From Zendaya to JoJo Siwa & Olivia Rodrigo… why American girls simply can’t resist a British boy

FORGET Labubu dolls or Dubai chocolate, there is one must-have item on every American starlet’s wishlist this summer – a hot British boyfriend.

Just ask the famous faces who have been descending on our shores and picking up a home-grown lad as a souvenir.

Nicola Peltz and Brooklyn Beckham embracing.

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Heiress Nicola Peltz only has eyes for Brit nepo baby Brooklyn BeckhamCredit: Instagram

Whether it’s the accent or not, Englishmen are certainly having a moment.

Globally, Google searches for “British men” went up 21 per cent over the past year.

And according to dating site datebritishguys.com, 65 per cent of its 108,000 members are American women.

Meanwhile, US director Lena Dunham’s new semi-autobiographical Netflix drama, Too Much, tells the story of a New York woman who moves to London following a break-up and falls for an English musician.

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Actress Lena married British composer Luis Felber in 2021 after also moving across the pond.

Just a few of the stars following in her footsteps and bagging a Brit hunk are singer Olivia Rodrigo, actress Zendaya, and billionaire heiress Nicola Peltz, who earlier this month renewed her wedding vows with Brooklyn Beckham.

More recently, Love Island UK’s first transatlantic winner Toni Laites admitted that she sees “no reason to be in America any more” after falling for East London lad Cach Mercer on the ITV show.

Here are seven of the British men who have proved irresistible to US celebs.

Tom Holland opens up about ‘one day becoming a dad’ as GMA shares sweet photo of star with girlfriend Zendaya

Louis Partridge and Olivia Rodrigo

Louis Partridge and Olivia Rodrigo at the Grammy Awards.

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US singer Olivia Rodrigo has fallen for Brit actor Louis PartridgeCredit: Getty

TAKING to the stage at Glastonbury in June, Drivers License singer Olivia made her allegiances known.

“I love England so much,” the Californian told the 120,000-strong crowd. “I love how nobody judges you for having a pint at noon. I love English sweets… and, as luck would have it, I love English boys.”

Specifically, she loves one English boy – actor Louis Partridge.

The pair, both 22, first sparked romance rumours in October 2023, when they were pictured with their arms around the other’s waist in London.

They then made their red carpet debut as a couple at the Venice Film Festival in August 2024, where Louis was promoting his TV series, Disclaimer.

The pair have more recently been spotted together at Wimbledon.

They have mostly remained coy about their relationship, with Londoner Louis telling British Vogue last year: “Dating probably shouldn’t be done in the public eye… I think she’s got tons and tons of eyes on her case.”

So Olivia’s very public tribute to the Enola Holmes star on stage at the Worthy Farm festival is testament to their strong feelings.

Tom Holland and Zendaya

Tom Holland and Zendaya at the Spider-Man: No Way Home premiere.

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Zendaya has moved from California to London to be with Brit Tom HollandCredit: Getty

ONE of our most famous transatlantic couples, Tom and Zendaya got engaged earlier this year, with the British actor proposing with a £200,000 ring.

Since meeting Tom, 29, on the set of Spider-Man in 2016, Zendaya, 28, has proved herself to be a true anglophile.

She has moved from California to Richmond, South West London, where the pair reside in a £3million mansion close to where he grew up.

Residents are said to leave them alone and they are frequently spotted walking around Richmond Park.

Last year Zendaya, 28, confirmed she is Tom’s biggest fan, paying tribute to her man while promoting her own movie, Dune 2.

“I think someone who has beautiful charisma, not on the Dune cast, but personally works for me, is Mr Tom Holland,” she said, adding that “he’s great at just talking to people, getting to know people.”

And last week Zendaya was spotted supporting Tom while he filmed scenes for their upcoming Spider-Man flick in Surrey.

Matty Healy and Gabbriette Bechtel

Photo of a woman and a man.

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Londoner Matty Healy is engaged to Californian Gabbriette

HE did not receive a glowing review from his American ex-girlfriend Taylor Swift, who slammed him in songs The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived and I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can).

But Londoner Matty’s charms have fared better on Californian Gabbriette, 28.

The 1975 frontman, 36, started dating the model in 2023 and they got engaged last year.

But Gabbriette has revealed they are in no rush to wed. “It might take a while because I’m bad at planning stuff,” she said last month. “But the wedding bells are somewhere up there.”

