Darn it. The only thing worse than not having good news to report is reporting it and then having to take it back. Last month I covered a story about Claire Foy’s husband, Stephen Campbell Moore, beating a brain tumor. Claire and Stephen have been married for four years and have a two-year old daughter. As we know, Claire’s career is just taking off after receiving many accolades for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown. She’s been cast as Janet Armstrong in First Man and, surprisingly, she nabbed the role of Lisbeth Salender in The Girl in the Spider’s Web. So, everything was going well, right? New baby, strong career, hot husband *record scratch* Wrong! Claire and Stephen just announced they are separating:
Claire Foy has separated from her husband after four years of marriage.
The 33-year-old Crown actress, who plays the role of Queen Elizabeth on the Netflix drama, and Stephen Campbell Moore confirmed their separation in a joint statement obtained by PEOPLE.
“We can confirm that we have separated and have been for some time,” reads the statement. “We do however continue as great friends with the utmost respect for one another. We ask for our privacy during this time.”
The couple wed in 2014 and welcomed one child over the course of their marriage: 2-year-old daughter, born in February 2015.
So, things didn’t work out. This is Hollywood, it happens all the time, right? Except that Stephie-boy was seen popping around town with his co-star, Sophie Cookson. Stephen and Sophie have been working together on a spy drama called Red Joan and were spotted as early as last Christmas together. At the time, The Daily Mail said Claire’s PR team had just confirmed any stories about a spilt were absolutely untrue. Only now, two months later, we find out they have been separated “for some time”. Obviously, none of this would hold up in a court of law but it certainly doesn’t make sense: in January, they were a happy, loving, united family and a few weeks later they’ve been separated for a while? That sounds like a PR spin to get in front of rumors they know are coming. This is sad but not totally shocking. I don’t remember seeing him with her at any of the award ceremonies. Maybe he was home watching their daughter or maybe he was with Sophie. If the latter is true, one thing’s for sure, Stephen has not read The Crown fan boards after the show implied Phillip fooled around on QEII. Had he, he would know we’re coming for him.
Photo credit: WENN Photos
Yeah, it’s spin. Sounds like he got caught cheating, the dog.
Throughout my life I’ve known marriages and couples affected by a serious cancer diagnosis. It’s very interesting how it changes things. One woman I know said to me “I got cancer, and I got smart”.
And not all the marriages survived it. So, who knows. I am not about to judge.
I wonder if the cancer prompted an early mid-life crisis.
I can see it. Imagine you suddenly realize that life really is quite short and could be shorter and you just want to spend that time feeling happier.
My mom died from cancer at age 59 a month ago and the whole “life is short” argument is suddenly sitting in front of me. I have been worried about the cost and energy needed for a second child but it’s such a happy burden for those who actually have the energy and money if they’re smart. So we’re trying. Luckily my husband is cool as hell but I can see cancer really altering your outlook on life and with whom you spend it.
Serious health issue, a very young child, distance due to work away from home (with attractive co-stars)–tough recipe for any marriage.
Escondista, I am so very sorry for your loss.
And yes, I think that’s what it is. A sudden realization of how short a time you have here, and maybe that unhappiness you were willing to just live with, you no longer are. You want something more fulfilling before your time’s up.
My cancer diagnosis led to the end of my marriage. Part of it was his total inability to put his needs aside and be supportive, but an equal part was my realization that I did not want to spend whatever was left of my life with him. It was painful, and we did try to work it out but when he told the marriage counsellor that everything would be fine if I just went back to the way I was before, I knew we likely were not going to make it.
Ouch. I hope you enjoy radiant health going forward.
@ BearcatLawyerI am so sorry to hear all that you are going through. I have to say a friend died of breast cancer recently. The last few years of her life were a living hell. Her husband cheating on her. Wouldn’t come home at night while she was sick from chemo and surgeries. It breaks my heart thinking about all she endured and that is just the little i know. Be proud of yourself for having the courage to leave and be thankful that you have the rest of your life to enjoy and find love again.
When my grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer, her and my grandpa were kind of estranged to each other after 45 years of marriage. But after the diagnosis and the chemo, they kinda fell in love again, they were really sweet and affectionate with each other. It was realy sweet to see them in their final years as best friends.
Yes absolutely, it can really change things. My partner was diagnosed about 4 years ago and at that point we’d only been together a 18 months or so. I can absolutely see how some split. It completely changes the dynamic and many people view life very differently afterwards.
It wasn’t cancerous. He had a benign brain tumor on his pituitary gland located at the base of his brain. But the operation isn’t without risks depending where those tumors are located, how big, etc. Oddly enough, Claire herself had had a benign tumor behind her eye when a teenager, and thankfully the operation was a success as far no permanent effects.
Maria Menouonos had one. She has had a period of recovery afterwards. She stepped down from her job. Mark Ruffalo had the same kind as far as not cancerous and slow growing. But he had complications after his surgery, partial facial paralysis for quite a while. He thought his acting career was over.
