“I succumbed to some temptations”: Charles Dance opens up on the breakdown of his ‘wonderful’ 34-year old marriage 

During an interview on the Rosebud podcast, Charles Dance, known for his role in Game of Thrones, opened up about his divorce from Joanne Haythorn. Speaking with Gyles Brandreth, Dance admitted that his actions ultimately led to the end of their 34-year marriage.

“For the most part, it was a wonderful marriage, but then, unfortunately, I succumbed to some temptations along the way, and the marriage ended because of my behaviour really.”

The couple, who were previously married in 1970, have two children together, Oliver (50) and Rebecca (44). Dance is also the biological father of Rose Boorman, from his previous relationship with Eleanor Boorman.

For those who are not familiar, Charles Dance gained widespread fame after captivating audiences in the 1984 popular television series The Jewel In The Crown. His portrayal of Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones on HBO, as well as his roles in other works such as Last Action Hero, The Imitation Game, and Dracula Untold, earned him recognition.

Actor Charles Dance Confesses to Infidelity on Podcast

Charles Dance revealed on the podcast that he confessed to his wife in their Somerset home, as they were residing on different sides of the house due to the strain in their relationship. He stated:

“Jo had her study at one end and I had mine at the other end, and we became a bit like George and Martha Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? really after a while.”

When Charles Dance revealed the details of his infidelity to his wife, she was taken aback by the news, according to him.

Despite attempting to justify himself and his behavior, he confessed that he had never viewed himself as a physically appealing individual, which ultimately led to his infidelity. Dance stated:

“It wasn’t until I did The Jewel In The Crown years later and people talked about me and being ‘the thinking woman’s crumpet.’ I always felt very grateful if girls behaved as if they were attracted to me. But there is no justification for it, you know. In our business, Gyles, temptation is often presented, and you have to be pretty together and balanced, and have not a particularly powerful libido to not succumb to that.”

The 77-year-old expressed that, given the opportunity, he would have approached things differently. He also mentioned that he and Joanna eventually became the closest of companions and were grateful for it.

Despite his marriage ending years prior, Dance was able to find love once again with Alessandra Masi. Despite being 22 years younger, Masi first met Dance on the set of The Book of Vision where she worked as a production manager.

When questioned about the most memorable moment while filming, Charles Dance’s response was,

“To be honest, it’s meeting Alessandra.”

In a 2019 interview, he expressed his attraction towards “beautiful, independent women”when discussing the types of women he finds appealing.

“I like strong women—women who survive and thrive in what is still a male-dominated world in most professions.”

NME reports that the experienced actor is the top candidate for the role of Albus Dumbledore in the upcoming Harry Potter HBO series. Additionally, Bill Nighy and Nick Frost are set to join the series as Lord Voldemort and Rubeus Hagrid, respectively.

The upcoming series has been described as a decade-long production that will showcase the same level of epic craftsmanship, love, and attention to detail that the global franchise is renowned for. It is expected to air within the next two years.