Actor Dominic West was spotted enjoying a night out with his eldest daughter, Martha, at the premiere of the new film Hamnet in London this week. The father-daughter duo shared a cosy moment over pints of Guinness during a drinks reception at The Devonshire pub.
A Family Affair in the Spotlight
Martha West, 27, who has followed her father into acting, joined the star for the high-profile event. She is known for her past role portraying model Kendall Jenner in the annual Notting Hill Pantomime. Dominic West, famed for playing Prince Charles in Netflix's The Crown and Jimmy McNulty in HBO's The Wire, shares five children with his wife, landscape designer Catherine FitzGerald.
The couple, who married in 2010, are also parents to Dora, 19, Christabel, eight, and sons Senan, 16, and Francis, 13. Catherine is an Irish aristocrat who runs the family's ancestral home, Glin Castle in County Limerick, as a hotel.
Past Scandals and Public Displays of Unity
The actor's career has not been without controversy. He was at the centre of a media storm in 2020 when photographs emerged showing him in a passionate embrace with his Rebecca co-star, Lily James, while they were on a break from filming in Rome.
In the wake of the scandal, West and his wife Catherine presented a united front, issuing a public statement asserting they were "very much still together." Reports at the time suggested part of their reconciliation involved Catherine asking Dominic to cease contact with Lily James.
Reflecting on the incident later, West told The Sunday Times' Culture Magazine, "It was obviously horrible, particularly for her... But we do joke about it sometimes... It was an absurd situation." He acknowledged the deep stress it caused his family but noted there had been lighter moments in the aftermath.
From Privileged Roots to Acclaimed Roles
Despite his success playing gritty, often working-class characters, Dominic West hails from a privileged background. He was educated at Eton College and Trinity College Dublin. Interestingly, his wife has publicly commented on this dichotomy, suggesting he excels most when playing roles far removed from his own upbringing.
"My wife, who is genuinely upper class, always tells me, 'You’re much better in the working-class parts, you’re not very good as upper class, you’re not convincing at all.' And I agree with her," he revealed in an interview.
This acting prowess has earned him critical acclaim for diverse roles, including former convict Jean Valjean in a TV adaptation of Les Misérables and a chilling portrayal of serial killer Fred West in the drama Appropriate Adult.
The Hamnet premiere on Wednesday offered a glimpse of the actor in a more relaxed, familial setting, showcasing his bond with his daughter as they supported the new cinematic project.
