Ralph Fiennes reunites with ex-lover 18 years his senior - three decades after scandalous affair
The actor, 62, and actress, 80, dated from 1996 to 2006 after starring in a production of Hamlet together, in which she played his mother.
They are now set to appear together in October in a new play, Small Hotel, in which Ralph will play Larry, 'an acclaimed TV celebrity... forced to unpick his past and confront his future'.
Francesca is also set to play Ralph's mother - just as she did three decades ago when she played Gertrude to his Hamlet.
Ralph's affair with Francesca ended his marriage to actress Alex Kingston, whom he wed in 1993.
Francesca, who was 50 at the time, similarly disentangled herself from photographer Patrick Wiseman, whom she had been with since 1974 and had three children with.
Speaking about dating a man nearly two decades younger, Francesca previously said: 'Of course I don't spend days agonizing over the age difference. How can I? There is nothing I can do about it.
'Ralph and I have been together ten years now so, whatever happens, we have had a very good, different relationship and an interesting time.'
But the couple parted in 2006 after Cornelia Crisan, 31, a London-based Romanian singer, recounted how she and Ralph had a two-year affair.
The following day, Ralph and Francesca announced their split after 11 years together.
Sources close to the couple told The Evening Standard: 'It has been a difficult time for the both of them, particularly as they have not even seen each other since the revelations broke.
'Seeing all their private details laid out in all the newspapers has made them both think about their future together.
'Things have not been good for quiet a while. Francesca seems to have been different since she reached 60 and they both realized how big the age gap is between them. Ralph, meanwhile, has been having a mid-life crisis of his own.
'Having their relationship raked over has made him, in particular, decide that it is time to call it a day on the relationship. It is very sad.'
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