In a dramatic courtroom revelation, actor Ioan Gruffudd has claimed that his ex-wife, Alice Evans, possessed approximately $100,000 in her bank account while simultaneously pleading poverty and soliciting financial contributions from fans through a GoFundMe campaign. The 52-year-old Fantastic Four star delivered this testimony during a Los Angeles trial on Friday, where Evans is seeking an increase in her monthly spousal support payments.
Contested Financial Support and Allegations of Deception
The ongoing legal proceedings centre on Evans' request to raise the $1,500 per month she currently receives from Gruffudd, while the actor is petitioning the court to terminate spousal support entirely. Following their separation in early 2021, Evans, aged 57, established a GoFundMe account, asserting she was financially destitute and unable to provide for herself and their two daughters, Ella, now 16, and Elsie, 12.
Gruffudd informed the LA Superior Court that Evans had publicly stated on social media platforms that she initiated the fundraising effort because her world had collapsed, portraying herself as a struggling single mother who had depleted all resources and lacked money for basic necessities like food. However, Gruffudd countered these claims, emphasising that at the time, Evans was residing in the family home without paying rent, and he was covering all associated expenses, including the mortgage.
Restraining Order and Abuse Allegations
This trial represents the second phase of a broader legal conflict. Previously, Judge Michael Convey issued a five-year restraining order against Evans due to her campaign of harassment and abuse directed at Gruffudd and his new wife, Australian actress Bianca Wallace, 33. Gruffudd now argues that spousal support should be discontinued based on Evans' persistent domestic abuse and multiple violations of prior restraining orders.
Furthermore, Gruffudd alleges that he has overpaid Evans by nearly $400,000. During her testimony, Evans denied accusations from Gruffudd's legal team that she concealed funds by transferring almost $90,000 from a joint account to her children's nanny. She acknowledged making payments totalling $88,000 to the nanny in 2021 and 2022 but maintained these were advances for medical treatment, as the nanny was battling cancer.
Evans' Financial Struggles and Career Challenges
Evans elaborated on her financial difficulties, noting that her age of 57 has adversely affected her ability to secure acting roles, with her last film or television appearance dating back to 2016. She also disclosed suffering from an auto-immune disease that could impact her work capacity, though she has not experienced a flare-up in three years.
To meet monthly expenses, which include $2,995 for condo rent and $1,700 for groceries and household items, Evans relies on gifts from family, friends, and fans. She generates income by attending fan conventions, where she can earn between $4,000 and $12,000 per weekend through photo opportunities, autograph signings, and fan interactions. Supporters recall her roles in television series such as Vampire Diaries and Lost, as well as the 2000 film 102 Dalmatians, where she co-starred with Gruffudd.
Despite being fluent in French and Italian, Evans admitted to Gruffudd's attorney, Joseph Langlois, that she has not pursued employment outside of acting using her language skills or other abilities. She expressed willingness to transition into a different field if it enabled her to sufficiently support her children.
Legal Outcomes and Social Media Conduct
In the initial phase of the trial concluded on March 4, Judge Convey granted Gruffudd's request to renew a prior three-year restraining order against Evans for an additional five years. This decision followed evidence that Evans had inundated social media with derogatory and false posts about Gruffudd and Wallace, who welcomed their daughter, Mila, last November. The case continues to unfold as both parties present their arguments regarding financial support and personal conduct.
