Sunday Star-Times

Firth’s wife admits she had affair with her ‘stalker’

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It’s not the plot of a Hollywood drama — Colin Firth’s wife confirms she waged an affair with a man she claims stalked her.

Livia Giuggioli, who’s been married to Firth for more than 20 years, admitted to her past relations with journalist Marco Brancaccia after he asserted to British newspaper The Times that Giuggioli made up the harassment allegation­s to cover up their romantic involvemen­t.

Firth, 57, and Giuggioli, 48, are now confirming her affair with Brancaccia did take place, but contend the journalist’s harassment began later on.

‘‘A few years ago Colin and Livia privately made the decision to separate,’’ a representa­tive for Firth and Giuggioli said in a statement to the Daily News. ‘‘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,’’ the statement said.

Brancaccia, 55, claims his relationsh­ip with Giuggioli occurred from 2015 to 2016. Giuggioli’s allegation­s against the journalist, who works for an Italian press agency, prompted an investigat­ion in Italy. Brancaccia told The Times that Giuggioli ‘‘wanted to leave Colin for me.’’

‘‘My ‘stalking’ consisted of two messages via WhatsApp after she ended our relationsh­ip in June 2016, and an email,’’ Brancaccia said. ‘‘I wrote an email to Colin about my relationsh­ip with Livia, which I now regret sending, and she filed a complaint against me for stalking out of fear that I could go public with what she had revealed to me about her marriage and work.’’-

 ?? TNS ?? Colin Firth’s wife Livia Giuggioli now admits she had an affair with the man she said was stalking her.
TNS Colin Firth’s wife Livia Giuggioli now admits she had an affair with the man she said was stalking her.

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