Colin Firth & Livia Giuggioli Announce Separation - After Enduring Affair & Stalker Drama

It’s been a year full of celebrity couples calling it quits, and it isn’t slowing down as 2019 comes to an end. And this one was truly unexpected…

Colin Firth and Livia Giuggioli have announced their separation after a whopping 22 years of marriage in a joint statement, saying:

“Colin and Livia Firth have separated. They maintain a close friendship and remain united in their love for their children. They kindly ask for privacy. There will be no further comment.”

The former couple have two teenage sons together, Luca (18) and Matteo (16), who were born in Rome but have dual Italian and UK citizenship. (Colin also has one older son from his previous relationship with Valmont costar Meg Tilly.)

Colin met Livia on the set of a BBC drama called Nostromo in 1996. She was working as a producing assistant at the time; she later became a film producer. They were married in 1997 and moved to the Umbria region, where Colin learned fluent Italian for her.

It’s so much like his storyline in Love, Actually! How romantic! Well, until now…

The pair separated once before, in 2015 and 2016, but ultimately reconciled. However, that temporary split ended up having lasting consequences. Last year the couple reported they were being harassed by a stalker — who turned out to be a man with whom Livia had an affair during the trial separation, a reporter named Marco Brancaccia.

In a statement from a rep, they explained:

“A few years ago Colin and Livia privately made the decision to separate. 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, much of which is documented. As a consequence of his stalking, threats and refusal to desist, the legal complaint was lodged with the Italian authorities.”

Brancaccia subsequently defended his actions, attesting:

“The reality is that Livia and I have known each other since we were youths, then in 2015-2016 we had an 11-month love affair. After it ended in June 2016 I never called her again. I did send her two WhatsApp messages, one happy birthday [text message] and an email to Colin, the latter which I truly regret.”

It’s unclear if this drama had anything to do with this split. Nor can anyone say if they’ll get back together this time.

Obviously they are far from the only couple, even the only longtime couple, to break up in 2019. See the ever-growing list (below)!

CLICK HERE to view “Celebrity Breakups Of 2019!”