Actor Dominic West has candidly discussed one of the most painful chapters of his personal life, labelling the breakdown of his relationship with the mother of his first child as a profound source of sadness and shame.
A Painful Split and Lingering Regret
In a revealing interview on the Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth podcast, the 56-year-old star of The Wire reflected on his split from Polly Astor. West and Astor, the daughter of Conservative politician Michael Astor, welcomed their daughter Martha in 1998. Their relationship, however, ended not long after.
When asked if the breakup represented one of the 'big sadnesses' or 'shames' of his life, West admitted, ‘I suppose so, yes.’ He expressed a specific regret concerning his eldest child, stating, ‘I suppose I wish my eldest daughter had had some of the advantages or some of the security that my others have had.’
West, who was 28 at the time, attributed the split partly to his age and career trajectory. ‘I think I was too young. I was just leaving drama school and looking towards America so it came at the wrong time, really,’ he explained, though he later conceded that 28 was ‘not that young’. Despite the difficulty, he noted they have remained ‘great friends’ and have been ‘civil throughout’.
Navigating Scandal and a 'Show of Unity'
The actor's current marriage to landscape designer and aristocrat Catherine FitzGerald, his university flame whom he wed in 2010, faced intense public scrutiny in 2020. West was photographed in Rome appearing to kiss actress Lily James, sparking a media frenzy.
The couple addressed the speculation directly, famously posing for photographers outside their London home with a handwritten sign that read: ‘Our marriage is strong and we’re very much still together. Thank you. Catherine and Dominic.’
Nearly four years later, West is reluctant to dwell on the incident but revealed they have found moments of dark humour in its aftermath. ‘I hesitate to speak on my wife’s behalf because it was obviously horrible, particularly for her,’ he told The Times. ‘But we do joke about it sometimes.’
He pointed out that the press often labelled their public appearances as a ‘show of unity’, regardless of their actual mood. This has now become an inside joke, with the couple asking each other, ‘Shall we go and have a show of unity up in London?’ West described the period as ‘an absurd situation’ that was ‘deeply stressful’ but acknowledged ‘there were lighter moments’.
Life and Family After the Turmoil
Dominic West and Catherine FitzGerald now share four children. Notably, one of their sons played a young Prince William opposite West's Prince Charles in the Netflix series The Crown.
His reflections paint a picture of a man reconciling with past mistakes while navigating the complexities of a high-profile marriage under the relentless gaze of the tabloid press. His primary regret remains centred on the stability he feels he could not provide for his firstborn child, a sentiment that underscores his recent candid disclosures.
