IT’S been just over five years since Ioan Gruffudd decided to leave his wife, Alice Evans, sparking one of the most toxic divorces in showbiz history.
But this week, it was clear the bitter back-and-forth is no closer to ending, as Ioan made a play to end paying spousal support in court. And while Ioan is gearing up to promote his new film – Seven Snipers – with his new wife Bianca Wallace, we’re told behind closed doors Alice, 57, is sadder than ever and fears for her have reached an all-time high.
Alice Evans is said to be struggling after the latest court battle with her ex Credit: BackGrid
Ioan has asked to stop paying spousal support Credit: The Mega Agency
The Sun understands that Alice has been suffering in silence since March, when Ioan won a court battle, which meant the domestic violence restraining order against her was renewed for a further five years.
It now means Alice is unable to speak about her inner turmoil until 2031. The ruling and ongoing debate around spousal and child support is said to have “hit her really hard”.
In a further blow this week, Ioan also asked a judge in court to end the spousal support he currently has to pay his ex after she asked him to increase the $1,500 monthly payments.
He already pays $3,570 a month in child support towards their daughters, Ella, now 16 and Elsie, 12.
He claimed that in the three years prior to their split in 2021, he was earning an average of $585,000 a year “as an A-list actor in high demand.”
But since their incredibly bitter breakup, “his income dropped to an average of $125,000 a year, and he is struggling every single month. He had to borrow money to pay for daily necessities.” He claimed, saying this is down to Alice damaging his reputation.
A friend told us: “Alice is absolutely heartbroken right now and somehow manages to put on a very brave face. She’s once again crippled with money fears.
“People see the headlines and the court drama, but behind closed doors, she’s sadder than she’s ever been, and she can’t even tell anyone why.
“That’s what hurts the most – she’s being forced to just carry on with her life like nothing happened. Emotionally, it’s not easy, and it’s certainly not natural to do that; it’s like she’s having to hide her feelings, which is what is taking its toll on her.
“Friends are extremely worried about how much this has all taken out of her emotionally.
“Alice feels like she’s been silenced, and she has been really, that’s exactly what has happened, and it doesn’t feel right, it feels desperately unfair.
“In her mind, she’s been completely gagged from speaking publicly about her own life and what she believes she’s been through. That’s the part she’s struggling with most privately.”
Alice now makes most of her money from conventions and fan events Credit: Instagram
She is not allowed to speak about or contact Ioan for another five years Credit: Getty – Contributor
Just a brief look at Alice’s social media and it’s clear she’s trying to make the best out of what she believes is an unjust situation.
She’s also been trying to claw back some of the money she has lost during this expensive ordeal.
Last weekend, she was hosting tours around Covington, the real-life filming location for the fictional town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, in The Vampire Diaries. One of Alice’s best-loved roles was as Esther Mikaelson in the hit series.
While Welshman Ioan says his career has floundered since the split, it’s Alice who has not made a film or TV show since 2018.
She made no secret of her money troubles and resorted to begging fans for cash on crowdfunding websites as her savings dried up, saying her children would end up homeless and asking if anyone had a “spare room”.
But after having collected over $16,000 in donations, she finally managed to find a new place to live.
She has taken to earning money by offering personal videos to fans via the Cameo website.
Other than that, her main income stream seems to be from appearances at conventions for The Vampire Diaries.
Her latest work trip fell over Mother’s Day in the States, which is said to be a particularly important time for Alice following the bitter custody battle with her ex to gain full control of Elsie and Ella. She celebrated with her girls before heading off to work.
Our source explained: “The one thing keeping her going is the girls, and she always says that. She tells friends they are her whole world and the reason she gets out of bed in the morning.
“No matter how devastated she feels personally, she’s determined to stay strong for them. If it wasn’t for the girls, everyone would be very concerned about what she might do next, but we know she will always be there for them. “
Since the couple’s messy break-up, Fantastic Four star Ioan, 52, moved on with new wife Bianca Wallace, and even welcomed a baby daughter with her at the end of last year.
Ioan and Bianca welcomed a little girl last year amid the ongoing court drama Credit: Getty
Alice’s two daughters have helped her get through the difficult time Credit: Instagram
But the former sweethearts’ relationship has deteriorated further in public and played out painfully in the courts.
Ioan won a restraining order against Alice following a string of social media posts she made about him, including a claim that he told her “he would leave if I gained weight”.
He, in turn, accused his ex of “child abuse” for allegedly not taking his daughters to all their therapy sessions.
Relations were so strained that their eldest girl, Ella, then 13, applied for a restraining order against him, which was denied by a judge.
Both Ioan and Alice have been highly successful performers, starring in big-budget productions, so their financial struggles have come as a surprise to fans.
The couple met while making the 2000 Disney movie 102 Dalmatians with Glenn Close.
But the cost of paying lawyers in their long-running divorce proceedings has left the coffers drained.
Alice noted: “If you don’t know divorce court, you simply cannot know how much money is wasted.”
It has been obvious since Hornblower star Ioan told Alice in January 2021 he “no longer loves her” that this was the opposite of an amicable break-up.
She told followers on social media, “I will wash my linen in public,” and she has been true to her word.
Alice spoke about her pain and claimed that Ioan “is always angry, he was born angry”. When he went public about his relationship with Australian Bianca in October 2021, Alice struck back, accusing her estranged husband of being unfaithful.
There was no proof, though, that he had cheated on Alice with his new partner.
In the face of constant accusations from Alice, Ioan filed for a restraining order in February 2022.
The actor claimed she had harassed him with hundreds of text messages and abusive emails.
In the court documents, Ioan alleged: “Alice threatened to tell people I had abused her and our daughters; she threatened to call the police on me if I did not comply with her demands.
“She threatened to tell people I am a drug addict and put me in prison; she threatened to write a fake diary that reflected an abused victim, and to have the diary published.” In August 2022, Ioan persuaded a judge to issue a three-year restraining order against Alice, which prevented her from making social media posts against him and Bianca.
She was twice accused of breaching it, but charges were dropped.
Their battle for custody over their two daughters, who were conceived using IVF, also turned very nasty.
He won his latest domestic violence restraining order against her for five years in March of this year.
While the public has no doubt been behind Alice at times, it’s been a very rocky road and one that she’s found incredibly difficult to navigate.
And as she gears up for another five years of silence, our insider said: “Alice feels isolated and misunderstood, and she knows some people on the street judge her from what they read in the headlines, so that’s where it hurts even more that she can’t say what’s happening, but she wishes they understood how painful the entire situation has been for her personally.
“She’s slowly sorting herself out and trying to make things more stable at home for the girls, but she worries this whole saga has put a stain on her career that she loves. She’s desperate to start fresh and move on from him and the past. But in order to do that, she is desperate to get out all of her feelings publicly, and then she can put it all to bed and move on.”
But for now, that’s the one thing she definitely can’t do.