Dominic West was finally able to see the funny side of the Lily James photo that landed him in a scandal.
The 54-year-old actor was pictured hugging his The Pursuit of Love co-star Lily, 35, while sightseeing in Rome, Italy, without his wife Katherine Fitzgerald in October 2020. The photo was taken and the couple have now admitted they joke about it. “An absurd situation.”
He told the Times: “I'm hesitant to speak for my wife, because obviously it was terrible, especially for her wife. But we do joke about it sometimes.”
“Every time we went out together, the newspapers would report on us being a ‘show of solidarity,’ even if we were just paddling around in a park or something. That couldn't be further from the truth. So when we go out, we say, 'Why don't we go do a show of solidarity in London?'
West, who is the father of two sons with Fitzgerald, said: “It was an absurd situation. It was stressful for my wife and kids, but there were also moments of relief. It was the best,” he added.
After the photo was released, Mr. and Mrs. West posed for a photo together outside their home with a placard that read, “Our marriage is strong and we are still very much together. Thank you. Catherine and Dominic.” was raised.
Dominic said in an interview with The Times that the uproar helped him understand how he would play King Charles in The Crown, as he has been at the center of many headline-grabbing stories over the years. , he claimed.
West continued: “I knew all too well what it was like to be scared of seeing your name and your picture in the newspaper.
“There’s that scary, freezing moment when something about yourself is revealed, and I think everyone can understand that feeling.
“But I've been through it, and that must have informed how I dealt with it. [the role of Charles]. That intuitive feeling of fear is something you don't get used to. ”