I still love Ioan, but I don’t see him coming back to us
IOAN Gruffudd’s wife Alice Evans has shared a heartbreaking update on her marital woes by admitting she “still loves him” but she doesn’t “see him coming back”.
The actress took to Instagram to share images of broken hearts yesterday, including one with the words “Game Over” chalked on top of the picture.
Next to them was message in which she said she was fighting against Ioan’s plans and detailing the “excruciating pain” caused by the breakdown of their 20-year relationship.
Just a week ago Alice, 49, revealed they were breaking up in a shock Twitter statement, accusing Welsh actor Ioan, 47, of “mentally torturing” and “gaslighting” her.
In her latest post, she wrote: “I never thought this would happen to us...
“I am still fighting against it, because I love our kids, and I still love him, but something has happened inside his head and whatever it is, I don’t see him coming back to us.
“The pain is excruciating but I am stronger than an ox.”
She also said she was trying to plan a future for herself, her two daughters Ella, 11, and Elsie, seven, and their dog Emma. She wrote: “Though I weep all day when my kids aren’t looking, at night I add up figures and plan futures for us and you know what? I will do those two angels right if it’s all that I ever do!
“And Emma, of course, if she promises to stop jumping everybody! Your Alice.”
Since Alice revealed her husband of 13 years said he was leaving, the pair – who met on the set of 102 Dalmatians in 2000 – have been having heartto-heart talks and Ioan is still wearing his wedding ring.
He is best known for his depiction of surgeon Andrew Earlham in the ITV drama Liar, characterised as a rapist who regularly hides the truth.
At the end of January, Alice, who starred in Vampire Diaries, claimed her original tweet about the end of her marriage had been deleted by Ioan. At the time, she wrote: “Hi there. I didn’t delete the tweet from a few hours ago about him leaving. He did. From my account...
“And hell yes when I am being gaslit [made to question reality] and mentally tortured then hell yes I will wash my linen in public.”
Alice claimed she had spent “six months” living in uncertainty before the pair got to that stage: “Six months of harassment: yes/no/maybe. I cannot live like this anymore.”
Ioan hasn’t commented on Alice’s claims. But, speaking to reporters last weekend as he went grocery shopping in Los Angeles, he said: “Look, as I said before, it’s an extremely difficult time for the family.
“Our thoughts are with our children obviously right now and I’d really respect a little bit of privacy, thank you.”
News of the split came following his return from Australia, where he had been shooting season three of TV drama Harrow alongside Ella Newton, 30, who plays his daughter, and Anna Lise Phillips, 46, his ex-wife.
Ioan, who plays a forensic pathologist, told an Australian newspaper he had developed a close bond with Ella, saying: “I’m so lucky. We bonded almost immediately, so there’s a lot of respect there.”
Ella has a boyfriend and there is no suggestion Ioan has been unfaithful to his wife.
Meanwhile his father has claimed his son’s marriage has been in trouble for some time.
Peter Griffiths, 72, who lives near Cardiff, said “It is just very sad, but these things do happen and marriages do end.”
Alice’s original tweet said: “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.”
‘The pain is excruciating but I’m as strong as an ox’