Summer 2026 is officially heating up in New York City, and it seems Dawson’s Creek alum Joshua Jackson has a new leading lady. Just days after debuting his highly anticipated movie Happy Hours alongside former costar Katie Holmes at the Tribeca Film Festival, the actor was spotted looking incredibly cozy—and hand-in-hand—with model and actress Olivia Burgess.
But who exactly is the stunning multi-hyphenate capturing Jackson’s attention? Here is a deep dive into the budding romance and the impressive resume of Olivia Burgess.
The Soho Stroll That Started the Buzz
On Sunday, June 7, Jackson and Burgess were photographed enjoying a romantic afternoon walk through downtown Manhattan. The vibe was quintessential effortless summer chic. According to reports, Jackson wore a casual all-white linen set, while Burgess opted for a black camisole, gray Bermuda shorts, and leather split-toe mules.
The pair didn’t shy away from PDA, holding hands and smiling as they strolled through Soho before capping off the afternoon with drinks at the famously romantic NYC hot spot, il Buco.
Meet Olivia Burgess: Paris, Runways, and Beyoncé
If Burgess looks familiar, it’s because she’s been making waves in the fashion and entertainment industries for years. Here are the highlights of her fascinating background:
- International Roots: Born in Paris to model Gloria Burgess, Olivia moved to Washington D.C. when she was four years old. She later returned to the East Coast to study, graduating from Fordham University in 2015.
- A Shift in Passions: Her initial passion wasn’t the runway, but horseback riding. After an injury sidelined her equestrian pursuits, she followed in her mother’s footsteps, walking into an agency and quickly signing with the prestigious Wilhelmina Models.
- High Fashion & Major Campaigns: Burgess has walked the runway for heavyweights like Jean Paul Gaultier, Chromat, and Agent Provocateur. She’s also been the face of print campaigns for The Gap and Bloomingdale’s.
- Dancing for Royalty: Beyond modeling, Burgess is a trained dancer who has even performed with Beyoncé. She frequently credits her dance background for her elegance and control on the runway, noting that it taught her how to make incredibly difficult movements look completely effortless.
A New Chapter for Joshua Jackson
Jackson’s love life has been a subject of public fascination since his Pacey Witter days. This new sighting with Burgess comes after a transitional few years for the actor. Following his 2023 split from ex-wife Jodie Turner-Smith (with whom he shares 6-year-old daughter, Juno), Jackson had a year-long relationship with Lupita Nyong’o and was briefly linked to Bridgerton star Simone Ashley in 2025.
While fans of Dawson’s Creek have been hoping for an off-screen reunion with Katie Holmes—especially with their new movie Happy Hours premiering—it appears their relationship remains strictly a beautiful, decades-long friendship. Instead, Jackson is stepping into summer looking happier than ever with Burgess.
Sources Quoted: This article synthesizes reporting by the TMZ Staff at TMZ, Marissa Dow at E! News, and Justin Harp at Us Weekly.
Leo Falsafi is a digital marketing veteran and senior journalist at Virlan.co, where he covers the intersection of digital marketing, gaming, and breaking US trending news. With nearly two decades of hands-on experience in SEO and digital strategy, Leo has consulted for and scaled hundreds of companies. His deep industry roots allow him to deliver sharp, fact-checked insights and analysis on the trends shaping today’s digital landscape.
A 30 plus year friendship in “Hollywood” is so rare! Who cares what they do in their personal dating lives.
Obviously they are grown adults and can do whatever they want irrespective of my opinion but for me, it’s just always been about how they light up a screen together.
And it’s nice to see that chemistry transfer off screen to a beautiful friendship that has now spanned decades.
Pretty incredible, honestly.
This changes absolutely nothing for me, I just want these movies made!!