In October 2020, some photos surfaced that got tongues wagging about a controversial celebrity relationship. Actors Lily James and Dominic West were photographed having what appeared to be a very flirty outing in Rome, Italy. James, 32, and West, 51, were working together on the TV adaptation of the Nancy Mitford novel The Pursuit of Love at the time. And while co-stars getting together is nothing new, this apparent pairing raised eyebrows since West is still married to his wife, Catherine FitzGerald.
In the time since the photos were published, West and FitzGerald have confirmed that they are still together, but James didn't say anything...until now. In a new interview with the Guardian, James gave a comment on the situation that will only make fans want to know more.
Read on to see what James had to say about those photos with West and to learn more about the two actors' time together. And to read about famous pairs making big age differences work, check out 27 Celebrity Couples With Huge Age Gaps.
James has "a lot to say" about everything that went down with West.
magicinfoto / Shutterstock.comJames spoke to the Guardian about her role in The Pursuit of Love in an interview published on May 2 and was asked about "being at the center of a media storm" with West. In response, the Downton Abbey actor certainly left fans wanting to hear more.
"Ach, I’m not really willing to talk about that," she said. "There is a lot to say, but not now, I’m afraid."
Read about another star who opened up about her love life in Jennifer Aniston Shared the One Thing She'd Never Do in a Relationship.
The photos of the actors made headlines last fall.
David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Harper's Bazaar/Hearst UKPhotos of James and West spending time together in Rome were published in several publications. The activities captured include riding a scooter together, having lunch with two other guests, visiting a souvenir shop, and taking in the sights. The pair appear to be quite affectionate with each other in some of the snaps.
At the time, West was known to be married to FitzGerald, while James was single. According to the Daily Mail, she had recently split up with The Crown actor Matt Smith for good after they tried to rekindle things following a five-year relationship and subsequent split.
Prior to filming The Pursuit of Love, James and West had worked together in a production of Othello in 2011 and appeared in the same Burberry campaign in 2016.
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West and FitzGerald responded to the resulting rumors quickly.
GlosPics/MEGA/GC Images via Getty ImagesOn Oct. 13—five days after the photos of West with James were published—West and FitzGerald posed for a photo outside of their home and kissed for photographers. They also left a handwritten note that read, "Our marriage is strong and we're very much still together. Thank you. Catherine and Dominic."
As reported by People, James and West were spotted at an airport in Rome together a day earlier. West and FitzGerald, who is a landscape designer, have four children and have been married since 2010.
For famous pairs who didn't make it, here are 15 Celebrity Couple Breakups You're Probably Still Mourning.
James was reportedly "shocked" by West's response.
Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.comWhile James kept quiet about West until now, a source told E! News in October that she was surprised to hear that the Affair star was still happily married.
"She's mortified and embarrassed by the entire thing," the source said. "She was shocked when she saw the photos and his story that he is happily married. She wants it all to go away and is just laying low hoping it will pass quickly."
For more celebrity gossip, check out A Flight Attendant Is Ranking the Celebrities She's Served on Planes.
