Married Dominic West says ‘biggest sadness’ was breaking up with mother of his first child

Dominic West has reflected on his shame over the breakdown of his relationship with the mother of his first child in a new interview.

The Wire actor, 56, welcomed daughter Martha with Polly Astor, daughter of Conservative politician Michael Astor, in 1998, but he has now spoken about their painful split.

Speaking on the Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth podcast, West said he felt ‘too young’ to settle down at the age of 28, describing the loss of the relationship as one of the ‘big sadnesses’ of his life.

The actor has been married to his university flame and aristocrat Catherine FitzGerald since 2010. The couple share four children together, one of whom played Prince Charles’ son William with West on The Crown.

Asked if the end of his relationship with Astor was ‘one of the big sadnesses’ or ‘shames’ of his life, West admitted: ‘I suppose so, yes. I suppose I wish my eldest daughter had had some of the advantages or some of the security that my others have had.’

He went on to say that the romance came at the wrong time in his life: ‘I think I was too young. I was 28.’

While later admitting that 28 was actually ‘not that young’, West continued: ‘But I was just leaving drama school and looking towards America so it came at the wrong time, really.

‘It was very difficult, that ending. But we’re great friends now and have been civil throughout.’

West’s marriage came under huge scrutiny in 2020, after he was photographed apparently kissing Lily James in Rome – something which the actor has since said he’s able to joke about with his wife. 

The couple addressed the tabloid fodder outside their London home, sharing a kiss and putting out a handwritten sign reading: ‘Our marriage is strong and we’re very much still together. Thank you. Catherine and Dominic.’

The 52-year-old star isn’t keen on discussing the situation almost four years later, but he has confessed they still have moments of levity as a result of the aftermath.

‘I hesitate to speak on my wife’s behalf because it was obviously horrible, particularly for her,’ he told The Times. ‘But we do joke about it sometimes.’

‘Because whenever we went out together, the papers would always say we were “putting on a show of unity”. Even if we’d just been rowing about parking the car or whatever, even if that couldn’t be further from the truth.

‘And so when we go out we do sort of say, “Shall we go and have a show of unity up in London?” ‘

‘It was an absurd situation. It was deeply stressful for my wife and my kids, but there were lighter moments,’ he added. ‘That was the best that came out of it, really.’

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