What to Know About Taylor Swift's Brother, Austin

Published on Oct 18, 2023 at 5:50 PM

Taylor Swift's younger brother, Austin Swift, has kept a relatively low profile over the years, which is why fans were surprised to see him at the Kansas City Chiefs's game on Oct 1. According to People, Austin was seen at MetLife Stadium alongside his girlfriend, Sydney Ness, as well as his famous sister and some of her closest friends, including Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and Sabrina Carpenter. The group was there to support Taylor's rumored boyfriend, football tight end Travis Kelce.

Although the game marked one of the few times the Swift siblings have been photographed in public together, they're actually super close. In fact, if you scroll through Austin's Instagram, you'll see he frequently praises his sister. For example, in 2018, Austin shared a sweet message for Taylor on her 29th birthday, calling her "a best friend, a role model" and one of his biggest "champion[s]."

In 2021, Taylor and Austin also became coworkers by collaborating on the singer's "I Bet You Think About Me" music video together. Yes, that's right — Austin works in the entertainment industry as well. Over the years, he's made a name for himself as an actor and producer. If you're curious to know more about Austin's work and personal life, then scroll through the slideshow for more details.

Austin Swift Was a Bit of a Loner Growing Up

You would think that being the brother of a major pop star would score Austin some extra points with his classmates at school, but that surprisingly wasn't the case. In a June 2017 interview with Vanity Fair, Austin told the publication that he "didn't have a lot of friends" growing up. Because of this, he would often seek comfort at the movie theater, where he connected with his favorite actors on screen.

"I would go to the movies, and Daniel Craig was my friend, and Christian Bale was my friend, and Clive Owen was my friend, and Viggo Mortensen was my friend," he said. Austin's love for films would later inspire him to become an actor and producer.

Austin Swift Graduated From the University of Notre Dame

Before becoming an actor and producer, Austin honed his craft at the University of Notre Dame. He enrolled at the Indiana school in 2010. Although he transferred to Vanderbilt University the following year, he eventually returned to the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in film studies in 2015, per Buzzfeed.

During his time in college, Austin appeared in plays like "Dead Man's Cell Phone" and "Six Characters in Search of an Author." According to the publication, Taylor once skipped the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards to watch her brother perform in "Six Characters in Search of an Author." She also attended his graduation and shared her excitement for Austin's big milestone by posting videos from the ceremony on Instagram, per E! News.

Austin Swift Once Interned at Lionsgate

After graduating college, Austin worked his way up the ladder in the entertainment industry by first getting experience through an internship. According to Vanity Fair, Austin once interned at Lionsgate, where he made and sent out DVD screeners.

Austin Swift Made His Film Debut in "I.T." Alongside Pierce Brosnan

Austin made his film debut in 2016 in the thriller "I.T." starring Pierce Brosnan. The veteran actor is most well-known for playing James Bond in the film "GoldenEye," which Austin told People is one of his favorite movies of all time.

Since appearing in "I.T.," Austin has also landed roles in the films "Live by Night," "Cover Versions," and "Braking For Whales." He also acted and coproduced the horror thriller "We Summon the Darkness," and has appeared in the TV series "Embeds" and "Still the King."

Austin Swift Helped Produce One of Taylor Swift's Music Videos

If you paid close attention to the credits in Taylor's "I Bet You Think About Me" music video, you would know Austin helped produce the video alongside Blake Lively. Although the role marked just Austin's second producing job, it was so well received that it earned video of the year nominations at both the 2022 Country Music Awards and the 2022 Academy of Country Music Awards.

"I was so lucky to get to work with Blake, Taylor, and the entire amazing team behind the video for 'I Bet You Think About Me' and now I am so proud and thankful that we've been nominated for the ACM award for video of the year!" Austin wrote on Instagram following the video's success.

Austin Swift Is Dating Model Sydney Ness

Austin has reportedly been in a relationship with model Sydney Ness for at least a year. The pair first sparked dating rumors in September 2022 when they were photographed holding hands while walking around in New York City, per People. Most recently, the rumored couple was spotted cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs with Taylor at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 1.