Anna Friel has revealed she’s still good friends with her ex David Thewlis, who she shares a daughter, Gracie, 13, with.
The 42-year-old explained that her romance of nine years to the Harry Potter actor broke down in 2010 because they ‘became friends’ and were spending too much time apart.
‘I don’t know. I mean… with David, there was no money involved in our separation and we have a daughter, so maybe that helps things,’ she told Red’s November issue.
Good terms: Anna Friel has revealed she’s still good friends with her ex David Thewlis, who she shares a daughter, Gracie, 13, with
Anna, who was later in a relationship with Rhys Ifans from 2011 until 2014, said that in both romances there was no bad feeling.
‘In both relationships, things didn’t break down because there was no love there. In reality, it was just because we’d become friends, or we were spending too much time apart, and that’s actors for you – that’s our industry,’ she said.
The Marcella actress added that she isn’t putting pressure on herself to find love again and models her love life on Helen Mirren, who married Taylor Hackford when she was 48.
It’s over: The 42-year-old explained that their romance of nine years broke down in 2010 because they ‘became friends’ and were spending too much time apart (seen in 2009)
Mini-me: ‘I don’t know. I mean… with David, there was no money involved in our separation and we have a daughter, so maybe that helps things,’ she told Red’s November issue (pictured with Gracie in 2017)
‘I try not to make rules for myself. I’ll be in a relationship for love – I’m not going to make a decision based on fear,’ Friel revealed.
‘I mean, look at Helen Mirren – I’m pretty sure she settled down in her 50s, so maybe that will be me. It will all figure out.’
Anna also talked about what it’s like being a working mum, juggling a successful career with looking after Gracie.
Opening up: Anna, who was later in a relationship with Rhys Ifans from 2011 until 2014, said that in both romances there was no bad feeling
Candid: ‘In both relationships, things didn’t break down because there was no love there. In reality, it was just because we’d become friends, or we were spending too much time apart, and that’s actors for you – that’s our industry,’ she said
‘I think so many more actors are open about the fact their lives are dictated by children now, men and women,’ she said.
‘They don’t want to go away for long stints on TV series filmed in places they don’t live, and so a lot of the work is coming back to LA.’
She revealed that carving out quality time with Gracie is important, explaining: ‘She comes when I’m working, and we do room service… this time [they stayed together in a London hotel the evening before our shoot] we had hot chocolate and whipped cream and fell asleep in each other’s arms, and we woke up that way.
‘But I’m aware that can’t be forever. Although I’d like it to be. I did say, ‘If we can still do this, if you’re never too old for a cuddle with your mum, it will be okay.’
‘It will all figure out’: The Marcella actress added that she isn’t putting pressure on herself to find love again and models her love life on Helen Mirren, who married Taylor Hackford when she was 48
In Anna’s nest role, she plays the mum of a transgender child in ITV drama Butterfly.
‘For me, it just took me back to Brookside and the kiss. It took me back to that moment, and the letter I’d get every single day, from people saying, “Please, please write back to me, I can’t speak to anybody”,’ she revealed.
‘We’re being open and talking about what it is to change gender, but I don’t know that there is true acceptance yet – not for the people living it.’
The full interview appears in the November issue of Red, on sale 3 October.
The full interview appears in the November issue of Red, on sale 3 October