Hugh Bonneville
“Downton Abbey” star splits from his wife
Hugh Bonneville alongside his wife Lulu.
© imago/ABACAPRESS
The Earl of Grantham is apparently back on the market: Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville’s marriage is said to be over after 25 years.
The next long-term celebrity marriage apparently did not survive 2023. The British “Daily Mail” reports that the management of actor Hugh Bonneville (59) has now officially confirmed that the “Downton Abbey” leading actor has separated from his wife Lulu after 25 years of marriage.
Rumors about a possible end to the marriage of the actor playing the character Earl of Grantham had already emerged a few days earlier. Bonneville appeared alone last week at the wedding of his “Downton Abbey” colleague Michelle Dockery (41) to Jasper Waller-Bridge (35, brother of “Fleabag” star Phoebe Waller-Bridge, 38). Pictures available to the Daily Mail also show that the actor did not wear his wedding ring during the wedding.
Bonneville and his wife usually appeared together on the red carpet at various events. According to the report, this hasn’t been the case for a long time – the last official appearance as a couple was in April of this year at a gala at the Old Vic Theater in London.
2023 – a difficult year for long celebrity marriages
In recent weeks and months there have been an increasing number of surprising star separations. Most recently, Hugh Jackman (54) and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness (67) shocked everyone with their love break-up after 27 years of marriage. Also completely surprisingly, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (51) and his long-time wife Sophie (48) announced the end of their marriage at the beginning of August 2023 after 18 years together.
Meanwhile, in May 2023, Kevin Costner (68) and his wife Christine Baumgartner (49) announced that they were divorcing after 18 years. A protracted court battle followed, which was only recently concluded. Hollywood actress Reese Witherspoon’s (47) second marriage lasted almost twelve years. In March 2023, she and her spouse Jim Toth (53) announced that they were going their separate ways after more than a decade together.