They were, frankly, not the sort of images anyone in Hollywood expected to see of Taron Egerton.
The Welsh star of the Kingsman films, who won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Elton John in the 2019 hit Rocketman, is one of the UK’s most successful exports to Tinseltown – a serious man whose dedication to his craft is matched only by his willingness to keep prying cameras out of his private life.
So when pictures emerged of Egerton, 36, enjoying a steamy and very public snog with a pneumatic blonde in the inauspicious surroundings of a hotel car park last weekend, jaws dropped.
One person who got to know the actor during his breakout role as Eddie the Eagle (his portrayal of Britain’s plucky Olympic ski jumper in the 2015 film led co-star Hugh Jackman to call him ‘a once-in-a-generation talent), said last night: ‘You could have knocked me down with a feather when I saw those pictures.
‘Taron is someone who keeps his private life fiercely private. You never see him out and about unless he has a movie to promote. He’s a serious guy and takes his acting and image very seriously.
‘For him to be photographed snogging in a car park makes no sense at all.
‘We’ve all been scratching our heads asking what the hell this is all about.’
Well, The Mail on Sunday may have some answers.
Taron Egerton and Brooks Nader (pictured) enjoyed a steamy and very public snog this weekend
Mr Egerton was spotted with Brooks Nader (right) – an unabashed self-promoter whose mantra is ‘Naked Ambition’
For the woman on the receiving end of Egerton’s passionate embrace is Brooks Nader, an unabashed self-promoter whose mantra is ‘Naked Ambition.’
On her Instagram page, which has 1.8million followers and counting, the 29-year-old encourages girls to own your own power – something that has served her well in a town like LA, where self-promotion is considered an Olympic sport.
The images have left many asking whether Egerton – who is said to be on the shortlist to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond – may have unwittingly found himself at the centre of LaLaLand’s latest ‘showmance’ – a term coined in the early days of Hollywood referring to two stars who use a romantic entanglement to boost both their profiles.
On Thursday night it emerged that the possible matchmaker for the couple was none other than Lauren Sanchez, who introduced the pair at her star-studded wedding in Venice to Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos last June.
Ms Sanchez then set them up on a ‘proper date’ at the end of March.
A source told the MoS: ‘Brooks has been wanting to meet a celebrity for a very long time. She wanted to be in a power couple.’
The candid snaps were taken over the course of three days last weekend.
The pair went to the cinema to see America’s No1 film, Project Hail Mary, on Friday night, followed by dinner at Giorgio Baldi, a celebrity restaurant in Santa Monica beloved of stars such as Al Pacino and Anthony Hopkins.
Ms Nader (pictured) is currently filming a £30million Baywatch remake, playing a lifeguard called Selene who, in her iconic red swimsuit, is being touted as the new Pamela Anderson
Mr Egerton (pictured), who won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Elton John in the 2019 hit Rocketman, is one of the UK’s most successful exports to Tinseltown
Egerton owns a house in the seaside suburb, which he is believed to have bought when the Kingsman movies took off.
Then, last Saturday, they were spotted at Shutters On The Beach, a luxury five-star hotel overlooking the ocean where rooms start at £750 a night.
A witness said: ‘What was funny was they sat out on the balcony drinking cocktails.
‘They were kissing and hugging and then a random fan came up to her to get a picture, and handed the camera to Taron to take the photograph.
‘The person didn’t know who he was, but she’s all over social media so she was the one they wanted a picture of, even though he’s far more famous and successful.
Ms Nader is filming a £30million Baywatch remake, playing a lifeguard called Selene who, in her iconic red swimsuit, is being touted as the new Pamela Anderson.
A source said: ‘She’s been everywhere in her red swimsuit so it didn’t surprise me that the person recognised her, not him. They came outside and kissed outside the hotel.
‘It was a bit strange. You never see people acting like that. Either they were in their own world and genuinely didn’t care or maybe they knew there was a photographer there.’
There is speculation Ms Nader (left) and Mr Egerton (right) are using ‘romance’ to bolster their profiles
The pair then walked to Capo steak restaurant near the hotel.
One producer who has worked with Egerton told the MoS last night: ‘Warning bells went off for me when I heard they walked to dinner. No one walks in LA. Ever.
‘You only walk on a treadmill in the gym. If you leave a place and it’s a block to the next place you take a car.’
So could this ‘showmance’ be a mutually beneficial arrangement to turbocharge their careers?
Calls to representatives for Egerton and Ms Nader went unanswered last night, however it certainly wouldn’t be the first time two gorgeous Hollywood stars have used a ‘romance’ to bolster their profiles.
Egerton’s macho display of virility certainly wouldn’t harm his chances of becoming the next 007. He also has a movie coming out on Netflix on April 24 – a survival thriller called Apex in which he plays a serial killer hunting a rock climber (Charlize Theron) through the Australian outback.
Meanwhile, Ms Nader’s social media profile has exploded since the pictures emerged – she even became one of the most searched-for names on X among Americans.
The one-time beauty queen from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has always been open about using the media – and social media – to get maximum coverage.
