Is it romance—or simply a deep friendship? Christine Baranski and King Princess are leaving fans guessing.
The pair have been spotted together frequently over the past year, sparking ongoing dating rumors. Most recently, Christine, 73, and King Princess (real name Mikaela Straus), 26, were seen holding hands at the Broadway reopening of Mamma Mia on August 18 in New York City. Adding fuel to the fire, KP posted the moment on Instagram with the caption, “Love is love.”
The comment section lit up with speculation. One fan summed up the mood perfectly, writing, “My fave thing about this id idk if this is real or not.”
Christine, a Tony and Emmy-winning actress, has not publicly dated anyone since the death of her husband, playwright Matthew Cowles, in 2014. Meanwhile, King Princess has been carving out a music career defined by bold individuality.
The two first met while filming season two of Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers, which was shot between January and June 2024 and released in May 2025. By all accounts, they formed an instant bond on set.
Since then, they’ve attended several events together: Oh, Mary! on Broadway in August 2024, the MPTF’s Evening Before the Emmys in September 2024, and the opening night of The Picture of Dorian Gray in March 2025.
In May 2025, they even teamed up for an Interview Magazine feature, where Christine reflected on their friendship: “Our first date—let’s give them something to talk about—we actually got dressed up and finally had dinner. I remember we went to this chic, French-y watering hole. We sat at the bar, ordered our martinis, and suddenly we’re talking about our grandmothers who deeply affected and influenced our lives. I think that’s where we profoundly bonded. Tell us about your nana and your devotion to her.”
She also called KP “wildly talented” and praised their connection: “Possibly the greatest gift of working on Nine Perfect Strangers was developing a friendship with this wildly talented young woman who’s so opinionated, deeply funny and witty. We’ve curiously bonded and wanted to remain friends. That’s a great gift, which is why I’m interviewing you.”
Christine wrapped the interview on a heartfelt note: “You were my shaman. But we won’t get too deep into this. It’s going to be a beautiful relationship, baby. I can’t wait for the decades ahead. I’m going to learn so much from you, and I’ll teach you whatever good stuff that I know.”
To which King Princess replied simply, “Well, I love you and I’m just thankful to have you in my life.”
While the affectionate comments and public appearances keep fans guessing, many believe they’re leaning into the rumors playfully rather than confirming a romance. Even actress Hannah Einbinder chimed in on Instagram, writing, “ava and deborah vibes,” a nod to her Hacks character’s dynamic with Jean Smart’s Deborah Vance. KP cheekily replied, “double date?”
Whether romantic partners or simply devoted friends, Christine and King Princess have clearly struck up something special—and they seem to be enjoying keeping the world guessing.
