British actor insists marriage is ‘strong’
Dominic West and wife respond after he was seen with Lily James in Rome
It played like a scene from some British drama, with a renowned and attractive upper-class couple having to put on a show of unity after scandal erupts regarding their marriage.
In this case, it was actor Dominic West and his wife, Catherine FitzGerald, stepping out of their London home Tuesday to insist to the press that their marriage is “strong” after photos emerged of the actor getting cozy with costar Lily James in Rome, People reported. Incidentally, James has most recently been dating “Captain America” star Chris Evans but finishing up a five-year, on- off romance with actor Matt Smith, reports say.
West is best known to American audiences for playing philandering Detective Jimmy McNulty in the HBO series “The Wire” and a philandering husband in the Showtime series “The Affair.”
Outside his London home, West and his wife of 10 years kissed for photographers.
The couple also posed with a sheet of paper that read, “Our marriage is strong and we’re very much still together. Thank you. Catherine and Dominic.”
Notably, West, 50, wasn’t wearing his wedding ring, and FitzGerald, 49, kept her left hand in her pocket, E! News reported. West also declined to answer any questions regarding his Roman holiday with James, 31.
In photos first published by the Daily Mail, West and James were seen out and about in Rome on Sunday, riding a scooter together and enjoying lunch alfresco in the sunny Italian capital, People reported. At one point, West appeared to nuzzle James’ neck. An eyewitness told E! News that West engaged in public displays of affection with James during the lunch with a friend and business colleague.
“At the end of lunch Lily sat next to Dominic and he couldn’t resist kissing her neck and stroking her,” the source told E! News. “They then visited (a) nearby church and Dominic placed his hand on Lily’s butt.” James and West also were photographed sightseeing around the Spanish Steps and Piazza di Pietra.
The insider furthermore said James and West spent the rest of the evening at “the centrally-located Hotel de la Ville, where they stayed in a suite with a panoramic view.”
James became known to audiences around the world starring as Lady Rose in “Downton Abbey” from 2012 to 2015 and playing Cinderella in Disney’s 2015 live-action film.
James was linked to Evans over the summer when he spent a week with her in her hometown of London, E! News reported.
They were spotted eating ice cream in a park near Buckingham Palace and enjoying a night out on the town, E! News added.