Tom Hiddleston and Zawe Ashton welcome their second child: Look at how the duo met

Tom Hiddleston and Zawe Ashton have quietly expanded their family once again. The Loki actor, 44, has confirmed that he and Ashton, 41, have welcomed their second child together, calling birth “the most beautiful, profound, earth-shattering, life-altering” experience there is.

The couple became parents for the first time in 2022 and, true to form, shared the news of their growing family in their own understated way.Hiddleston confirmed the arrival during an interview with British GQ, offering rare insight into his personal life while reflecting on parenthood. Ashton had earlier hinted at the news in November through an Instagram post discussing her “postpartum recovery,” without explicitly announcing the birth.“Today, I chose to mark a milestone in postpartum recovery with a trip to one of the @littlevillagehq baby banks, dedicated to supporting families all year round,” she wrote.“Throughout my recovery, I have thought deeply about the children in our world facing the most devastating living conditions and those tirelessly working to protect them.I’ve reflected deeply on the ongoing war against children, a fight I am fiercely committed to.”

The couple, who are famously private, have never leaned into public announcements or glossy reveals. Instead, their story has unfolded slowly, mostly through shared work, quiet appearances, and the occasional heartfelt quote.

How Tom Hiddleston and Zawe Ashton met

Hiddleston and Ashton have known each other since at least 2018, but much of their early relationship happened far from the spotlight. Their paths crossed professionally when they were cast in the revival of Harold Pinter’s Betrayal, where they played a married couple, Robert and Emma.

The production opened in London’s West End in March 2019 and later transferred to Broadway.Even before the play officially opened, the two were already spending time together. In October 2018, they were photographed at an after-party for a charity gala celebrating Harold Pinter’s life and work at Brasserie Zédel in London. At the time, it looked like colleagues supporting a shared project. In hindsight, it was the beginning of something deeper.By April 2019, Hiddleston was supporting Ashton at the launch of her debut book, Character Breakdown, held at Wild By Tart in London. Photos published by The Daily Mail showed the pair relaxed and smiling, with Hiddleston proudly examining her book alongside her.The success of Betrayal took them to New York in August 2019 for a three-month Broadway run at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. The role earned Hiddleston his first Tony nomination for Best Actor in a Play.

Around the same time, dating rumors began after the two were spotted together at the U.S. Open.A source later told Us Weekly that the connection had been obvious long before they went public.“Tom has always been a very, very private person. Behind the scenes, they would just privately be affectionate and hugging and sitting next to each other and holding hands.”That privacy has always mattered to Hiddleston. Years earlier, he told The Telegraph in March 2017, “Everyone is entitled to a private life.Everyone is entitled to a private life. I love what I do, and I dedicate myself with absolute commitment to making great art and great entertainment, and in my mind I don’t conflict the two. My work is in the public sphere, and I have a private life. And those two things are separate.”

Going public, quietly

The couple made their first official red carpet appearance together at the 2021 Tony Awards, posing alongside Betrayal co-star Charlie Cox.

By March 2022, they were holding hands at the BAFTA Awards, signaling a subtle shift toward openness.Engagement rumors followed after Ashton was seen wearing a diamond ring in a photo shared by TV host AJ Odudu on Instagram. Confirmation never came directly, but in June 2022, Hiddleston told the Los Angeles Times simply, “I'm very happy.”Later that month, Ashton confirmed her pregnancy without words while walking the red carpet at a New York screening of Mr.

Malcolm’s List. Their first child was born in October 2022, with a source telling Us Weekly, “Tom and Zawe are loving being new parents and are filled with joy.”Since then, the two have continued balancing major careers with family life. Ashton joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Dar-Benn in The Marvels, while Hiddleston returned as Loki in the Disney+ series.Speaking about her Marvel experience, Ashton said, “One of the main takeaways from our conversations was, ‘What you put into Marvel, you get back.’”

She added, “He really empowered me in that way.”Hiddleston echoed that support during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, saying, “I mean, there are connections. Some secret, some not-so-secret. I don’t know what the fans think the secret connection is...My other half is in The Marvels, and I’m very proud of her. So there you go. That’s out this weekend.”In February 2024, he publicly thanked Ashton again while accepting an award at the People’s Choice Awards.

“Zawe, none of this makes sense without you. Thank you for your love and support every step of the way,” he said.Over the past year, they’ve been spotted together at Wimbledon, BAFTA events, SXSW London, the Evening Standard Theatre Awards, and even pausing to flirt on the red carpet at a press performance of Romeo & Juliet in London, affectionate, but never performative.Now, with the arrival of their second child, Hiddleston and Ashton seem to be doing what they’ve always done best: keeping what matters most close, private, and grounded, while letting their work speak loudly in public.