3 minute readHandmaid’s Tale star McKenna Grace, 18, and How to Train Your Dragon’s Mason Thames, 17, play lovers in the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s Regretting You, but their off-camera relationship has also sparked romantic rumors.
Fans first wondered if the pair were dating in April 2025 when a TikTok video of them sharing a playfully staged kiss went viral. Since then, the two have been spotted spending time together off-set. On June 14, the two were also photographed walking hand in hand in New York City.
Although neither actor has explicitly admitted that they are in a romantic relationship, they have spoken about their experiences working and hanging out together outside of work.
Director Thames, in particular, had glowing words about his co-stars. “She’s one of the most driven people I’ve ever met in my life,” he told Seventeen in June 2025. “Being on set with her every day, I just want to be as good as McKenna. She’s such a sweet person and it’s so cool to be able to do this movie with her.”
Here’s the full breakdown of their relationship history so far:
August 2024
Grace and Thames made their first public appearance together at Netflix’s Incoming House Party event. At that time, news had just broken out that the two would be co-starring in “Regretting You.”
April 2025
On April 7, Grace shared a TikTok clip of herself and Thames lip-syncing to the famous “500 Days of Summer” audio. The video ends with the two leaning in for a kiss before going out of frame. Commenters were quick to jump to conclusions, wondering if the clip was a light play on real-life romance or just a promotion for their movie.
On April 18, the two were spotted together at the NBA game between the Miami Heat and the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena.
May 2025
On May 5, Grace posted an Instagram carousel containing photos of herself and the River Thames. “This is my jam!!🍓🎶🦈💕🎬,” she captioned it.
June 2025
In an interview with Seventeen on June 13, Thames addressed the viral kiss on TikTok, saying, “I didn’t really know what to expect, but it was really funny. A lot of my friends messaged me. It was really funny.” He added that this was Grace’s idea. “She said, ‘This is TikTok — why don’t you give it a try?'” And I thought, “Yeah, let’s do it!” And we posted it, and then…yes. ”
Although he neither confirmed nor denied his love life, he admitted that it was strange to accept fan speculation about his love life. “I was always away from the internet,” he said. “I’ve always kept everything to myself and it’s been very personal. For people to speculate a lot, especially mutual friends texting me and asking me… it’s wild. I’m still not used to it.”
But he talked a little about his adventures with Grace outside of work, and mentioned that they had visited an aquarium. “Her AirPods have an aquarium playlist on them,” he recalled. “So while we were watching the sharks, she had one in her ear and I had one in my ear.”
He said he hopes Grace learns from his humor, saying, “I like to think of myself as a funny person.” “So, you know, I want to make her more interesting. Honestly, McKenna is one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. She just says things that catch me very off guard.”
On June 14, just as How to Train Your Dragon was released in theaters, Grace and Thames were photographed holding hands in New York City’s SoHo. This sighting further fueled dating rumors.
October 2025
The couple was in Berlin on October 12th for a special screening of Regretting You at Zoo Palast.
