Hugh Bonneville has been on a series of dates with Canadian actress Claire Rankin just months after his separation from his wife Lulu Williams.
The Downton Abbey star, 60, has reportedly been spending time with Claire, 53, at her London apartment, as well as an evening at the luxury Broadwick Soho hotel.
According SunHugh also took the actress to an event at Buckingham Palace where she met Queen Camilla and to dinner with her Downton co-stars.
Claire was previously married to actor Josh Randall, who appeared alongside Hugh in US comedy Courting Alex almost 20 years ago.
Claire has shared snaps from her recent trip to London on her Instagram account, however Hugh does not appear in them.
Hugh Bonneville has been on a series of dates with Canadian actress Claire Rankin just months after his split from wife Lulu Williams (pictured with Lulu in 2019).
The Downton Abbey star, 60, has reportedly been spending time with Claire, 53, (pictured) at her London apartment, as well as an evening at the luxury Broadwick Soho hotel.
An onlooker who saw the couple strolling through central London said: “Hugh and Claire looked so happy together they couldn’t stop smiling.”
“They looked like any other couple and seemed to really enjoy each other’s company.”
Recently, Hugh gave a reading to the young winners of a BBC writing competition with Claire in the audience.
On Wednesday, they were said to have enjoyed dinner with Hugh’s Downton co-star Michelle Dockery.
On Friday, Claire shared a photo taken at the airport as she prepared to return to Canada.
The actress, originally from Prince Edward Island, began acting in Shakespeare plays in the ’90s and appeared on shows such as Ally McBeal, Without A Trace and House.
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Hugh Bonneville for comment.
A spokesperson for Hugh confirmed in September that he and his ex Lulu, who lived together for 25 years at their West Sussex home, had ended their marriage.
Claire has shared snaps from her recent trip to London on her Instagram account, however Hugh does not appear in them.
Hugh also took the actress to an event at Buckingham Palace where she met Queen Camilla.
Claire was previously married to actor Josh Randall (pictured together in 2001).
Josh and Hugh appeared together in the American comedy Courting Alex almost 20 years ago.
Recently, Hugh gave a reading to the young winners of a BBC writing competition with Claire in the audience.
However, it seems the split hasn’t been easy, with a source revealing: “It’s clear that Lulu feels that 20-odd years of marriage doesn’t count for anything.”
Lulu often accompanied her husband to premieres and film sets and her recent absence sparked rumors that the couple was having problems.
The actor, famous for his role as Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, had never shied away from expressing his love for Lulu, having previously called her his “base” and “anchor” and credited his wife for being the backbone backbone of your home.
A source told The Sun: ‘Hugh has been filming away from home a lot this year. He has lost a little weight this summer and looked slim, tanned and relaxed.’
The heartbreak came just five years after the couple renewed their vows at Graceland Chapel in Las Vegas.
A spokesperson for Hugh confirmed in September that he and his ex Lulu, who lived together for 25 years at their home in West Sussex, have ended their marriage (pictured together in 2017).
The couple met when they were teenagers, but reconnected later in life and got together in their 30s, thanks in large part to Hugh’s mother, Patricia.
Hugh has said: “Lulu ran a marquee company… my mother called her to rent some chairs or something and said, ‘Do you remember Hugh?'”
“It infuriated me that I had to give all the credit to my mother for reintroducing us.”
The former couple later married in November 1998.
In previous interviews, Bonneville stated that he was “completely indebted” to his wife for the way she supported him throughout his career while caring for their son Felix, 20, who has also found success on screen.
“Lulú’s priority has been to be a foundation for Félix and me and I am completely indebted to her,” he said.