Meanwhile, the model has another fan in Matty’s famous mum, Denise Welch.

The Loose Women star recently appeared on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live! and took the opportunity to pay tribute to her future daughter-in-law, while also taking a subtle swipe at Taylor.

“Matty has taken it all in completely good grace,” she said. “He’s very happy with his amazing fiancée Gabbriette – who is gorgeous – so we’ve moved on.”

Leo Woodall and Meghann Fahy

Leo Woodall and Meghann Fahy at the South Bank Sky Arts Awards.

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Meghann and Leo have a ‘great deal in common’ despite their hometowns being worlds awayCredit: Getty

AS co-stars on season two of The White Lotus in 2022, Meghann and Leo had their fair share of on-screen romance with other people.

But it was not long until they only had eyes for each other – and after the private pair were spotted kissing in New York in 2023, they finally hard launched their relationship on social media in early 2024.

Though her hometown of Massachusetts is worlds away from Leo’s West London roots, Meghann, 35, has said they have a great deal in common – not least their high-profile careers.

She revealed earlier this year: “I think that it’s just really great to be deeply understood… There’s so many weird things about this industry and what we do, so I think there’s just something really lovely about being with somebody who really gets that.”

As for Leo, 28, he has called their relationship his “safe space,” which leaves little confusion as to why, like Bridget Jones in the series’ latest film, Meghann is Mad About The Boy.

Harry Charles and Eve Jobs

Eve Jobs and Harry Charles celebrating with a medal and trophy.

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Eve Jobs looked across the Atlantic to find her happy-ever-after with Team GB champion Harry CharlesCredit: Instagram

SHE is the American heiress who could have her pick of any fella in her home country.

But Eve Jobs – the daughter of late Apple founder Steve – looked across the Atlantic to find her happy-ever-after with Team GB champion Harry Charles, 26.

As an accomplished equestrian –  once ranked the world’s fifth best rider under-25 – it is no wonder Eve, 27, has fallen for the Olympic-gold showjumper, from Hampshire.

The pair reportedly met due to their shared love of horses and started dating in 2022.

They got engaged two years later, around the same time the former Tatler It Girl and model was cheering Harry on at the 2024 Paris Games.

The couple wed last month in a lavish £5million wedding in the Cotswolds, with a celebrity guest list including former US Vice President Kamala Harris.

Last week Eve shared their first official wedding portrait, telling her social media followers it had been “the most magical week”.

George Rollinson and Ashley Roberts

Ashley Roberts and George Rollinson at a BRIT Awards after-party.

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Ashley has been loved up with Brit artist and tattooist George since 2023Credit: GC Images

RADIO host Ashley made the UK her home many years ago, but she didn’t initially commit to the British-boy assignment – famously dating Italian stallion Giovanni Pernice in 2018.

The former Pussycat Doll, 43, has since discovered the local fare and has been loved up with artist and tattooist George, 25, since 2023.

The pair went public in early 2024 and have posted snaps from holidays to Dubai and Italy, as well as their visit across the pond to see Ashley’s family in Phoenix, Arizona.

Ashley said last year: “American men are overwhelming, they are too much. I’m like, you need to calm down.”

And she is not the only Pussycat Doll singer to fall for a British man. Hawaiian Nicole Scherzinger, 47, is engaged to 40-year-old Scottish former rugby player Thom Evans.

And Missouri-born Kimberly Wyatt has been married to singer Max Rogers, both 43, since 2014.

Nathan Louis-Fernand and Rachel Zegler

Photo of a woman in a pink gown and a man in a sheer black shirt.

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Snow White actress Rachel is dating Londoner Nathan

SHE is currently taking the West End by storm as the leading lady in musical Evita. But off-stage, Rachel is making sweet, sweet music with co-star and back-up dancer Nathan.

The 24-year-old has temporarily relocated to London for the show – and it seems the New Jersey-born star is enjoying the local delights.

The Snow White actress was pictured kissing Londoner Nathan, 27, last month at Sabrina Carpenter’s headline gig at the BST Hyde Park Music Festival on July 6.

In the weeks since, Rachel has posted snaps of Louis on her Instagram, including a blurry photo of them embracing one another and another of him kissing her cheek.

The pair were also seen walking Rachel’s dog in London’s Primrose Hill two weeks ago, with Louis wrapping his arm around the actress.

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