Source: News Wire
(LONDON) — “Friends” of the couple Hugh Grant and Elizabeth Hurley say the incident with prostitute Divine Brown may have lead to the couple’s break up… or maybe not.
British sensitive-guy-actor Hugh Grant and his longtime model-actress galpal Elizabeth Hurley are splitting up temporarily, at least.
The Notting Hill star promptly spilled his guts about the tryst on The Tonight Show back in 1995, and the couple reportedly managed to patch things up. Now, however, their publicist says Grant is in Britain, while Hurley, the shagalicious Austin Powers co-star and face of Estée Lauder cosmetics, is in New York.
Their publicist released a statement today saying the split was a mutual decision, but Grant, 39, and Hurley, 34, will continue to work together professionally through their production company, Simian Films.
“They are continuing to run Simian Films together and would like to stress there are no third parties involved”, a spokeswoman for the pair and their film company said, “He’s here at the moment, she’s about to start shooting a new movie in the (United) States, so it’s not really an issue at the moment.”
Their publicist said the split was a joint decision, and that Grant, 39, and Hurley, 34, will continue to work together professionally through their production company, Simian Films.
“Friends” of the couple were in no doubt that despite Hurley’s apparent forgiveness of her wayward partner, their ”relationship made in showbiz heaven” never really recovered.
The sexual chemistry between them had fizzled out and they became more like brother and sister. But in the interests of their careers – she did well out of the Austin Powers spy spoofs and he achieved stardom in “Notting Hill” with Julia Roberts – they continued to appear together at countless film premieres, award ceremonies and night clubs.
“Four thousand photocalls and a separation” was The Mirror’s front-page headline.
Inside, the tabloid commented: “Our heart goes out tonight to the world’s press photographers… Gentlemen of the paparazzi, our thoughts are with you.”
Columnist Sue Carroll added: “So farewell then The Liz and Hugh Show. How we’ll miss those flamboyant extravaganzas and public appearances of togetherness – even though we suspected all along it was a bit of a sham.”
“Bust Up,” said the rival Sun tabloid, taking the opportunity to print yet another picture of the “curvy” Hurley in yet another cleavage-revealing dress.
There was little doubt that, as a couple, their appeal to photographers was greater than it is likely to be now that they are officially single.
“Look at Liz Taylor and Richard Burton,” said one award-winning news photographer. “There aren’t that many long-standing couples. They were the Charles and Diana of the showbusiness world.”
But it wasn’t all long faces. “We’ll be looking for a shot of Liz with her next boyfriend,” said one photo editor.
Meanwhile, Grant can currently be seen doing his thing (acting, that is) in Woody Allen’s new comedy Small Time Crooks.
