The actor Ralph Fiennes and his partner Francesca Annis are to separate after 11 years, lawyers for the actress said tonight.
The split comes after reports that The English Patient star Fiennes, 43, had an affair with a young singer.
“Ms Annis confirms today that she and Ralph Fiennes are to separate,” said a statement from her solicitors.
The 61-year-old actress also announced she has begun legal proceedings against the Daily Mail for defamation and invasion of privacy over a story which claimed she had forgiven him over the alleged affair.
The relationship between Fiennes and Annis was notable for its 18-year age gap.
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The couple met when Fiennes played Hamlet at the Hackney Empire in 1995 and Annis played his mother, Gertrude.
Fiennes left his wife, ER star Alex Kingston, and Annis left her partner, photographer Patrick Wiseman, with whom she had three children.
In an interview published last year, the actress was philosophical about the age gap between them.
“Of course I don’t spend days agonising over the age difference. How can I? There is nothing I can do about it.
“Ralph and I have been together 10 years now so, whatever happens, we have had a very good, different relationship and an interesting time,” she said.
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The separation announcement comes on the opening night of Fiennes’ new play, Faith Healer, at the Gate Theatre in Dublin.
The star is due to attend the Bafta ceremony in London on February 19, where he has a best actor nomination for his performance in The Constant Gardener.
Fiennes has been twice Oscar-nominated, for Schindler’s List and The English Patient, and is known to younger audiences for his role as Lord Voldemort in the last Harry Potter film.
Annis has earned several Bafta nominations for her TV work and is an acclaimed stage actress.
She garnered rave reviews for her most recent West End role in Epitaph for George Dillon, which ended its run at the Comedy Theatre last month.
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PA