actor David Harbour and singer-actor Lily Allen [2] have long been in contention for cutest couple award. In the early stages of their relationship, the two were private about specific details regarding when and how they started dating — which began on the Raya dating app and resulted in their first date at The Wolseley in London. Over time, however, the pair haven't been shy about showing their romance.
Ever since they were labelled an item back in October 2019, the pair have showered each other with love, whether in formal interviews or silly Instagram posts. During a June 2022 appearance on "The Late Late Show With James Corden [3]," Harbour opened up about his first meeting with Allen, sharing how the couple fell in love. "She said, 'When I saw you, I saw the biggest person I had ever seen in my life and also the smallest person I had ever seen in my life,'" the "Violent Night" actor recalled of their first date. "Isn't that interesting? That's what made her fall in love with me — that I was very big and also very small in a certain way."
Like any relationship in the public eye, they have also faced various obstacles. Rumours began circulating in Autumn 2023 that their marriage was on the rocks, but the couple put paid to the speculation by attending a basketball game together looking cosy.
From their Vegas wedding [4] during the pandemic to show-stopping red carpet appearances, keep reading for memorable moments in Allen and Harbour's relationship timeline.
— Additional reporting by Amanda Prahl [5]
Spring 2019: Lily Allen and David Harbour Meet
Allen and Harbour sparked dating rumours in October 2019 when the pair were spotted close together at a Knicks game in New York while Harbour was there to host "Saturday Night Live [7]." But both Allen and Harbour revealed in later interviews that they started dating long before their courtside appearance in New York. In a 2021 interview with The New York Times [8], the "Stranger Things [9]" actor explained that he met Allen while he was filming "Black Widow" in the spring of 2019. At the time, Harbour had a big beard and long hair for his acting role, but that didn't discourage Allen. "It's a true testament to my undeniable charisma when I say that my wife met me at 280 pounds with this beard and this hair. We went on a date at the Wolseley [restaurant] in London, and she really fell for me at my worst, physically and hair-wise," he said.
Allen touched on the first time they dated in a 2020 interview with The Sunday Times [10]. She confirmed that their first date was at London's posh The Wolseley restaurant and that the pair met through Raya, a popular dating app among celebrities. Talking about their first date, the singer said, "I remember looking at him, and it reminded me of Leonardo DiCaprio [11] in 'Titanic [12],' you know? When she's going to meet him under the clock. And, by the way, it was my first date ever. I had never been on a date! I was so anxious." She also admitted on "The Jonathon Ross Show" that she didn't realise he was star in "Stranger Things" as she hadn't watched the show. " I thought he was just like a sexy policeman from a reality TV Show," she said of her first impression [13].
Oct. 2019: Lily and David Take in a Basketball Game
The duo had been rumoured to be dating for a while, but all doubts were removed when they were spotted cosying up and laughing together in the front row of a Knicks basketball game while in New York for David to host Saturday Night Live [14].
Jan. 2020: Lily and David Attend the SAG Awards Together
The couple stepped out together for the award show, looking glamorous on the red carpet. David was there as a double nominee, having been nominated for best ensemble in a drama series with his Stranger Things [15] castmates, as well as an individual nomination for best male actor in a drama series.
Feb. 2020: Lily and David Attend a Pre-BAFTA Event Together
Photographers caught this adorably casual snap of the duo at Charles Finch and Chanel's pre-BAFTA party earlier this year.
Early 2020: David Harbour Proposes to Lily Allen
In a June 2021 interview with Jimmy Kimmel, Harbour revealed that he popped the question [16] to Allen right before the coronavirus pandemic hit the world. "We got engaged right before the pandemic," he said. "And then, you know, the pandemic hit and nothing was happening." The actor did share a humorous story behind his decision to marry Allen, which actually had to do with her two children, whom she had with ex-husband Sam Cooper.
He told Kimmel, "We were riding around the beginning of the pandemic — she has two kids, these beautiful daughters, 8 and 9 — and we were riding bikes out in the country trying to figure out what we were gonna do for the next year or however long it was going to take. And the little one was riding along and she was going like, 'David, Dad, David, Dad.' Because the 'd' got her confused," he noted. "And the older one got very upset with that, which I understand, and was like, 'He's not our dad! He's not our dad!'" To further save Allen's children from "emotional fallout," Harbour reached the conclusion he was going to marry Allen.
May 2022: Lily Allen and David Harbour Hit the “Stranger Things 4" Premiere
"Stranger Things" season four [17] hit Netflix on 27 May. Ahead of the widespread release, Allen and Harbour were seen at the show's official premiere on 14 May. As cameras snapped away, the couple, once again, were the centre of attention, as Harbour flaunted a custom suit featuring the characters of "Stranger Things [18]" with details of "the upside-down" embellished from his suit jacket to his pants.
The actor's custom suit was made by Union Western. He told Vogue [19], "My wife [Lily Allen [20]] at one point worked with Union Western. They make these mad suits for rockstars, so I figured, let's f***ing do this!"
July 2022: David Harbour Recalls the Moment He Fell in Love With Lily Allen
In an interview with British GQ [21], published on 4 July, Harbour said that after his and Allen's initial meeting, it took a few more dates for him to fall in love with her. "She claims to have fallen in love at first sight with me — I mean, who wouldn't?" he joked to the outlet. "I remember the exact moment. It was our third date. I was just in this phase, where I was like, I'm just going to be brutally honest about everything, because why lie? And I told her something about my life, about my beliefs . . . It would take a really extraordinary person to be accepting of the things that I said. And I remember thinking: Wow, that's somebody I want to be around."
March 2023: Harbour and Allen PDA at "Dreamland" Screening
The couple attended a screening of Allen's comedy TV series, "Dreamland," [22] in London on 30 March, where Harbour was pictured kissing her affectionately on the forehead.
May 2023: Harbour Takes Stepdaughters to "Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3" Screening
Harbour took on the ultimate stepdad duties when he took Allen's kids [23], Marnie, 10, and Ethel, 11, to the screening of "Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3" in May. Allen shares her daughters with ex-husband, Sam Cooper.
November 2023: Harbour and Allen Attend Basketball Game Together Amid Split Rumours
Speculation began to swirl in October 2023 when eagle-eyed fans noticed that Allen had unfollowed Harbour on Instagram. This was further fuelled when amateur sleuths noticed the pair hadn't been pictured together for a while, although this can predominantly be put down to Allen appearing in "The Pillowman" in London's West End [24] throughout the summer with Harbour remaining in the US.
However, the couple put our minds at ease on 1 Nov. when they were pictured at a basketball game in New York watching the Knicks take on the Cleveland Cavaliers. And to confirm their solid relationship status, Allen reposted a shot from a fan who captured them on the big screen at the game.