Hugh Bonneville, best known for playing the Earl of Grantham in the iconic ITV period drama Downton Abbey, has found love again. The actor was spotted at the opening day of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships 2026 with his new partner, Heidi Kadlecova, three years after separating from his wife of over two decades, Lulu Williams.
Marriage Split
Bonneville was married to Lulu Williams for more than 20 years. The couple initially met as teenagers and were reunited decades later through the actor's mother. According to the Mirror, Bonneville said: "Lulu was running a marquee company... my mother rang her to hire some chairs or something and said, 'Do you remember Hugh?' and that was how we reconnected. It did infuriate me that I had to give full credit to my mum for reintroducing us."
Together, they built a home in West Sussex and raised their son Felix. However, in 2023, the couple parted ways.
New Romance
After the split, Bonneville was briefly linked to Canadian actress Claire Rankin, known for roles in Molly's Game and Ally McBeal, though neither commented. It later emerged that he was in a relationship with vegan influencer Heidi Kadlecova, whom he reportedly met through colleagues while filming the movie Go Away! The Mirror reported that the duo were seen sharing intimate moments on set, and their romance developed quickly. They made their first public appearance as a couple at the premiere of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale in September 2025.
In July 2026, Kadlecova posted a photo on Instagram from Wimbledon, captioned: "What an incredible opening day @wimbledon! Thank you @rolex for hosting us, for the behind the scenes tour of the grounds and the endless Pimms, Champagne, and strawberries and cream! Brilliant matches!"
Tragic Losses
Bonneville has endured significant personal tragedy. His mother, Patricia, died in 2014 at age 85. Two years later, his brother Nigel died unexpectedly in his sleep. His father, John, a former surgeon, died in 2020 at 93 after a long battle with dementia.
Speaking to Saga Magazine, Bonneville said: "The admin of the funeral and everything numbed the grief for a while. I didn't read any of the letters of commiseration or condolence we received until a year later, when I took them all with me to India. I was doing a film but had one weekend off, so I went on my own to this incredibly peaceful, quiet hotel in the middle of nowhere and read all the letters and absolutely let it all out. All the emotion. That was a very cathartic thing."
Career Continues to Flourish
Beyond his personal life, the London-born actor continues to thrive professionally. His credits include the Paddington films, television successes such as Twenty Twenty Six, The Gold, Douglas Is Cancelled, and of course, Downton Abbey. The first Downton Abbey film airs on ITV1 on Sunday, July 12 at 6.30pm.
