The “Dawson’s Creek” star recently got fans talking about his relationship status after he was spotted with a popular “Bridgerton” actress. The sighting comes nearly a year after Lupita Nyong’o confirmed the end of her romance with the actor in October 2024.

Joshua Jackson’s four-year marriage to Jodie Turner-Smith ended in October 2023 when she filed for divorce. The entertainer shocked many by moving on with Lupita Nyong’o in December, but the rebound romance did not last.

Jackson turned heads in New York City after the paparazzi caught him enjoying a stroll with actress Simone Ashley on Saturday, August 9. The sighting went viral as it marked the first time the entertainers had been spotted together.

Although there was no PDA, pictures from the outing captured the pair in high spirits as they walked side by side. They flaunted a friendly ambience that wasn’t common for strangers or first-time acquaintances, hinting at a closer relationship between them.

Ashley was all smiles in the images shared by The Daily Mail, with Jackson looking cozy beside her. As stated, his appearance with the actress comes nearly a year after his ex, Nyong’o, confirmed the end of their relationship and months after Ashley revealed her romance with Constantin Klein had concluded in February 2025.

Ashley gained international recognition by joining the hit Netflix series “Bridgerton.” She was the star of season 2, winning the hearts of millions with her powerful performance and undeniable onscreen chemistry with co-star Jonathan Bailey.

She played the love interest of Bailey’s character, Kate Sharma, a role that changed her in many ways. Ashley revealed in an interview that the series taught her how to express herself through fashion, noting it was a fantastic learning experience.

The beloved show marked Ashley’s second gig on the streaming platform, as she first rose to fame by starring on the British series “Sex Education.” In an interview with PEOPLE, the actress shared that she was inspired to join the industry after watching Quentin Tarantino’s films.

Ashley’s NYC sighting with Jackson follows the legal drama between the actor and his estranged wife. The Blast reported in June that Turner-Smith was back in court after her former partner filed a declaration, seeking legal intervention against her actions.

Jackson claimed Turner-Smith had attempted to remove their young daughter, Juno, from her school without his permission. He stressed that she was trying to change the educational institution to suit her needs instead of considering their daughter’s happiness.

The TV personality confessed that he initially agreed to the switch but changed his mind after realizing “how important school and peer continuity are for children, and especially for Juno.”

Additionally, his daughter’s old school was closer to the Calabasas rental where they lived than the place Turner-Smith wanted.

Following news of Jackson’s motion to stop Turner-Smith’s school transfer, the actress seemingly called him out on social media. She reposted a picture shared by a Netflix movies fan account that featured the villains from popular animated movies.

“‘Why don’t you like that person? They seem so nice.’ You know who else seemed to be nice:” the caption read alongside the pictures of the villains from “Toy Story 3,” “Frozen,” “Coco,” and “Zootopia.”

Turner-Smith seemingly implied her ex was two-faced like these animated characters, writing: “[Facepalm emoji] stay safe out there.” The actress frequently butted heads with Jackson over their divorce, filing a motion to receive spousal support based on his alleged vow to support her financially if they divorced.

In April 2023, Jackson was still on cloud nine and raved about his marriage to Turner-Smith in a heart-to-heart interview. He claimed the actress appeared at the right time in his life, confessing they wouldn’t have been in a serious relationship if they had met earlier than 2018.

“If we had met five years earlier, we probably would have had a torrid affair,” Jackson claimed. He added that he never saw himself settling down, saying, “I was just not ready. I didn’t think I ever wanted to get married.”

Although Jackson felt uncertain about marriage, Turner-Smith knew she wanted to spend her life with him, and she popped the big question while they were vacationing in Nicaragua. They tied the knot in 2019 and welcomed their daughter, Juno, in 2020, per PopSugar.

Could Simone Ashley be the new woman in Joshua Jackson’s life?