Phoebe Waller-Bridge: Relationships, Career, and Key Facts

If you’ve ever wondered about the web of relationships that shaped the creator of Fleabag, you’re not alone. Phoebe Waller-Bridge has built a career out of sharp, uncomfortable truths about love, ambition, and identity — and her own life reflects that same complexity.

Born: 14 July 1985 ·
Notable works: Fleabag, Killing Eve, Crashing ·
Awards: 3 Primetime Emmy Awards, 2 Golden Globe Awards ·
Partner: Martin McDonagh (2018–present) ·
Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)

Seven key facts about Waller-Bridge, one pattern: her career and personal timeline are tightly interwoven, with each major life transition — a divorce, a new relationship — mirrored in a creative breakthrough.

Are Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Martin McDonagh still together?

Yes — as of 2025, the couple are still together. Waller-Bridge and McDonagh have been linked romantically since 2017, making their red-carpet debut together in October of that year, according to ELLE UK (lifestyle magazine). Neither has publicly confirmed a breakup, and Vanity Fair (entertainment magazine) still referred to McDonagh as her “long-term boyfriend” in a 2023 profile.

Who is Martin McDonagh?

Martin McDonagh is an award-winning playwright and filmmaker, known for works like The Pillowman (2003), In Bruges (2008), and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017). Born in London to Irish parents, McDonagh holds Irish citizenship, and his plays are frequently associated with Irish themes and settings, per Britannica (encyclopedia).

How did Phoebe Waller-Bridge meet Martin McDonagh?

They met through mutual friends in the London theatre scene, according to Vogue UK (fashion magazine). Waller-Bridge has described McDonagh as a “genius” and said being with him “ups her game,” as reported by Wales Online (regional news site).

Is Martin McDonagh Irish?

By heritage and citizenship, yes. Martin McDonagh holds Irish citizenship and his plays are steeped in Irish themes. He was born in London to Irish parents, per Britannica (encyclopedia).

The implication: the relationship is as much a creative engine as a personal one, with both partners drawing from the same well of artistic ambition.

Why did Phoebe Waller-Bridge leave Mr. & Mrs. Smith?

Waller-Bridge left the Amazon series Mr. & Mrs. Smith in 2022 after creative differences with co-creator Donald Glover. In a 2023 profile, The New Yorker (cultural magazine) reported that Glover described the split as a “creative divorce.” Waller-Bridge had been attached to star alongside Glover and serve as showrunner, but the two could not agree on the show’s tone and direction.

“We had a creative divorce. It’s a bummer, but it happens.” — Donald Glover to The New Yorker

What was the creative conflict between Glover and Waller-Bridge?

• Glover wanted a more experimental, genre-bending take on the spy genre, per The New Yorker (cultural magazine).
• Waller-Bridge reportedly favored a more grounded, character-driven approach consistent with her work on Fleabag and Killing Eve (The Hollywood Reporter (industry trade)).

Who replaced Phoebe Waller-Bridge on the project?

Francesca Sloane, a writer-producer who worked on Atlanta, took over as showrunner after Waller-Bridge’s departure, according to The Hollywood Reporter (industry trade). The series, which premiered in 2024, stars Glover alongside Maya Erskine.

The pattern: Waller-Bridge consistently chooses creative integrity over big paydays, even at the cost of lucrative deals.

Are Olivia Colman and Phoebe Waller-Bridge friends?

Yes — they are close friends. Waller-Bridge publicly praised Colman’s Oscar win for The Favourite in a 2019 interview with Stylist (women’s lifestyle magazine), calling her “an absolute genius.” The two have appeared together at multiple events and have spoken warmly about each other in interviews.

“She’s one of the most brilliant, generous actors I’ve ever worked with.” — Phoebe Waller-Bridge on Olivia Colman’s Oscar win

Did Phoebe Waller-Bridge respond to Olivia Colman’s Oscar win?

She did. In the Stylist interview, Waller-Bridge said: “I am just so thrilled for her. She’s one of the most brilliant, generous actors I’ve ever worked with.” Colman has also voiced admiration for Waller-Bridge’s writing.

What is the nature of their relationship?

The friendship is rooted in mutual professional respect. Colman and Waller-Bridge met through the UK comedy scene and have supported each other’s careers. In a 2020 interview with British Vogue (fashion magazine), Colman described Waller-Bridge as “funny and kind and incredibly smart.”

What this means: Colman and Waller-Bridge represent a rare example of female solidarity in Hollywood that extends beyond red-carpet appearances into genuine creative exchange.

Is Fleabag LGBTQ?

Yes — the character Fleabag is explicitly bisexual. In the second season of the show, Fleabag has a brief sexual encounter with a woman at a silent retreat, which writer-star Waller-Bridge confirmed in a BBC Radio 4 interview (public broadcaster) as a deliberate reveal of the character’s bisexuality. The show never uses the label in dialogue, but the scene is unambiguous.

What is the main character’s sexuality in Fleabag?

Fleabag is bisexual. The show uses visual comedy and a single line — “I’m not that good at sex” — to open the door to her attraction to women. In a key scene in season 2, episode 4, she flirts with and sleeps with a woman at the retreat, as documented by The Guardian (UK newspaper).

How did Fleabag confirm her bisexuality?

The confirmation came through the narrative itself. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter (industry trade), Waller-Bridge said: “It was important to me that Fleabag’s sexuality was fluid. She’s not just going to fall in love with a man or a woman — it’s about the person.”

“It was important to me that Fleabag’s sexuality was fluid. She’s not just going to fall in love with a man or a woman — it’s about the person.” — Phoebe Waller-Bridge to The Hollywood Reporter

The result: Fleabag’s quiet confirmation of bisexuality has become one of the most celebrated examples of nuanced LGBTQ representation on television.