Mr Egerton (pictured) has a movie coming out on Netflix – a survival thriller called Apex in which he plays a serial killer hunting a rock climber played by Charlize Theron
Ms Nader (pictured) is the star of Love Thy Nader, a D-list reality TV show on Hulu, which also stars her sisters Mary Holland, Sarah Jane and Grace Ann
Her long climb to fame took off back in 2019 when she beat 10,000 women to feature in Sports Illustrated, appearing in the magazine regularly before becoming its swimsuit cover star in 2023.
Nowadays she is the star of Love Thy Nader, a D-list reality TV show on the streaming platform Hulu, which also stars her equally pneumatic sisters Mary Holland, Sarah Jane and Grace Ann.
The foursome live in a townhouse in New York and the show has recently been renewed for a second season, which will be screened later this year to the dismay of critics who have dubbed it ‘the poor man’s Kardashians.’
Whether her liaison with Egerton makes the edit remains to be seen, but her overt display of affection with him will not have harmed the show’s publicity.
Cynics point out that she is also promoting the cosmetics giant Charlotte Tilbury and Samsung electronics.
The producer added: ‘Let’s just say being attached to someone like Taron, who could be the next Bond, isn’t hurting her.’
While Egerton might blanch at the sudden Press intrusion into his love-life, no subject is off-limits or too personal for Ms Nader to share on Instagram.
She has admitted to having a nose job (which she likes), using Ozempic to drop 30lb (her sisters had to call for help after she passed out in a bathtub after starving herself for a photo shoot) and having liposuction and lip fillers (both of which she regrets).
Ms Nader (pictured) is rumoured to have been close in the past to stars bigger than Egerton, but much older, such as Kevin Costner and Ben Affleck
And then there are the men.
Her ex-husband, advertising executive Billy Haire, was 11 years her senior when they wed in 2019. They divorced in 2024.
Then she landed a part on Dancing With The Stars – the Stateside version of Strictly – and was teamed up with handsome Russian dancer Gleb Savchenko, 42.
A source who worked on the show told the MoS: ‘When Brooks met Gleb it was like watching a heat-seeking missile. He didn’t stand a chance.’
In one of her many candid admissions to her sisters on her reality show, Ms Nader admitted to sleeping with him ‘on day one’
The pair’s tempestuous relationship, which was played out in the US tabloids, ended with her accusing him of cheating, something he has always denied vehemently.
The Dancing With The Stars source, who knows Savchenko, said: ‘I don’t think Taron has any idea what has hit him.
‘Brooks is a great girl, don’t get me wrong. She’s knock-dead gorgeous and has three sisters who are equally stunning.
Ms Nader (pictured) reportedly dated Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, however neither player has ever admitted going out with her
‘If you like four sisters wrapped in bubbles – and who doesn’t – then they are your girls.
‘But she is ruthless about wanting fame, and she will get it at any cost. Her sisters want it, too. I don’t think any guy can stand up to that level of ambition.
‘I’m sure she really likes Taron. She’s always wanted to date a movie star.’
Ms Nader is rumoured to have been close in the past to stars bigger than Egerton, but much older, such as Kevin Costner, 71, and Ben Affleck, 53.
She denied the rumours in relation to both.
But she does have form for headline-grabbing relationships.
She reportedly dated tennis champions Carlos Alcaraz, 22, and Jannik Sinner, 24, when they were going head-to-head during last year’s US Open final.
However, neither player has ever admitted going out with her.
A source told the MoS: ‘Brooks is the hardest-working woman I know. When she wants something, she will get it.
‘Don’t be mean about her. This is a woman who wants to be the biggest star in Hollywood and she will be. She works her ass off.’
Another source said: ‘It’s her ticket to stardom.
‘The only way she can compete with Zendaya and Kylie Jenner and all these other young hot starlets is by attaching herself to a bigger name, by dating up.’
Her CV of partners couldn’t be more different from Egerton’s. He quietly dated director Emily Thomas for five years until they split in 2022. Then he dated Marvel actress Chloe Bennet, 33, between 2024 and 2025.
Because of his high-profile role as Elton John in Rocketman some have asked whether he might be gay.
Egerton has said his upbringing on the Welsh island of Anglesey with his divorced mother made him ‘unafraid’ to show affection to his male friends.
The actor, whose first name is a variation of ‘taran’, which means ‘thunder’ in Welsh, said: ‘I’m not gay, but two of my mates came out when I was 15 and it was a joy to support them because, as a group, we are all secure in who we are!’
One of his friends said: ‘Taron is comfortable in his sexuality. He’s a major star. He’s cool in his own skin. It’s funny to see him front and centre like this because this isn’t who he is at all.’
A PR woman who has worked with Ms Nader said of her: ‘She’s feisty and funny and he’s lucky to have her.’
Last night, The Mail on Sunday learned that Egerton, who is about to leave Los Angeles, was ‘shocked’ by the publication of the candid photographs.
A source said: ‘He had no idea.’
So, is this merely a showmance? Only time will tell.
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