I knew someone whose family member had one, not cancerous It was removed in her 20s. It came back decades later and was in a tricky place. They had to remove it, but she became paralyzed from it. It was very sad.
Well good for her for dumping him right away instead of letting it drag on. I’m starting to believe actresses need to stop dating actors. This seems to happen to every one of them.
I’m not about to defend anyone for cheating, but it’s also possible they have been separated for much longer and the PR from before Christmas was lying. That’s what PRs do! Perhaps the couple just wanted to lie about it as long as possible to give themselves plenty of distance from the actual split before going public.
So if she stood by him (or didn’t maybe??) while he was undergoing treatments, after he thankfully was successfully treated, then he decides “life is short”?? Agreed, the whole story isn’t out in the public. But I have seen the scenario where one partner cares for the ailing one, recovery is achieved, and the treated one bails.
Infamous example of that is George Lopez. His ex-wife gave him a kidney and he bailed shortly after he was stabilised. Didn’t have much time for him before, much less after that.
How long were they together before she became pregnant and they got married? If not long, then there are additional contributors and it wouldn’t take much for it to fall apart.
Cancer can put a tremendous strain on a marriage especially if you are younger and have young children. I went through it with my husband and they were the toughest years of my life, in addition to which he didn’t survive. Also with a brain tumour there can be changes in personality depending on the location of the tumour. Very hard on everyone.
He didn’t have cancer. The tumor was benign. It was a very serious operation.
Tumors on the pituitary gland are a lot scarier sounding than they are. For a while my docs thought that was what was wrong with me (turns out it’s a completely different thing that causes similar symptoms). They can be easily operated on (usually) in people and the side effects of the operation are not usually a long term deal, if you have any. ( I say in people as my dog has one and they do not operate on dogs in Canada for it.)
I was in a group with several people who had them (all benign) removed and it was very interesting to learn about. They all had the same reaction though, having something removed via your nose is pretty freaky. There was only one in the group who had to have the craniotomy to have hers removed. That is much more serious obviously and she had scaring. Hers was quite large and had started to interfere with other parts of her brain.
So she becomes more famous than him, gets awards and nos they’re divorcing… Okay.
No one knows if he has cheated. I will wait before convicting him of being some heartless guy. We don’t know what was going on regarding their marriage and then separation. As we have now seen, many couples hide their big problems and act like a loving marriage in interviews, until one day they are divorcing.
Too bad, they were a nice looking couple and have a young child. These things happen, though.
A reporter called Ryan Porter tweeted that during his interview with Claire And Andrew Garfield at TIFF “they were very “cutesy”” and “know it all makes sense.” He linked the article he wrote that mentioned a few times about their chemistry and Andrew having his arm around her and Andrew calling himself fond of her and her being insulted so he said he was downplaying it for press. He also said on set Claire would massage him. Not sure if the reporter was trying to suggest something or not but it seems like it.
I don’t know… My gut says her star is just rising and she’s looking for an upgrade. I get that vibe from her.
Are there any unmarried upgrades at the present time in Hollywood? I can’t think of a dude to choose. The ones who seem worth a woman’s time are married (i.e. Chris Hemsworth?).
Is she really that calculating? She seems really sweet, but maybe I am basing that off of her “Little Dorritt” persona.
Eh, this seems like pointless PR spin on her part though so I’m not sure it is. She’s a celebrated actress, a young mother, and a wife who stood by as her husband battled cancer. Him stepping out would probably lionize her and help her career. A good PR team would have worked that into an Oscar nomination for First Man or Dragon Tattoo.
Sorry to inform but if there is any cheating involved, it’s more likely to come from Claire’s side. Anyone who’s followed her promotion tours of both The Crown and Breathe has seen how uncomfortably cozy she was with her co-stars Matt Smith and Andrew Garfield. She just couldn’t stop giggling like a schoolgirl around them. Normally I’d say it was a pretty normal reaction given the situation (as they’re both very handsome gentlemen) but something about her behaviour and body language struck me as inappropriate.
I tend to be more suspicious about Smith because Claire has been papped hanging out alone with him in a bunch of non work situations and they look rather flirty in all of the pictures. I’d say it’s odd that a woman with a sick husband, a toddler and a very busy career would find the time or the disposition to hang out all by herself with another man (who has a girlfriend btw) with no wedding ring in sight.
Besides she seems to be the type who’d look for an A list “upgrade”
This reminds me of Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe. He couldn’t handle her success and critical acclaim. He cheats with a younger lesser known actress to assuage his fragile ego.
Maths isn’t my forte but surely a child born in February 2015 is 3 not 2?
I was an extra in a TV series with Claire Foy a million years ago and she was very “no one’s allowed to make eye contact” even back then. Never liked her since.