The once seemingly perfect Hollywood marriage between Welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd and actress Alice Evans has descended into a vicious and public legal war, with newly filed court documents laying bare a litany of shocking allegations.
Gruffudd, famed for his roles in 'Fantastic Four' and 'Harrow', officially filed for divorce from Evans in March 2021, but the process has been anything but amicable. The papers, obtained by DailyMail.com, depict a relationship fractured by allegations of coercive control and financial pressure.
A Tale of Two Petitions
In a strategic legal move, Evans filed her own response to Gruffudd's divorce petition just one minute before his was officially entered into the court system. This attempt to gain a tactical advantage was noted in the documents, with Gruffudd's lawyers arguing her filing was 'void and invalid'.
The core of the battle revolves around the couple's two young daughters, Ella and Elsie. Gruffudd is seeking joint legal and physical custody, a request Evans is vehemently opposing.
Allegations and the Restraining Order
The divorce filings are compounded by a domestic violence restraining order granted to Gruffudd against Evans in February 2022. He alleges a campaign of 'harassment and verbal abuse', both privately and publicly on social media.
Gruffudd claims Evans' online behaviour has been damaging, stating she 'has and continues to attempt to destroy my reputation with the public and within the industry through her false and defamatory accusations on social media and in traditional media.'
He further accuses her of attempting to 'coerce and control' him financially, alleging she made it difficult for him to work and pressured him to fund a lifestyle they could not afford.
The New Partner in the Picture
Adding another layer of complexity to the proceedings is Gruffudd's new relationship with Australian actress Bianca Wallace, whom he went public with in October 2021. Evans' social media activity has frequently targeted their relationship, contributing to the deeply acrimonious atmosphere.
As both parties dig in for a protracted legal fight, the case serves as a stark reminder of how private heartbreak can become a painfully public spectacle, with the wellbeing of their children caught in the crossfire.
