Here’s everything you need to know about the Downton Abbey star’s ex-wife.
1
Who is Lucinda Williams?
Lucinda “Lulu” Williams, 55, is the ex-wife of actor Hugh Bonneville, 59.
The pair married in November 1998, after meeting when they were just teenagers in West Sussex.
She previously told the Daily Mail: “We met as teenagers and have a lot of history.
“We’re not fazed by the glitz of the show business world.
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“We are just home-loving people and don’t make a habit of hanging out at celebrity parties.
“I don’t really have a job but my hobby is hanging out at car boot sales, buying trinkets and doing them up and reselling them.”
After initially meeting, they lost contact for several years once he and his family moved away from the area.
But 25 years ago the pair reunited – with a little help from Hugh’s mother, Patricia.
Hugh previously said: “Lulu was running a marquee company . . . my mother rang her to hire some chairs or something and said, ‘Do you remember Hugh?’ and that was how we reconnected.
“It did infuriate me that I had to give full credit to my mum for reintroducing us,” he added.
Despite inaccurate reports in the past stating that Lulu worked as an artist, Hugh himself set the record straight.
The actor told Radio Times: “There were about five minutes when she was doing something very creative – she is a very creative person – and I said, ‘At the moment, she’s an artist’ and that has stuck despite me saying in every single subsequent interview that ‘No, she’s not an artist – she’s now a full-time mum.'”
Why did Hugh Bonneville and Lulu Williams split up?
The Notting Hill actor and Lulu split in 2023 after tying the knot 25 years ago.
A source said: “It is clear that Lulu feels as if 20-odd years of marriage counts for nothing.”
Yesterday a spokesperson for Hugh confirmed the couple — who have been married for 25 years and share a family home in West Sussex — have separated.
A source said: “It’s a shame as locally they were known to be a very sociable couple.
“Hugh has been away from home filming a lot this year.
“He has lost a bit of weight this summer, he was looking trim, tanned, and relaxed.”
Hugh has praised the key role Lulu has played in running their household and looking after their beloved son, while he enjoyed TV and movie fame.
The award-winner said: “Lulu’s priority has been to be a bedrock for Felix and me and I’m completely indebted to her.”
Lulu reportedly had a nickname for her ex-husband – “Luvvie”.
How many children do Hugh and Lucinda have?
The couple share a son, Felix, 20, although they keep their only child out of the spotlight.
But speaking to the magazine Parents, Hugh once opened up about fatherhood.
He said: “I think the absolute key one is don’t force your child to do the things you failed to do and wanted to do, like playing the piano or something.
“Another great piece of advice that someone once said to me when my little boy was arriving was, ‘Hug him close, and let him fly.'”