Ioan Gruffudd and his girlfriend Bianca Wallace appeared carefree as they smooched in a park in LA on Friday.
Titanic actor Ioan, 50, is in the throes of a marathon divorce fight with his ex-wife Alice Evans, 55.
Earlier this week The Daily Mail reported that Alice is in dire financial straits – and has told friends that she cannot pay her rent or afford food, and is contemplating taking a job in Starbucks.
But Ioan and Bianca appeared very relaxed as they engaged in conversation while occasionally smooching.
They were also spotted playing with their pet dog and kicking a soccer ball.
Both were dressed casually – with Ioan in a black T-shirt and jeans, while Bianca opted for a sweatshirt and sunglasses.
Alice announced in January 2021 that Ioan was walking out on her after 20 years of marriage and in October that year he went public with Bianca.
She has told pals that the money which she got from the sale of the marital home, believed to amount to $100,000 is all gone, much of it on lawyers, and she is now in a financial crisis.
A friend said: ‘Alice has been extremely upset and says that she can’t afford to make rent when it is due later this month – at least not if they want to eat – and has just hit a financial rock bottom. She says she has nothing – not even medical insurance.’
They continued: ‘She’s been told that she should get a job but has not found any acting work and in any case she needs to look after their children who are school age.
‘This week she has been discussing trying for a job in Starbucks but she thinks they might not want her as she is probably too old for them at 55. Also her agent doesn’t want her to do it in case it looks bad.’
The friend added: ‘She is feeling desperate and is out of ideas about how she can get along. She has been crying herself to sleep.’
She and Gruffudd finally divorced in July this year but custody, spousal and child support have yet to be settled and the next hearing in the case is due in March next year.
The ex couple share daughters Ella, 14, and Elsie, 10.
The outing also comes amid news that the Fantastic Four star will reunite with his daughters at least once a week after claiming his ex-wife had kept the girls away from him for almost a year.
In new court filings obtained by DailyMail.com, a judge ordered Evans to take the girls to weekly ‘reunification therapy’ sessions with their father.
And Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Josh Stinn also decreed that the warring former couple could not trash or insult each other in front of their children during therapy sessions.
According to court papers, the two girls now use the last name Griffith, the Anglicized version of their Welsh father’s last name.
Gruffudd, who met Evans when they co-starred in the 2000 Disney movie, 102 Dalmatians, filed for divorce in March 2021, shortly after the blonde actress claimed on social media that her husband of 14 years was walking out on her and their two daughters.
Evans announced on Twitter in January 2021: ‘Sad news. My beloved husband/soul mate of 20 years, Ioan Gruffudd, has announced he is to leave his family, starting next week.
‘Me and our young daughters are very confused and sad. We haven’t been given a reason except that he “no longer loves me”. I’m so sorry.’
Gruffudd, famous for the ITV drama Liar and the Fantastic Four film, went public in October 2021 with new girlfriend Bianca Wallace, an aspiring actress who had a role as an extra in the drama Harrow which was filmed in Australia.
They now live together in Los Angeles, while Evans lives with their daughters Elsie and Ella.
In June 2022, she launched a Go Fund Me page asking for $25,000 to try and pay her bills, saying: ‘I never in a million years thought I would be doing this. However in August 2020, just as the pandemic was really kicking in, my entire world fell apart.
‘Since that date I have been not only struggling as a single mother to my babies, but also trying to cover bills and food and legal fees (ha! don’t even talk to me about legal fees) which dwarf any other expense in my life and have finally drained everything – savings, accounts, pension, the lot.
‘Yesterday all my accounts ran out and I couldn’t buy anything. On the same day, my husband’s lawyer sent me a letter telling me I was due in court on 2 August to argue “my case” in the divorce. I currently have no lawyer and no funds to pay one.
‘If I don’t turn up at court I will be in contempt, and I have no idea what will happen to me or my kids at that point.’
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
