Actor Colin Firth splits from wife Livia after 22 years of marriage

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Colin Firth has separated from his wife Livia Giuggioli after 22 years of marriage.

The 59-year-old actor confirmed the news in a statement today and insisted that they "maintain a close friendship."

Their publicists said in a joint statement: "They maintain a close friendship and remain united in their love for their children."

Colin and Livia, 48, share children Matteo, 16, and Luca, 18.

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Their split comes after The Sun revealed last year that a man accused of stalking Livia claimed they shared a passionate year-long affair - which saw them romp all over the world.

Livia admitted to a brief fling with journalist Marco Brancaccia while temporarily separated from "King’s Speech" screen star Firth.

But she and the actor reported the 55-year-old to cops, ac­c­using him of stalking her and sending terrifying messages plus an email with a compromising photo of her.

But divorced Marco insisted he wasn’t a stalker and that their affair lasted nearly 12 months.

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He said: “We met at a party at Colin and Livia’s house in Italy. I had known her for years and one thing led to another.

“We started an affair that lasted just under a year.

Firth, with Livia Giuggioli, arrives at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala Benefit celebrating the opening of "Charles James: Beyond Fashion" in New York on May 5, 2014. (Reuters)

"She’d tell Colin she was on business trips and we’d meet all over the world. We met in New York, Brazil, Iceland, Italy and even London, where they live.

“We went to the Pirelli 2016 calendar launch together in London and I was sat at the same table as her. We went to the Rio Carnival together. I’d say we were very much in love.

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“Sometimes when we were together she would get a call from Colin. I’m the one being called a stalker when I’ve done absolutely nothing wrong.’’

Marco was accused of waging an eight-month stalking campaign against the Firths between September 2016 and May last year.

Sources said Firth had confronted his wife about her alleged affair after he received an email.

Colin Firth and Eco-Age Creative Director Livia Firth attend The Green Carpet Fashion Awards, Italia 2019, hosted by CNMI & Eco-Age, at Teatro Alla Scala on September 22, 2019 in Milan, Italy.  (David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Eco-Age Ltd)

A friend of the actor was reported as saying: ‘This email basically told Colin everything he had been doing with his wife for a year.

“The email was a detailed diatribe, humiliated Colin and was designed with no other motive than to wound. He described intimate meetings that would devastate any husband.

“He did so with the misguided and hopeless belief he could destabilize the efforts being made by Colin and Livia to sort things out.

“Colin presented this to his wife and in what must have been a very difficult confrontation.

"But he has maintained his dignity throughout.”

A spokesman for the couple said: “A few years ago Colin and Livia privately made the decision to separate.

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During that time Livia briefly became involved with former friend Mr. Brancaccia. The Firths have since reunited.

“Subsequently, Mr. Brancaccia carried out a frightening campaign of harassment over several months.”

The Firths appeared together on the red carpet numerous times during the period they said they were separated.

They posed for the cameras at the Baftas in February 2016 and a host of other red carpet engagements.

Colin Firth attends the Golden Globe Awards with his wife, Livia Giuggioli. (Reuters)

The couple, based in Chiswick, West London, have been married for more than 20 years.

They also own a house near Città della Pieve in Umbria, Italy.

Livia founded a brand sustainability consultancy called Eco-Age and her pals include singer Annie Lennox.

Oscar-winner Colin has starred in "Bridget Jones’s Diary" and "Love Actually."

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In 2011 Firth said he would never cheat on Livia with any film co-stars.

He said on Piers Morgan’s show: “It does help to realize that, however stunning the person who is fluttering eyelashes at you, she doesn’t do anything to match up to your wife. To me she’s the most beautiful woman in the world.”

This story originally appeared in The Sun.