Ioan Gruffudd has shared a rare picture with his girlfriend Bianca Wallace amid his messy public split from his estranged ex Alice Evans.
The Welsh actor, 49, took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a rare photo with Bianca, 29, as they promoted her friend Roma Downey’s new book.
In no time at all, Ioan cut a casual figure in a black t-shirt and smiled as he gazed fondly at his partner while laughing.
He styled his brunette tresses in a slick back style and sported a trimmed beard to complete his relaxed look.
Bianca looked stylish in a blue long sleeve t-shirt and complemented her look with a set of beaded bracelets and silver earrings.
Everyone’s smiling: Ioan Gruffudd has shared a rare picture with his girlfriend Bianca Wallace amid his messy divorce with his estranged ex Alice Evans
She styled her glossy dark tresses loose and straight and emphasized her natural beauty with a high-glam makeup palette.
The pair seemed as in love as ever as Bianca put her hand on her boyfriend’s shoulder in the snap.
Bianca was also holding actress Roma’s new book Be an Angel as she showed her support for her boyfriend’s latest venture.
Ioan captioned his post: “#BeAnAngel out today! Our friend @romadowney has released her latest book which will remind you that even the smallest gestures of kindness will always make a difference. Order your copy today!’
Bianca also shared the same image to her own Instagram grid, saying the book reminds her that starting the day with “gratitude” can “make a difference.”
She wrote: “Roma’s latest book release ‘Be An Angel’ is here! I was lucky enough to have read Be An Angel.
“By sharing her own stories and life lessons, Roma reminds you that starting the day with gratitude makes a difference, moving forward with excitement, helping you see the beauty of life and aging, and that it it is always important to choose kindness. I hope you get a copy!’
It comes after Ioan revealed what it was like for him to cope with the increased public scrutiny following his split from estranged ex Alice, 54.
Split: It comes after Ioan revealed what it was like for him coping with increased public scrutiny following his split from estranged ex Alice, 54 (both pictured in May 2015).
Speaking to The Radio Times, Ioan was asked how he had dealt with the publicity about their split.
He said he could handle it because he’d been in show business since he was 11, adding that dealing with that test is a contractual part of being an actor.
Ioan said: “It’s the experience of having lived in public from a young age. I was on the Welsh soap opera Pobol y Cwm at the age of 11 so people knew who I was in that community.
“You can’t train for this test as an actor, but it’s an integral part of what it means to be an actor. It’s a contract.’
Elsewhere, Ioan’s legal battles with Alice, 54, have been stayed by a Los Angeles judge pending her upcoming criminal trial for allegedly violating a restraining order he has against her.
Her attorney, Marie LaMolinara, argued that Alice’s testimony at the custody hearing could be used against her at her later criminal trial, violating her right to rest, according to the 5 .com
“I share concern that Alice will be required to submit testimony, whether written or oral, under penalty of perjury, in connection with Ioan’s pending application until the criminal case is fully adjudicated,” LaMolinara wrote.
“Because the injunction and the pending allegations of violations thereof are imperative to review by the court (the family court deciding custody) … and because Alice has a 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination, the pending RFO hearing (Gruffudd’s motion for a new custody agreement) should be continued appropriately.’
Ioan vehemently denied any delay, saying in a written statement: “I do not believe that it would be in the best interests of the children for the hearing to continue in February 2023.
“I originally filed for custody RFO because of Alice’s ongoing behavior towards me and the children and because I believed she was interfering in my relationship with them.”
Breakup: He said he can deal with it because he’s been in show business since he was 11, adding that dealing with this trial is a contractual part of being an actor
The feuding former couple – who met while filming 102 Dalmatians in 1999 – were due to appear for a custody hearing on February 15, where Ioan intended to spend more time with their daughters Ella, 13, and Elsie, 9, than a day in of the week he gets now.
But Alice asked for a reprieve last Wednesday after she was accused of two counts of violating a restraining order preventing her from posting derogatory remarks about Ioan or his girlfriend Bianca on social media.
She is due to appear in court in March on those charges.
“I believe Alice is interfering in my relationships with the children to this day and I believe further custody orders are imperative at this time to avoid any additional damage to Ella and Elsie’s relationships and emotional damage as a result of Alice’s continued behavior to prevent .’
Despite Ioan’s objection — and his attorney’s claim that Alice’s testimony “is not necessary for the court to issue preliminary custody orders … for her to exercise her Fifth Amendment rights if she so chooses” — the judge of the LA Superior Court, Josh Freeman Stinn, sided with Alice.
He granted her motion to continue and postponed the custody hearing until July 13.
But he encouraged the exes to meet and counsel to ensure the right balance is struck between Alice’s Fifth Amendment right and Ioan’s desire for more time with the kids.
Alice pleaded not guilty to two counts of violating a restraining order that was placed on her last August, which prevented her from “posting on any social media account, including, but not limited to Instagram and Twitter, to post that harassed or disturbed the peace of’ Ioan or Bianca.
Her appearance at the Airport Courthouse in Los Angeles saved her from being arrested for failing to show up for an earlier scheduled court date.
She is scheduled to appear for a pretrial hearing on February 23 and her trial is tentatively set for March. She remains free on her own.
Ioan filed for divorce in March last year after Evans claimed on social media that her husband of 14 had abandoned her and their two daughters.
She repeatedly attacked him on social media until he sought the injunction preventing her from sharing her private messages or slamming him and Bianca online.
Court: Ioan’s legal battle with Alice, 54, has been stayed by a Los Angeles judge pending her upcoming criminal trial for allegedly violating a restraining order he has against her
Case: Alice requested a stay because she was charged with two counts of violating a restraining order that prevents her from posting derogatory remarks about Ioan or his girlfriend Bianca on social media
Alice had risked violating her restraining order after posting about their split on social media.
Ioan filed for joint custody of his two daughters last July after Alice filed for sole custody amid their acrimonious divorce.
In addition to requesting visitation rights, he claimed in the filing that Alice had deliberately tried to cut off communications between him and his children.
He also requested that the girls attend in-person therapy and reunion therapy via Zoom pending a court-ordered custody mediation.