Fans of Nina Dobrev are happy that she has found love with Austin Stowell. The actress and the "Whiplash" star began dating earlier this year, and Hollywood Life reports that they have one person to thank for playing matchmaker — singer-actress Selena Gomez.
Gomez, who is a good friend of Dobrev's, reportedly paved the way for the couple while she was working with Stowell earlier this year.
"Selena and Austin became close friends while filming 'In Dubious Battle' in Atlanta," said a source to Hollywood Life. "It was Selena who went on and on about how wonderful and beautiful and talented Nina is."
The insider added that Stowell and Dobrev are signed to the same agency and have crossed paths before, but it wasn't until they started spending time in Atlanta that they really got to know each other. This was reportedly back in January, when Dobrev was still filming "The Vampire Diaries" in Atlanta, and the source added that they have been dating since then.
The pair went public last June at the Hallmark Shoebox relaunch in Hollywood, where an onlooker told People magazine that they were being very affectionate with each other at the event, which was held at The Improv. They were also together as they attended an intimate dinner with fans for a Kind Campaign fundraising event on the same month.
On June 14, the couple attended Jaime King's baby shower, and the two even took some pictures together at a photo booth. Stowell and Dobrev looked like they were having fun as they mugged for the camera, and the actress posted the shots on her Instagram page and captioned it, "Photobooth Fun! #babyshower @jaime_king @kyle_newman."
Two days after King's baby shower, the couple walked the red carpet at Dobrev's "The Final Girls" screening, and an eyewitness told Us Weekly that the actor stayed close to his girlfriend, while Dobrev introduced Stowell to her costars and held his hand at the event.
"He called Nina 'babe'," said the eyewitness. "And gently put his arm around her waist."
