Australian actor Toni Collette splits from husband Dave Galafassi
Australian actor Toni Collette has confirmed she’s split from her musician husband of nearly two decades.
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Toni Collette has split from her musician husband of nearly two decades.
The celebrated Australian actor announced the break up on social media, telling her followers she and Dave Galafassi were divorcing.
“It is with grace and gratitude that we announce we are divorcing,” Colette wrote with an image of a ‘peace & love’ sign made of flowers.
“We’re united in our decision and part with continuing respect and care for each other.
“Our kids are of paramount importance to us and we will continue to thrive as a family, albeit a different shape.
“We’re thankful for the space and love you grant us as we evolve and move through this transition peacefully. Big thanks.”
Hours earlier, in an Instagram story post, Collette shared a cryptic quote that read: “No matter what your current circumstances are, if you can imagine something better for yourself, you can create it.”
Friends say the split was some time ago.
“It wasn’t recent,” one noted.
The announcement comes after paparazzi snapped images of Galafassi with a mystery woman at Sydney’s Manly beach.
Collette, who turned 50 last month, and Galafassi met at the 2002 album launch for Galafassi’s then band, Gelbison, and the debut release, Metal Detector.
She had previously dated British actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers.
Collette and Galafassi married in 2003 in a traditional Buddhist ceremony on their property in Berry south of Sydney. Collette’s Muriel’s Wedding co-star Rachel Griffiths was among the guests. They are parents to 14-year-old daughter, Sage, and 11-year-old son, Arlo.
The pair are known to be extremely private and only at big events have appeared together on red carpets.
In a 2021 interview with The Sunday Telegraph’s Stellar magazine, Colette spoke of juggling a busy high profile job with a preferred low-key family life.
“I love what I do as an actor, and I don’t struggle with it,” she said. “I have surrendered to the fact that is what my life is, and I get so much out of it, but I’m also completely in love with my children and I love my family time. It’s just a matter of balancing things. They travel with me sometimes, sometimes they don’t. It depends on the length of time and projects, and where it is, and how safe it is. That’s something to consider now as well. But you just take very day as it comes like anybody else and figure it out as you go. You can only do so much planning, and then life will actually happen and tell you what it wants, so it’s a matter of going with the flow.”
In 2019, Galafassi was injured in a “devastating” motorcycle accident with Collette thanking emergency services for saving his life at the time.
“We’re so lucky to still have him,” she wrote on social media. “It may not have been the case without the work of the incredible folks at @nswambulance and @tollambulancerescue. Thank you so very much for your swiftness, clarity, knowledge, compassion and dedication. You saved him and we cannot thank you enough.”
Collette of course is one of Australia’s highest profile stars of the big and small screen. Despite keeping her private life just that, private, she has enjoyed a decorated career in Hollywood.
She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for The Sixth Sense and has received two BAFTA noms, one each for About A Boy and Little Miss Sunshine.
Her other film credits include The Hours, The Black Balloon, Mental, Knives Out, Hereditary and on TV, of course United States of Tara, Wanderlust, Pieces of Her and The Staircase.
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