Topics: Sex and Relationships, Celebrity, TV And Film, The Crown
As well as the nuisance of the Covid-19 pandemic, the year 2020 is also famed across the globe for having given us a shocking, hotly-discussed celebrity scandal.
We are, of course, talking about Hollywood superstars Dominic West and Lily James being caught locking lips during a loved-up vacation in the Italian capital of Rome.
'Well, what's wrong with two A-listers falling hopelessly in love in one of the world's most notoriously romantic hotspots?', I hear you ask.
Well, only the fact that The Crown star Dominic had a wife back home at the time!
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The pair were photographed passionately embracing, cuddling up together whilst sharing a scooter and smooching in a local restaurant as they took in the sights.
Within a matter of hours, however, the images were leaked and the couple's controversial affair was exposed around the world.
At the time, fans were fans were left utterly heartbroken for Irish landscape designer, Catherine FitzGerald - whom the 54-year-old actor had married back in 2010 - being that they'd received no news of a behind-the-scenes split.
The most shocking news was yet to come, however, when just days after getting caught in the act, Dominic and Catherine put on an uber content-looking public display of unity, going on to release a statement about their marriage and insisting they were still 'very much still together'.
Since then, the couple's relationship - which has also seen them go on to become parents to four children - has seemingly gone from strength to strength, with the duo often being pictured at personal and professional events together.
That said, many followers of the story remained concerned for wife Catherine, and wondered what her thoughts were on the matter.
And this week, it seems as though Dominic himself has answered that exact question, reflecting on his affair with his The Pursuit of Love co-star Lily, 35.
Speaking to The Sunday Times, the on-screen star admitted his actions were 'deeply stressful' for his wife to find out about.
"I hesitate to speak on my wife's behalf because it was obviously horrible, particularly for her," he recalled.
"But we do joke about it sometimes... It was an absurd situation. It was deeply stressful for my wife and my kids, but there were lighter moments. That was the best that came out of it, really.'"
Dominic - also known for his portrayal of Prince Charles in the most recent instalments of Netflix's The Crown - added that his scandalous affair assisted in getting into character for this particular role.
Seemingly referencing the now-King's affair with now-Queen Camilla Parker-Bowles behind Princess Diana's back, he admitted: "I'd had a very acute understanding of what it's like to feel the horror of your name or your photo in the newspapers.
"There is that dreadful freezing moment when something is revealed about you. I think anyone can understand how that feels.
"But I'd been through it and it must have informed how I approached it. That gut feeling of horror isn't something you get inured to."
