Christine Baranski celebrated Mamma Mia!’s grand return to Broadway with great fanfare — and a surprise red carpet date.
Earlier this week, Baranski, 73, stepped out at the Winter Garden Theatre in a sequined silver suit with a pair of sunglasses. While walking down the red carpet, Baranski held hands with singer King Princess, who was her costar on season 2 of Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers.
King Princess, 26, sported a newspaper-inspired button-down blouse with black trousers, a studded belt and a tangle of silver necklaces.
King Princess (born Mikaela Mullaney Straus) later shared moments from the red carpet outing via social media.
Christine Baranski Says ‘Mama Mia’ Producer Is ‘Planning’ Film No. 3
“#LoveIsLove,” the “1950” musician wrote via Instagram on Wednesday, August 20.
Neither Baranski nor King Princess further addressed their relationship or friendship status but Baranski’s rep denied they are romantically involved. “Christine and King Princess are strictly friends and nothing more,” a spokesperson for the actress told Page Six on Friday. “They have never been in a relationship, nor are they now.”
Us Weekly has reached out for comment. Meanwhile, several social media fans — and even stars — have gushed over the photos and shipped the former costars.
“Ava and Deborah vibes,” Hannah Einbinder wrote via Instagram comment, referring to her Hacks character’s complex professional relationship with Jean Smart’s character.
Another fan wrote, “OK, I’m obsessed with this.”
Baranski was previously married to British actor Matthew Cowles from 1983 until his death in 2014. King Princess, for her part, publicly identifies as a lesbian and has been linked to actress Amandla Stenberg and creative director Quinn Wilson. (King Princess is signed to Mark Ronson‘s label Zelig Records and is best known for songs “1950,” “Fantastic” and “Cry Cry Cry.”)
Monday’s red carpet also served as a Mamma Mia! reunion for Baranski, who portrayed Tanya in the 2008 film adaptation and its 2018 sequel. In addition to posing with King Princess, the Gilded Age star was all smiles next to Judy Craymer (Mamma Mia! film producer), Jessica Keenan Wynn (Young Tanya in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again), Simon Jones (The Gilded Age), Catherine Johnson (Mamma Mia! playwright) and Phyllida Lloyd (Mamma Mia! film director) in respective pictures.
Mamma Mia! — which was a Broadway musical based on ABBA songs long before Baranski, Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth led a film version — has since sparked more revival speculation.
“I hope if they are deciding to do it, it better be soon because a lot of us are not getting any younger,” Baranski joked on the Today show in April 2021. “We don’t want to be singing and dancing [and] needing a walker. We all want a Mamma Mia! 3 because we have so much fun making these movies. Both movies were two joyous experiences.”
Streep, 76, later told Deadline in May 2024 that proposals for her potential return were “imminent.” (Streep’s Donna Sheridan was killed off at the start of Here We Go Again.)
“I don’t know how they’re going to [work around it]. They have an idea,” Streep teased to the outlet. “I haven’t heard it yet but … I’m going to hear about it pretty soon. Of course, I want to do it. I think folks love it.”
