Hayley Atwell enjoys a romantic mini-break with her fiancé (2024)

Hayley Atwellsparked pregnancy rumours on Saturday after flying to Venice with fiancéNed Wolfgang Kelly, a year after accepting his marriage proposal in the Italian city.

The actress repeatedly placed a protective hand on her belly as the couple took selfies and browsed a local street market before settling down to an al fresco lunch.

Hayley, 42, appeared to be taking full advantage of a break in the Mission: Impossible shooting schedule as she prepares to start work on the long-running franchise's eighth instalment with co-star and ex-boyfriendTom Cruise, who has already been seen on set in London.

Venturing out in the historic floating city after arriving for an event hosted by Italian fashion house TOD'S, the British star looked typically stylish in a white dress coat with distinctive dropped shoulders and double-breasted lapels.

Hayley, best known for her recurring role asthief turned IMF agent Grace in the hit spy franchise, completed the look with a black sweater and matching leggings.

Venice appears to be a favourite destination for the couple after Ned - a musician and composer - proposed to Hayley during a previous trip to the city in April 2023.

It has also been used as a backdrop for the Mission: Impossible franchise, notably during the protracted filming of Dead Reckoning Part One in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Confirming their engagement last April, Ned told Instagram followers:'Lucky me. Arrived in Venice at 10am, around midday the love of my life and I got engaged in the kitchen of this strange apartment surrounded by ducks, with a bloke outside the window murdering "My Way" on the accordion.

'A perfect start to the rest of our lives together. I'd never had any interest in getting married... until I met this extraordinary woman. Happy as a clam.'

Hayley and Ned have kept their relationship away from the public eye and are rarely pictured together.

The London-based artist's Instagram bio reads that he 'doesn't eat animals' and that he has been 'alcohol & drug free for over a decade'.

Ned's website says he has produced commercial music for big brands such as Bud Light, Headspace and Samsung.

He has also scored films, worked on the design side of various projects, and written articles.

Speaking to The Sunshortly after the relationship was announced, an insider said: 'Hayley's happiness is written on her face right now. They get on like a house on fire and make a very handsome couple.'

Hayley wassaid to have split from her Mission: Impossible co-star Tom for the second time in 2022.

A source said: 'Unfortunately it hasn’t worked out for them. They have now decided they are better as friends.'

The insider also revealed that the fanfare around the couple after going public was too much to handle.

'They get on really well, and have fantastic chemistry, which is why they decided to quietly give the relationship another try earlier this year.

'What was working behind closed doors didn’t work out so well when it was made public, and the fanfare around them as a couple exploded again,' the source stated.

The source also insisted that the couple's romance was 'genuine', stating 'In spite of some rumours to the contrary, it was never just for the cameras.'

Hayley and Tom began dating in 2020 after meeting on set of Mission: Impossible 7, and were first reported to be an item in December.

Tom, who plays Ethan Hunt in the famous franchise, spent much of the last year shooting the movie across the UK, as well as in Rome, Venice, and Norway.

Though the two had never expressly confirmed their romance, they were said to have become 'fairly inseparable' after they 'hit it off from day one' on the film.

However, by September, the relationship was said to have 'run its course' for the pair.

An insider told The Sun: 'It has been a very intense period of filming together. They really got on well – but as the latest film winds down they've decided to go back to being friends.

'Their filming schedules are very full-on, and Tom has a number of other commitments coming up and is always shooting around by private helicopter and jet so it just ran its course.

'But they're still happy to work together. It's a shame, but just one of those things. They still get on well.'