Ioan Gruffudd and his estranged wife Alice Evans: A timeline of their relationship and divorce
Welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd and his estranged wife and Vampire Diaries star Alice Evans came to an agreement on their divorce and custody arrangements after a fierce battle that is considered one of the most bitter splits in Hollywood history. However, legal disputes between them have continued.
Last August, the Titanic star obtained a three-year restraining order against his estranged wife Alice Evans, which also bans her from mentioning him and Wallace on social media, after he claimed his wife had used social media accounts to “to harass, threaten, and disturb the peace of both me and my girlfriend” – fellow actor Bianca Wallace.
Gruffudd is known for his early roles in James Cameron’s Titanic and as the lead in Hornblower. He later rose to wider fame opposite Clive Owen and Keira Knightly in the 2004 historical adventure film Lancelot, as Reed Richards/Mr Fantastic in the 2005 superhero movie Fantastic Four, and in ITV’s critically acclaimed series Liar.
Evans has appeared in films including the British sports-comedy Blackball, and in episodes of the hit supernatural teen drama series, The Vampire Diaries.
But when did the now estranged couple get together? Here is a timeline of their relationship:
2000: Ioan Gruffudd and Alice Evans meet on film set
Gruffudd met Evans while filming Disney’s live-action 101 Dalmations sequel, 102 Dalmations, which was released in 2000. Little is known about the early stages of their relationship, but Gruffudd eventually proposed after they had been together for five years.
September 2007: Couple get married resort in Los Cabos Mexico
“It was an intimate gathering,” a source told People at the time. “Friends and family travelled all over the world for it.”
Gruffudd told the publication that he was present in every aspect of the planning process ahead of the ceremony.
“I am heavily involved. Both Alice and I are doing it ourselves,” he said. “We did the invitations, which was enough of a burden, and now of course everybody’s saying they want to come — so we’re over by about 20 people, but we’ll work it out.”
September 2009: first daughter Ella Betsi Evans is born
“Ella is very small and unbelievably beautiful,” Evans told Hello magazine at the time.
October 2013: Second daughter Elsie Marigold Evans arrives
“We are beyond thrilled to announce the arrival of our daughter, Elsie Marigold, on Sept. 13th,” the couple told People in a statement.
“A little sister for Ella Betsi. We both feel very grateful and very blessed.”
January 2021: The pair announce separation
The couple announced that they would be separating in January 2021.
Evans wrote a blunt statement on Twitter: “Sad news. My beloved husband/soulmate of 20 years, Ioan Gruffudd, has announced he is to leave his family, starting next week. Me and our young daughters are very confused and sad. We haven’t been given a reason except that he ‘no longer loves me’. I’m so sorry.”
