How Taylor Swift's ex Joe Alwyn is chasing fame in wake of his split from pop megastar - after 'breaking up over privacy fears'

For six whole years, he was known the world over as 'Mr. Taylor Swift'. But during that time, Joe Alwyn appeared to do anything and everything to avoid the limelight - even though he was dating the music industry's biggest star. The 'low-key' actor - who studied at Bristol University - was only ever seen with Taylor on a handful of occasions during their romance. Going to great lengths to avoid the paparazzi, Taylor and Joe, who collaborated on her albums Folklore and Evermore, would run out of restaurants to avoid cameras and arrived separately at the two award ceremonies they attended together.

In April 2023, the pair called time on their relationship - and Taylor's new boyfriend Travis Kelce has had no problem embracing the publicity that comes with dating the singer, attending countless Eras Tour shows around the world and gushing about 'his lady' on his podcast. Despite reportedly struggling with Taylor's 'level of fame' during their relationship, Joe Alwyn has also come out of the shadows too - and given more press interviews, TV appearances and Fashion Week bookings than ever before.

Last month, the actor - who stars as Harry in The Brutalist - gave an interview to The Observer, where he was asked if he feared Taylor would overshadow his career. Making a rare comment about his ex, the star - who famously inspired Taylor's 2019 hit London Boy - replied: 'I have tried just to focus on controlling what I can control. Pictured: Taylor Swift's ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn appearing on Seth Meyers' late night TV YS show last month.

Pictured: Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn leave the British Vogue BAFTA after party in London in February 2019. 'And, right from the beginning, tried to focus on the things that are meaningful for me: friends, family, work, of course. So noise outside of that, I think I’ve done what lots of people who find themselves in the public eye do, which is just try and ignore it.'. Days later, Joe gave his first ever late-night television interview when he appeared on Seth Meyers' show - which was met with a gushing reaction from fans.

One commented on the show's YouTube: 'He's so lovely. Intelligent, mature, quiet, well-spoken, kind, has humility, and good-looking. Seems like a lovely person. He's a great actor - phenomenal in The Brutalist!! I love that he is getting rave reviews!'. Another added: 'So happy to see Joe in his debut night-time talk show ! I love his understated sense of humour that runs through his answers.'. That same week, the star also appeared at a couple of Fashion Week shows - starting with Giorgio Armani in Milan and Dior in Paris.

In his second glossy magazine interview of the month, Joe - who reportedly struggled with the 'attention from the public' his relationship received - told GQ in January: 'I've always loved Dior and I've always loved Kim Jones. 'There's been a few memorable moments for me in the last few years where I've gotten to wear them. I just really love their tailoring.'. After being hesitant to do press during his relationship with Taylor, Joe - who has been brushing shoulders with Alexa Chung, Michelle Dockery and Rege-Jean Page in the wake of his split - gave a surprisingly honest interview to Wonderland magazine last year too.

Pictured: Joe Alwyn - who stars in The Brutalist - attends the Dior menswear show in Paris last month. Pictured: Joe Alwyn and Michelle Dockery attend the JW Anderson show during London Fashion Week in September 2024. Pictured: Alexa Chung and Joe Alwyn attend day ten of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships last July. In November, the star alluding to growing cynical about the acting industry and how he pined after his first role, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk.

In conversation with his Catherine Called Birdy co-star Bella Ramsay, Joe said: 'I feel like I’ve been slightly chasing that experience ever since. 'I think there’s the realisation that it won’t be the same again, and I’ve come to terms with that. Your eyes are wide in a way they aren’t after. And as time’s passed and I’ve worked more, there’s—in some ways I wish there weren’t—a business side to the whole thing.

'I try to ignore that as much as possible, but it creeps up in various ways. I find that difficult because it can impact your experience of a job in a way I had no idea about initially. So, it colours things differently.'. The interview came just four months after Joe Alwyn appeared on the front cover of The Sunday Times' Style magazine, with the feature titled: 'London Boy: What Joe Alwyn Did Next.'.

Pictured: Joe Alwyn arrives at the Giorgio Armani fashion show during Milan Fashion Week last month. Pictured: The Brutalist actors Adrien Brody and Joe Alwyn attend the launch of the new Aston Martin Vanquish. Pictured: Rege-Jean Page and Joe Alwyn attend the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures 4th Annual Gala in Los Angeles in October 2024. Breaking his silence on the split, Joe described his time with Taylor as 'long, loving' and 'fully committed.'.