By Kimberly Nhundu

Copyright manchestereveningnews

Normal People actor Paul Mescal has provided a rare insight into his romantic life after going public with singer Gracie Abrams. The couple confirmed their romance on Instagram in July when Abrams posted an intimate photograph of the pair together at Glastonbury . Speculation about their relationship first emerged in June 2024 after they were photographed dining at a London restaurant. Since then, the couple have remained private about their romance, though Mescal has given insight into their choice to go public. When questioned about the moment he and Abrams decided to take the leap, Mescal told Rolling Stone: “I actually do have an answer, but everything to do with that is deeply precious to me and I don’t want to…. This isn’t … I don’t really … umm … I want to protect those things fundamentally.” With the 29-year-old actor discussing his relationship, supporters are keen to discover more about his ‘precious’ girlfriend, reports the Mirror . Abrams achieved widespread recognition in 2023 following the release of her first album Good Riddance, which secured her a Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist. During the same year, she supported Taylor Swift on the Eras Tour. The performers subsequently received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Duo for their collaborative track ‘Us’. The 26-year-old singer currently rakes in over 36 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and has more than 8 million followers on social media. However, her journey to fame has not been without its hurdles. Despite forging a remarkable music career, Abrams has faced criticism for being a ‘nepo baby’. This term is commonly used to undermine celebrities who appear to leverage their familial connections to gain entry into the entertainment industry. Critics argue that the singer’s popularity is largely attributed to her father, filmmaker J. J Abrams’ prominence in the industry. Film enthusiasts will recognise J. J for his contributions to the Star Wars franchise. Her mother, on the other hand, is television producer Katie McGrath. In 2023, Abrams responded to these criticisms, conceding that she understands how having famous relatives “looks from the outside”. In an interview with Rolling Stone, the pop star stated: “Obviously we can’t control where we are born into, and there are a million visible and even more invisible advantages to having family members who are in any entertainment industry.” Nonetheless, she added: “I know how hard I work, and I know how separate I’ve kept [my parents] from every conversation about anything career wise, but of course you can understand what it looks like from the outside.”