Romance surrounding Outer Banks actor Drew Starkey and Priscilla actress Cailee Spaeny has moved from internet speculation to a much more visible chapter after the pair were photographed walking hand-in-hand during a Los Angeles outing on October 1. The public appearance follows weeks of reports and fan speculation about the two actors, who have increasingly been seen together since working on the upcoming film Deep Cuts. Their latest outing has therefore become the clearest public indication yet that the pair may be romantically involved.
Romance Rumours Become a Hand-Holding Reality
The latest photographs show Starkey and Spaeny walking together in Los Angeles, with the pair holding hands and appearing relaxed in each other’s company. Their public display has attracted significant attention because earlier reports largely consisted of sightings and speculation rather than an openly acknowledged relationship. The October 1 appearance has now given fans a much more visible moment to discuss, with the hand-holding adding weight to months of dating rumours.
The pair had reportedly also been spotted together in London in September, further fuelling speculation about their relationship. Those earlier appearances did not independently establish that the actors were dating, but the latest Los Angeles outing represents a more noticeable public display of affection. Neither actor has publicly provided extensive details about their private relationship, meaning the photographs remain the clearest evidence available of their apparent closeness.
From Deep Cuts Chemistry to Real-Life Headlines
One major reason the development has attracted so much attention is the actors’ professional connection. Starkey and Spaeny are starring together in Deep Cuts, an upcoming A24 film directed by Sean Durkin. The movie, based on Holly Brickley’s novel, follows two music-obsessed young adults as they navigate love, ambition, belonging and adulthood. Production began in 2026, making the actors’ real-life headlines particularly interesting given that their characters are also romantically connected in the film.
The movie has generated attention for reasons beyond its leading stars. The production experienced a casting change after Odessa A’zion withdrew from the project in January 2026, with Ariela Barer subsequently joining the cast. The change followed controversy surrounding the casting of the character Zoe Gutierrez, whose identity in the novel includes Mexican and Jewish heritage. That casting discussion is separate from the dating speculation surrounding Starkey and Spaeny, but it has contributed to the wider attention surrounding the project.
For now, the hand-in-hand Los Angeles appearance has provided the strongest public development yet in the Drew Starkey and Cailee Spaeny dating story. Their upcoming appearance together in Deep Cuts is likely to keep public interest high, particularly as audiences prepare to watch the pair portray an on-screen romance while their own relationship has become a subject of intense public curiosity. Romance has unexpectedly become one of the biggest talking points surrounding a film already built around love, music and complicated relationships.
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